Miss International Queen 2010

[rxpharm]

A good HD Youtube video of the contest (4 parts)

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A few more

No. 5, Nixie Salonga from Philippines - She is also Miss Gay Philippines 2010

No. 6, Baby Shima Shyna, Japan - but I suspect she's Filipina working in Japan

No. 2, Barbie Gauthier, Belgium, winner of the Ripley's internet vote

[guydesavoy]

Thanks for the updates Rx

Nice product placement in post # 28

[rxpharm]

Article from The Nation Nov 23/10 about the contest.

Pattaya's new princesses
By Jofelle P Tesorio
Asia News Network
Pattaya
Published on November 23, 2010



Poy, our own success story, witnesses the rise of a Korean transgender star.

When Treechada "Poy" Marnyaporn enters the room, everyone watches her every move. And they're even more curious about her equally good-looking boyfriend, who's from a well-off family.
Actress and model Treechada has been in the limelight since she was crowned Miss Tiffany in 2004, monarch of all the country's transsexuals and transvestites - and then claimed the global title, Miss International Queen.
Poy leaves everyone giddy and star-struck, but would their reaction be different if she hadn't undergone sex-reassignment surgery and remained a man?

There's no argument that the 24-year-old is a natural charmer, as well as a successful transgender who's crossed into the mainstream entertainment industry. She's one of the stars of the recent movie "With Love ... Duay Rak", appeared in the 2005 music video "Mai Chai Poo Chai" ("I'm Not a Man") and television series including "Rak Ther Took Wan" ("Love You Every Day") and "Muay Inter" ("The Chinese Girl").

She is also the spokesperson of G-net mobile, a stint that's increased her fan base. There's no escaping her cute looks because her face is plastered on billboards and buses.

Over the weekend in Pattaya, Poy was among the celebrities who graced the sixth Miss International Queen pageant that raises awareness about transgenders and transvestites and fosters foreign LGBT relations, as well as collecting money for the AIDS Foundation.

The event is also the ultimate showcase of the world's most beautiful and talented transgenders, transvestites and transsexuals. Thailand's transvestite elite are seen in all their fabulousness.
Ploy was definitely a standout, but another Asian, Ai Haruna, exudes considerable charm and beauty too.

Already a celebrity in her native Japan, the youthful looking 37-year-old Haruna is the 2009 Miss International Queen. The presence of a Japanese TV crew following Haruna and fellow contestant Aini Takeuchi is proof that they've gone mainstream in the Land of the Rising Sun as well.
The 23-year-old Takeuchi, a soap opera actress back home, ended up as first runner-up, losing to Miss South Korea, but the otherwise reserved Japanese fans in the audience gamely cheered, clapped and shouted in support.
Things are different for the newly crowned Miss International Queen, known only as Mini.

She came to Thailand without telling anyone she was entering the pageant, but despite the coyness, a TV crew from the Korean Broadcasting Service was on hand, and the Korea Herald made her win headline news back in Seoul.
"I don't know what to expect back home because no one there knew why I came here," she said through an interpreter.
The 27-year-old designer said South Korea isn't as advanced as Thailand in accepting transgenders, although more and more people are learning tolerance.

If Mini makes waves in the mainstream, though, won't be the first - in fact quite a few have achieved success in show business, like Harisu, a famous transsexual singer and model.

Mini's mantra is "Keep going, try, try, try", and that's got to be encouraging for other Asian transvestites and transgenders - there are many more just waiting to be discovered

[rxpharm]

Now onto the evening gown photos from the contest.

First, no. 1, Cheryl Isabella from Singapore

Second, no. 2, Barbie Gauthier from Belgium

Third, no. 3, Chamila from Sri Lanka

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A couple of no. 4, Claire Harlow from Philippines

And no. 5, Nixie Salonga, from Philippines and as mentioned Miss Gay Philippines 2010.

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No. 6, Baby Shima Shyna from Japan (she was in a previous MIQ contest not sure which year).

No. 7, Stasha Sanchez from USA

No. 8, Nalada Thamthanakorn (Nong Mick) from Thailand

[rxpharm]

A couple more of no. 8, Nong Mick from Thailand, she won the Best Evening Gown award.

No. 9, Mini from Korea, the eventual winner

[rxpharm]

A couple more of no. 9, Mini from Korea. She exuded confidence and seemed determined to win - my panel commented she may have been "too confident".

No. 10, Michelly X, from Brazil (not sure if she is the same Brazilan shemale star by that name).

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A few of no. 11, Jenna Talackova, from Vancouver, B.C., Canada (one of my panel favorites).

[rxpharm]

For GDS, sharp eyes, I didn't notice the product placement in that photo until you mentioned it!

Here's a VDO of Jenna backstage for you.

[ezflip]

It was a first for me to see and a first for Cindy as well. She had seen and participated in local pageants before but never at this level.

Bought our tickets the day before. Cindy took 2 hours to prepare herself. As usual... while I slumbered through a bad movie playing on TV. Finally, with 30 minutes to go, I told her that we have to go.

"Ok, ok, we go now!" but not before a 100th check in the mirror.

Half an hour late... Oh well!

Loved the questions period. 3 or 4 translators for the Japanese candidate. And, from what I heard later on, the translation was not even correct. At least the Korean candidate had her own translator with her.

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Cindy got a kick out of the final moment and I got a bruised arm as she held on for dear life while the final verdict was announced.

Still managed to capture the action on camera.

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And the final three...

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And a final group shot. Followed by my date for the evening. Hell! Date for the 2 weeks I was there...