 |
|
|
 Entertainment | October 2006 
Mexico's Erica Andrews Crowned Transsexual Beauty Queen
 AFP
| | Mexico's Erica Andrews (C) with Ratravee Jiraprapakul (L) of Thailand and Patricia Montrecarlo of the Philippines (R) after being crowned Miss International Queen 2006 in the world's biggest transsexual beauty contest. (AFP/Pornchai Kittiwongsakul) |
Mexico's Erica Andrews has been crowned Miss International Queen 2006 after topping 23 other contestants in the world's biggest transsexual beauty pageant.
"This is the most wonderful feeling," she said, sitting on her throne after receiving 10,000 dollars and the title at Thailand's beach resort of Pattaya.
Andrews bested runners-up Patricia Montrecarlo of the Philippines and Thailand's Ratravee Jiraprapakul.
"It's a unique event. No one does it in the world except us," said chairwoman Alisa Phanthusak. "It gets bigger and bigger each year."
In a nation obsessed with beauty pageants and famous for its sexual tolerance, Miss International Queen is taken every bit as seriously as any traditional competition.
The night was filled with all the trappings of a conventional beauty pageant -- with rounds that saw the girls kitted out in national costumes, evening gowns and bathing suits.
Contestants came from as far away as the United States, Egypt and Australia to join beauty queens from Malaysia, the Philippines and Japan in the seven million baht (189,000 dollar) competition.
In addition to the audience at the Tiffany's Show Pattaya, which organizes the event and claims to be the world's largest transsexual cabaret, more than 25 million television viewers in Thailand, out of a population of 65 million people, were expected to watch, organizers said.
"When we have a beauty contest in Thailand, we take it seriously," said Dr. Seree Wongmontha, a well-known talk-show host and one of the judges at this year's contest.
The newly-crowned Andrews praised the tolerance that Thais have for transsexuals, which she said is not seen in her home country and other places in the West.
"I feel like I am at home. I feel so welcome here," she said. "It can't get any better than this." |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us