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The most beautiful man in Thailand
Bangkok, Apr 02: Fifty-three contestants strutted their stuff at Thailand`s most famous beauty pageant held annually. The competition celebrated femininity, with contenders from across Asia demonstrating their elegance, grace and beauty. The only requirement was that in order to enter the contest, you must have been born a man.
Bangkok, Apr 02: Fifty-three contestants strutted their stuff at Thailand`s most famous beauty pageant held annually. The competition celebrated femininity, with contenders from across Asia demonstrating their elegance, grace and beauty. The only requirement was that in order to enter the contest, you must have been born a man.
Backstage at a packed theatre in Pattaya, a town about 150 km southeast of Bangkok, contestants applied the finishing touches to make up and hair as they prepared for the first round of the the Miss Tiffany`s Universe pageant on Saturday (March 29).
Attention to detail was everything as hair was smoothed, laddered tights changed and fake eyelashes were glued. After all, the pageant was to be broadcast live on national television and the winner would be taking away a new car, a 200,000 baht ($4,674) cash prize, and most importantly the chance to participate in the Miss Queen of the Universe pageant in Los Angeles later in the year.
The pageant has been running for a successful six years - in the last four years Thai entrants have taken the Miss Queen crown three times.
The competition lasted a gruelling four hours, with contestants showing off cocktail and evening dresses and answering social interest questions to an exuberant crowd. In between rounds local dancers performed glitzy, sequined routines while presenters interviewed the high society jury members.
But behind the glamour and kitsch, the Miss Tiffany`s contest played a more significant role in the eyes of the transvestites who participated in it. For those waiting nervously backstage it was a chance for endorsement and acceptance.
Watcharin "Nongning" Tayati was taking part in his second Miss Tiffany`s. He admitted that it had taken a long time for his parents to accept him as he was, and that their presence at the pageant was a sign of their decision to support him.
"My parents knew that I wanted to be a woman and they tried to stop me. But they finally realised that they can`t make me be a man so they decided to just let it happen and let me be me".
The position that "katoeys" (transvestites) play in Thai society is a complex one. On the one hand they are able to lead am integrated life which would be impossible for many of their western counterparts. They are shop girls, university students, and television stars.
It would be hard to find another country where a transvestite pageant would get prime-time television slots and sponsorsip from Coca-Cola.
But Miss Tiffany`s organisers said that "katoeys" are often portrayed as stereotypes in the national media - either giggly, camp drag queens or as overly dramatic soap opera characters.
Dr. Seri Wongmonta, Chairperson of the Miss Tiffany`s board of directors, highlighted the role the pageant could play in improving the image of transvestites. He said that the aim was to break the view that transvestites were simply the drama queens of the gay community, and to get them recognition as individuals within society.
"It is not the gay community per se. We give chances to transvestites to climb up the social ladder. We give them status, we let them show their potential, their talents, their competence so that they can prove valuable."
Saturday`s winner, 21 year old agriculture student Tudpol Yonganugul will spend the next 12 months attending charity events and promotions, and will represent Thailand at the upcoming "Miss Queen of the Universe" pageant in Los Angeles.
Miss Tiffany organisers had recently attempted to buy the rights to hold the Miss Queen pageant themselves but dropped out due to the 3 million baht ($70,110) price tag.
However, the competition is becoming increasingly renowned internationally - this year contestants from Japan and Korea flew to Thailand to participate. Organisers hope that Thailand`s unique situation will help to make it the global centre for transvestite events.
"We feel that we`re going to have more and more foreign transvestites coming here" said contest director Alisa Phanthusak.
"Maybe our stage will become the biggest and most popular stage for all transvestites in the world".
The evening drew to a close with a touch of Hollywood glamour as transvestites performed numbers from Oscar winning musical "Chicago". Watch out Catherine Zeta-Jones - you have some competition, and he`s got great legs.
Bureau Report
But behind the glamour and kitsch, the Miss Tiffany`s contest played a more significant role in the eyes of the transvestites who participated in it. For those waiting nervously backstage it was a chance for endorsement and acceptance.
Watcharin "Nongning" Tayati was taking part in his second Miss Tiffany`s. He admitted that it had taken a long time for his parents to accept him as he was, and that their presence at the pageant was a sign of their decision to support him.
"My parents knew that I wanted to be a woman and they tried to stop me. But they finally realised that they can`t make me be a man so they decided to just let it happen and let me be me".
The position that "katoeys" (transvestites) play in Thai society is a complex one. On the one hand they are able to lead am integrated life which would be impossible for many of their western counterparts. They are shop girls, university students, and television stars.
It would be hard to find another country where a transvestite pageant would get prime-time television slots and sponsorsip from Coca-Cola.
But Miss Tiffany`s organisers said that "katoeys" are often portrayed as stereotypes in the national media - either giggly, camp drag queens or as overly dramatic soap opera characters.
Dr. Seri Wongmonta, Chairperson of the Miss Tiffany`s board of directors, highlighted the role the pageant could play in improving the image of transvestites. He said that the aim was to break the view that transvestites were simply the drama queens of the gay community, and to get them recognition as individuals within society.
"It is not the gay community per se. We give chances to transvestites to climb up the social ladder. We give them status, we let them show their potential, their talents, their competence so that they can prove valuable."
Saturday`s winner, 21 year old agriculture student Tudpol Yonganugul will spend the next 12 months attending charity events and promotions, and will represent Thailand at the upcoming "Miss Queen of the Universe" pageant in Los Angeles.
Miss Tiffany organisers had recently attempted to buy the rights to hold the Miss Queen pageant themselves but dropped out due to the 3 million baht ($70,110) price tag.
However, the competition is becoming increasingly renowned internationally - this year contestants from Japan and Korea flew to Thailand to participate. Organisers hope that Thailand`s unique situation will help to make it the global centre for transvestite events.
"We feel that we`re going to have more and more foreign transvestites coming here" said contest director Alisa Phanthusak.
"Maybe our stage will become the biggest and most popular stage for all transvestites in the world".
The evening drew to a close with a touch of Hollywood glamour as transvestites performed numbers from Oscar winning musical "Chicago". Watch out Catherine Zeta-Jones - you have some competition, and he`s got great legs.
Bureau Report