{{short description|American power lifter and television personality}} {{confused|Chiquitita (drag artist)}} {{Infobox social media personality | name = Angel Flores | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | occupation = {{flatlist| * Internet personality * television personality * coach * activist * powerlifter }} | yearsactive = | spouse = | children = | relatives = | alma_mater = | tiktok_handle = arkangeljoy | tiktok_display_name = | tiktok_years_active = | tiktok_genre = | tiktok_followers = 45.6K |stats_update= September 29, 2025 | website = }} '''Angel Flores''' is an American powerlifter, transgender-rights activist, and internet and television personality.
== Career == In 2021, Flores was a cast member on the sixth season of the American reality-television series ''Queer Eye''.<ref name= elle>{{cite web |last= Bruce-Smith|first= Alex|date= January 6, 2022|title= Here's What Angel Flores from 'Queer Eye' Season 6 Is Up To Now|url= https://www.elle.com.au/culture/news/angel-flores-queer-eye-season-6-where-is-she-now-26462/|website= Elle|location= |publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Reimer |first= Alex|date= January 4, 2022|title= This trans powerlifter is featured in the new season of 'Queer Eye'|url= https://www.outsports.com/2022/1/4/22867309/angel-flores-queer-eye-netflix-trans-powerlifter/|website= OutSports|location= |publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref> Following her appearances on ''Queer Eye'', Flores's social media following rapidly grew.<ref name= gaytimes>{{cite web |last= Kheraj|first= Alim |date= July 5, 2022|title= Angel Flores 'never imagined' she would be a role model for LGBTQ+ people in sport|url= https://www.gaytimes.com/originals/angel-flores-never-imagined-she-would-be-a-role-model-for-lgbtq-people-in-sport/|website= Gay Times |location= |publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref>
Flores is a competitive powerlifter and coaches Olympic weightlifting.<ref name= gaytimes/><ref name= usatoday/> She trains in various gyms, including Club, the queer-run gym Liberation Barbell.<ref name= gaytimes/> In 2021, she held the record for deadlifting 402 pounds.<ref>{{cite web |last= Smail|first= Gretchen|date= December 31, 2021|title= Queer Eye Star Angel Flores Is an Impressive AF Powerlifter|url= https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/whats-angel-flores-from-queer-eye-doing-now|website= Bustle|location= |publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref> She was training to compete in the 2022 Violet Crown Classic in Austin, Texas, until the United States Powerlifting Association changed its policy on the inclusion of transgender athletes.<ref name= xtra>{{cite web |last= Lang|first= Nico|date= February 4, 2022|title= This U.S. powerlifting association quietly unveiled policies limiting trans athlete participation|url= https://xtramagazine.com/power/powerlifting-trans-sport-angel-flores-217505|website= Xtra Magazine|location= |publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Smith|first= Andrew|date= February 2, 2022|title= USPA New Ruleset Bans Trans Athlete Angel Flores|url= https://fitnessvolt.com/uspa-new-ruleset-bans-trans-athlete-angel-flores/|website= Fitness Volt|location= |publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref>
In 2024, she spoke out against stigma and discrimination towards transgender athletes.<ref name= usatoday>{{cite web |last= Gibbons|first= Sammy |date= March 29, 2024|title= Powerlifter Angel Flores, like other transgender athletes, tells her story in her own words|url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/03/29/angel-flores-powerlifter-trans-athlete-story/72317575007|website= USA Today|location= |publisher= |access-date=September 29, 2025}}/</ref> She stated that hormone-replacement therapy can lessen people's athletic and physical abilities and expressed that transgender athletes therefore do not have a physical advantage over their cisgender peers.<ref name= usatoday/> Flores also advocates for hormone-replacement therapy as a way to improve the mental health of transgender people.<ref name= usatoday/>
== Personal life == Flores lives in Austin, Texas.<ref name= gaytimes/> She is a transgender woman and began her gender transition, including hormone-replacement therapy, in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last= Gibson|first= London|date= February 25, 2022|title= 8 questions with Angel Flores, Austin transgender powerlifter and Queer Eye star|url= https://atxtoday.6amcity.com/8-questions-angel-flores-austin-transgender-powerlifter-queer-eye|website= ATX Today |location= Austin, Texas|publisher= |access-date= September 29, 2025}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Flores, Angel}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:21st-century American sportswomen Category:21st-century people from Texas Category:American female powerlifters Category:American TikTokers Category:American lesbian sportswomen Category:American transgender sportswomen Category:American women human rights activists Category:American women television personalities Category:Hispanic and Latino American LGBTQ people Category:Hispanic and Latino American women Category:Instagram accounts Category:LGBTQ American activists Category:LGBTQ powerlifters Category:LGBTQ TikTokers Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:Sportspeople from Austin, Texas Category:Transgender lesbians Category:American transgender rights activists Category:LGBTQ rights activists from Texas