The last five years has seen Miss Trans Global 2020 and “Sparks Camp” host Mela Habijan celebrating Pride Month near the sea, particularly at her favorite surfing spot in La Union.

Habijan, who is a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, said on Instagram that the sea holds a special place in her heart as she used to identify with the Disney character Ariel, the mermaid who lost her voice in her bid to have legs like humans in “The Little Mermaid.”

“I once identified with Ariel. For the longest time, I sang that strong desire to be ‘where the people are, to wander free, and explore that shore above,'” she said, citing portions of the animated movie’s popular song, “Part of Your World.”

She said the “brave movers” of the Pride movement should be thanked for their relentless pursuit of deliverance from those who are opposed to gay rights and those trying to muzzle their voices who she likened to the villainous Ursula — Ariel’s antagonist who is half-woman, half octopus.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Miss Mela Habijan (@missmelahabijan)

“The LGBTQIA-phobic Ursulas forced us to give up our voices to have those legs, jump, dance, and be one with humans. But, being voiceless meant hiding in fear. Thank God for the Pride movement and its brave movers! Globally, it has given back our voices to assert, ‘LGBTQIA+ people are an integral part of this world, worthy of respect, and must be treated equal.’ It amplified our call for inclusion and stand against LGBTQIA-phobia,” she said.

Habijan said that it is her hope that in and out of the sea, the LGBTQ community will be seen and will win the battle against discrimination.

Habijan will host “Sparks Camp,” the newest queer dating online reality series, which is set to capture the hearts of viewers from across the United States of America, India, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates since it premiered last May 24 on Black Sheep’s YouTube channel.

During the initial challenge, the campers got to know each other better. Karl and Dan emerged victorious and chose Justin and Nat as their respective dates. Viewers were given a sneak peek of the campers exchanging their “spark cards,” while tension and drama unfolded as more spark cards are revealed. EDV