- Title: THAILAND: Miss Tiffany beauty pageant
- Date: 31st March 2001
- Summary: CU/MCU/SV OF CONTESTANTS GETTING READY BACKSTAGE (4 SHOTS) MCU/CU 23-YEAR-OLD CONTESTANT, KITTIPAT WICHAJAROEN, GETTING READY BACKSTAGE (2 SHOTS) MCU (English) KITTIPAT WICHAJAROEN, SAYING: "I think Tiffany Universe, I think this competition is take a chance for a lady-boy to show the quality of myself, themselves. To show to everybody to know about. What they are doing an
- Embargoed: 15th April 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: PATTAYA, THAILAND
- Country: Thailand
- Topics: Arts
- Reuters ID: LVA3A3DGE6GODHQ2NOV9TDYSTHOC
- Story Text: Thailand's most beautiful 'men' have strutted their
stuff at the annual Miss Tiffany beauty pageant.
More than 50 transvestites and transsexuals entered this
years contest and spectators say you would never know the
competitors were all born as males.
It's the biggest event on the transsexual calendar in
Thailand and it had all the glitz and glamour of a Hollywood
premier.
This year's Miss Tiffany Pageant, held in the coastal
resort town of Pattaya on Saturday (March 31), drew crowds
from across Asia. It's the third time the event has been held
and it's increasing in popularity.
Held at a transgender cabaret theatre, the show began with
traditional Thai dancing by local transsexual performers. As
the gold and glitter sparkled up on stage -- backstage more
than 50 contestants, ranging in age from 16 to 25, were
propping up their silicone implants, curling their fake eye
lashes and slipping into glamorous gowns.
All of these contestants were born male, but have decided
to live their lives as women. Many have had various operations
to help them live the life they have chosen.
Twenty--three-year-old Kittipat Wichajaroen says the
contest is a very important expression of her sexuality.
"I think Tiffany Universe I think this competition is
take a chance for a lady-boy to show the quality of myself,
themselves -- to show everybody to know about," she said.
After a few more touches of lipstick and powder it was
time for conrtestants to strut their way down a silver runway
and parade in front of the panel of judges.
Like any other pageant, the girls were judged on their
hair, make-up, wardrobe and stage-presence.
After the introduction phase, it was time for evening wear
-- contestants draping themselves in colourful satin and
chiffon and dazzling the audience with their diamonds.
Contest Organiser Dr Seree Wongmonta says Thai gays are
the most beautiful in the world.
"Our face look feminine, figures are not that big, that
macho, that muscular. So we look feminine, we look sweet. And
when we are compared to women, a lot of people say that they
are as beautiful as women and sometimes they even say more
beautiful than women," he said.
After more than four hours of competition, the judges
narrow it down to three contestants. But after asking each
girl various ethical questions about being transsexual, they
pick 25-year-old Gun Rumgchao, who prefers to be called by her
'female' name -- Piyathida Sakulthai.
As she was crowned on stage, Gun thanked organisers and
vowed to give her 100 thousand Baht prize money to charity.
"My intention, if I win, was to give my prize money to
the elderly in a nursing home in Chiang Mai and to children
who suffer from aids," she said.
For the past two years, Thailand's Miss Tiffany has gone
on to win the international title of 'Miss Queen of the
Universe'. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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