Bangkok (dpa) – Trixie Maristela from the Philippines was crowned Miss International Queen 2015 at the world’s largest transgender beauty pageant held late Friday in the Thai resort city of Pattaya, 100 kilometres south-east of Bangkok.
Newly-crowned Miss International Queen 2015, Trixie Maristela from Philippines (R) receives the crown from last year’s queen Isabella Santiago of Venezuela (L) after winning the transvestite and transgender beauty pageant ‘Miss International Queen 2015’ at Tiffany’s Show theatre in Pattaya, Thailand on 06 November 2015. Twenty-seven contestants from 17 countries participated in the event, which is endowed with prize money of 400,000 Thai baht (about 11,250 US dollars or 10,350 euros), a crown with real gems and a free surgery at a plastic surgery clinic in Bangkok.
The 29-year-old graduate of the University of Philippines receives the crown adorned with real gems from last year’s winner Isabella Santiago from Venezuela, the prize money of 400,000 Thai baht (11,250 dollars) and the option of free cosmetic surgery in Bangkok.
The first runner-up was Valesca Dominik Ferraz from Brazil and the second runner-up was Sopida Siriwattananukoon from Thailand.
Winner Trixie Maristela from Philippines participates in the transvestite and transgender beauty pageant ‘Miss International Queen 2015’ at Tiffany’s Show theatre in Pattaya, Thailand.
Twenty-seven contestants from 17 countries participated in the event formatted much like other beauty pageants with a talent and a swimsuit portion.
Miss International Queen, organized by Thailand’s transgender cabaret show Tiffany’s, is held annually in the beach resort city of Pattaya and aims to create transgender rights awareness among international communities.
Since its start in 2014, past winners include contestants from Thailand, the United States, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Venezuela and the Philippines.