Beauty without boundaries

THERE IS AN allure to beauty pageants that makes them one of the most popular shows worldwide – think a stunning evening gown parade, a swimsuit catwalk and the perfect beauty queen waving after being crowned.
The Miss International Queen 2014 pageant held last Friday at Tiffany Theatre in Pattaya had all the ingredients of a successful beauty pageant show. The only difference was that all the contestants are transgenders and each of them has journeyed along a unique path to become the beautiful woman she is today.
The fairest of all 21 contestants from 18 countries this year was Isabella Santiago from Venezuela. Coming from the land of beauty queens, the 23-year-old model told ANN her dream was just about to begin now that she had won the title.
“I feel very special to be able to fulfil my dreams. It’s my faith in God that has made this come true,” she said through a translator.
Dazzling the crowd with her radiant smiles, she said her experience at the pageant further reaffirmed her belief that all transgender people deserve to live their own dreams.
“Life is definitely better now for transgender people in Venezuala compared to five years ago. We face less discrimination in our daily lives,” she said.
Passing on her baton, last year’s winner Marcela Ohio from Brazil placed the coveted crown on Santiago’s head to wild applause. Santiago also won the Best Evening Gown title and walked away with prize money worth Bt400,000, an apartment at Woodlands Hotel and Resort for a year as well as gift sets from sponsors.
Thailand’s Nitsa Katrahong and Laos’ Piyada Inthavong bagged the first and second runner-up places respectively.
Asked about her journey into womanhood, Santiago said she became aware of being different from other boys when she was 10.
“I loved to watch my mother dressing up and putting on make-up,” said the eldest of three siblings.
Santiago did not attempt to apply make-up until she was 16 and said it was a revelation.
“I looked into the mirror and realised ‘Oh wow, I want to be a woman’” she said, adding that her mother has been her pillar of strength and she is grateful for the support of her family and friends.
Marking its 10th anniversary this year, Miss International Queen has enjoyed tremendous success in celebrating transgender beauty and promoting equality for the transgender community. The annual competition marked another milestone this year by welcoming first-time entrants from Vietnam and Laos.
True to Tiffany’s extravagant fashion, the spectacular show of the night opened with a bang – the contestants came on stage in their elaborate national costumes with butterfly design details, befitting this year’s “The embracing flutter of the butterfly wings” theme.
Organisers of the show remarked that the butterfly theme was chosen to symbolise the “metamorphosis” that the women have undergone to arrive at this junction in life. Home crowd favourite Nitsa won the Best National Costume and Miss Photogenic titles.
The 24-year-old first made headlines when she won Thailand’s Miss Tiffany Universe title in May.
“I hope to contribute more to social work and raise awareness of the LGBT (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender) issues for the remainder of my reign,” said Nitsa, a Prachuap Khiri Khan native, adding that she feels blessed that Thai society is very tolerant and accepting of the transgender community.
“I also owe my success to my family. Everyone in my family has been very supportive since I first came out during my teens,” said Nitsa.
 Double cheer for Malaysia
 THE GOOD NEWS could not have arrived at a better time. Last Friday, the day of the 2014 edition of Miss International Queen, three Malaysian transgender women won an appeal against a state Sharia law banning Muslim men from dressing up as women.
The judge presiding the case ruled that the state religious enactment is unconstitutional and violates human rights. The Muslim transgender appellants had been arrested several times on the state enactment. The landmark ruling has been hailed by human rights and transgender activists worldwide.
Malaysian contestant Cicie Sinclair learned the good news on a very busy day preparing for the Miss International Queen’s finals in Pattaya. Her Facebook newsfeed was abuzz.
“I am so happy to hear about the verdict. Everybody should be given the freedom to be themselves,” she said, chatting with Asia News Network backstage.
Transgender people in Malaysia face continuous persecution. Human Rights Watch has ranked Malaysia as among the worst places in which to be a transgender person. Muslim transgenders have horror stories of being hauled in by police and religious authorities, sexual assaults and being made to parade naked in male lockups. In 2011, effeminate male students were sent to camps to be “set straight” on proper “masculine behaviours”.
Cicie, 28, had her own struggles after becoming aware of her true gender identity at the age of 12.
“I had some issues with my family. Also, I had to finish my studies first, I could not fully express my gender identity until then,” she revealed.
Her transformation began after moving to Kuala Lumpur from her hometown in Sabah. She now works as a showgirl at one of the popular clubs in the capital.
Her family has since come around to her decision and lifestyle and her sister was at her side putting finishing touches to her gown before the pageant.
“I joined the competition to make friends and raise awareness about transgender issues; winning or losing is not so important,” said the veteran of many beauty pageants. She did indeed score a win merely by being selected as one of the top 10 finalists at Miss International Queen.
Looking resplendent in her emerald green national costume with elaborate headgear, this writer asked her how was dressed on a normal day.
“I love wearing dresses. What you see now is what you get. I’m not a jeans and T-shirt type of girl, I never want to dress like a man again,” she said.
KANG SOON CHEN
ASIA NEWS NETWORK
SPECIAL TO THE NATION