Transgender Miss Maine Contestant and Jordon Hudson Bonded Over Press Frenzy (Unique)

This weekend, a few of the nation’s largest media shops flocked to a Vacation Inn in Portland, Maine to see an unusually high-profile state-wide pageant.

This yr’s Miss Maine USA stage featured two notably notable rivals: Bill Belichick‘s girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, and the first-ever transgender Miss Maine contestant, Isabelle St. Cyr. Even earlier than the pageant passed off. The 2 ladies, each 24, discovered themselves on the heart of a media frenzy that ranged in tone.

Hudson and St. Cyr took the brunt of backlash and criticism from the moments they individually introduced their participation till the second they stepped out in entrance of the pageant viewers. They took the stage with type, strutting in swimwear and night robes for a room stuffed with pageant-goers, reporters and their very own supporters, like Belichick, 73, who watched his girlfriend from a front-row seat.

Hudson and St. Cyr proved they’d sufficient confidence to mute the noise, and on Sunday, Could 11 — day two of the weekend-long occasion — each ladies have been chosen as semi-finalists within the prime 10 contestants. Hudson nabbed third place, behind runner-up Mara Carpenter and topped Miss Maine USA winner Shelby Howell.

However in response to St. Cyr, a few of the most significant and memorable moments occurred behind the scenes, when the 2 talks-of-the-town had some talks of their very own.

Talking to PEOPLE in the future after the pageant, the history-making contestant says she and Hudson bonded over their place on the heart of media scrutiny and exchanged recommendation for easy methods to finest deal with the highlight, even when it casts a darker shadow.

“We had a dialog backstage and we have been like, ‘, the media hasn’t essentially been sort to us.’ We simply sort of talked about how we have handled it, easy methods to transfer ahead, easy methods to stay constructive and when to remark and to not remark,” St. Cyr tells PEOPLE. “I actually respect her willingness to speak to me in regards to the media protection.”

St. Cyr — who represented the city of Monson — notes that they hadn’t truly interacted earlier than the pageant, however she says there was an “unstated” query of how she and Hudson have been going deal with the headlines. And a few of the harsher angles pitted the ladies in opposition to one another: “First trans girl versus Jordon Hudson, all these articles,” St. Cyr remembers.

Having a dialog about it earlier than the pageant started cleared the air, she provides, making certain that “there was no dangerous blood” earlier than the preliminary competitors.

“It positively made us each much more comfy going into the pageant that evening,” says St. Cyr. “I feel we each needed to make it clear that we had nothing to do with it and that we have been simply glad to be competing. So I used to be very grateful for that.”

Hudson’s media consideration has surged not too long ago as her relationship with the UNC soccer coach has develop into more and more public. Final month, the couple caught some criticism after their awkward CBS News appearance. St. Cyr admits she does not have a lot press expertise both, however hateful feedback are sadly nothing new to her.

“It is stuff I’ve heard my total transition,” she tells PEOPLE. “I do know the kind of those that say these issues, so I do not actually take it to coronary heart.”

“I simply remained constructive it doesn’t matter what anybody was saying about it, I continued to know that I needed to signify my platform and that is sadly nothing new to me … I do not actually take it to coronary heart.

She and Hudson agreed that unfavourable media consideration is to be anticipated — “That is how folks get clicks,” St. Cyr says, remembering some knowledge Hudson shared — however they have been decided to maintain their heads excessive. Hudson additionally suggested that her competitor ought to do correct analysis earlier than talking with the press and ensure she is aware of sufficient about “who’s doing these articles and when try to be commenting,” St. Cyr says.

“I feel total she simply helped me to know that I wasn’t the one one which was coping with it, clearly,” she continues of Hudson. “And he or she admits that plenty of backlash nonetheless confirmed as much as the pageant that evening to compete, and I as properly, with plenty of backlash and lots of people saying that I should not be there.”

In the end, each St. Cyr and Hudson have been proud to rise above all of it. “We confirmed up and competed and we each made it to the second day,” says St. Cyr. “So I feel that that reveals plenty of what you are able to do when you do not let negativity step in entrance of you and your dream.”