THAILAND: MISS TRANSVESTITE PAGEANT

Record ID: 388242

  • Title: THAILAND: MISS TRANSVESTITE PAGEANT
  • Date: 7th April 1999
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHAIRPERSON OF THE CONTEST, DR. SERI WONGMONTHA "I think we need an outlet for them (transvestites) to show their talent and their potential, because I think in this world, we should be equal in having chances of opportunity to express whatever we have." 1998 MISS TIFFANY, THANAPORN WONGPRASERT, ON STAGE WAVING FAREWELL AS SHE GIVES UP HER CROWN (SOU
  • Embargoed: 22nd April 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: PATTAYA, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVAB8HA0MXGTFK707SUNRD2XRXUX
  • Story Text: A lavish beauty pageant with a difference was recently held in Thailand - with contestants from around the country strutting their stuff in a bid to become Thailand's Miss TRANSVESTITE 'Queen' 1999.
    Hair and makeup were top priorities as the contestants primped and preened themselves for the Thailand's second annual transvestite beauty pageant.
    The men managed to look amazingly female, from smooth skin to manicured nails, groomed to perfection.
    Parading the runway in everything from evening gowns to lingerie, they looked as beautiful as contestants in "traditional" beauty contests.
    The pageant with over 70 participants was held at the famous Tiffany stage in Pattaya, winners are crowned Miss Tiffany.
    The show was broadcast live on Thai TV and held the same weekend as the Miss Thailand pageant.
    Some Thais say the beauty boys are prettier than the contestants in the Miss Thailand pageant.
    Thailand is well known for the "authenticity" of its transvestites and over the years they've reached new heights of feminine beauty.
    "We are different from Thai women, more elegant, which also makes us different from transvestites in the west.", said a 22-year-old contestant, Thanita Siraphat, a college graduate from Chiang Mai.
    Thirty "beauty boys" remained by the second round of the contest.
    An organiser of the pageant, Seri Wongmontha, said the contest allowed the transvestites to show off their talents.
    "I think we need an outlet for them to show their talent and their potential, because I think in this world, we should be equal in having chances of opportunity to express whatever we have", Wongmontha said.
    The winner of last year's contest, Miss Tiffany 1998, Thanaporn Wongprasert said he wishes the public would be more accepting of transvestites and gays.
    "I think the public is still only interested in our activities as something to entertain them", said Miss Tiffany 1998, adding that he wished the public would "just accept them as human beings."
    Eighteen-year old Pattareeya Siringamwong (Boonlert Saechai) won the contest - and was crowned Miss Tiffany 1999.
    He'll go on to represent Thailand at the Miss Gay Universe pageant to be held in the United States later this year.
    Besides the crown, trophy and other presents he gets a 50,000 baht (1,330 U.S.dollars) cash prize and he'll appear on several TV shows.
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