A 25-year-old factory worker was awarded 300,000 baht in cash and prizes when she won top honors at the Miss Mimosa Queen transgender beauty pageant in Pattaya.
Chamaiporn “Sun” Sornsakul beat out 27 other contestants to place first in the televised Feb. 14 competition at the Mimosa Pattaya Theater.
Tour guide Konlada “Sua” Buathong, 22, won 150,000 baht in cash and prizes by finishing as runner-up while dance teacher Kamolak “Min” Kultithitanarath, 27, placed third, taking home 80,000 baht.
The nine finalists who appeared on Valentine’s Day had been winnowed down from the 27-contestant field who competed in an initial round of cat-walking, talent performances and question-and-answer at Royal Garden Plaza Feb. 12.
Organizers said the competition is held annually both to promote tourism to Pattaya and show that transgenders are just as talented as straight people and should be accepted by society.
Other awards in this year’s “Quality Beauty” competition included Kwandaow Kiethkamjorn for Miss Photogenic, Roda Sriduan for Best Skin and Chamaiporn for Mimosa Best Designer. All were awarded 20,000 baht.
