Published : Nov. 22, 2010 - 16:22
BANGKOK, Nov 20, 2010 - A Korean known as Mini has won the Miss International Queen contest, a pageant for transvestites that organizers said Saturday was for those "interested in beauty and equality".
The winner of Miss international Queen 2010 Mini Han from South Korea hold trophy during competition at the Miss International Queen 2010 transvestite beauty pageant Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, in Pattaya, Thailand. (AP-Yonhap News)
Mini, who works as a designer, fought off competitors from 15 countries to take the crown as well as 10,000 dollars in prize money at the event held in Thailand's Pattaya beach resort.
The 27-year-old is the first Korean to win the title, organizers said, and she also picked up the best national costume prize.
Judges, who scrutinized faces, skin and posture as well as attitude and intelligence were impressed by Mini's "perfect beauty", a statement from Miss International Queen 2010 said.
Runners up were Ami Takeuchi from Japan, whose occupation was not listed, and Stasha Sanchez, an entertainer from the United States.
Of the 23 contestants, 12 were from Asia, four were European and seven were from the Americas.
(AFP)