Kevin Balot, a contestant from the Philippines, reacts after being crowned the winner at the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Sunny Dee-Lite, a contestant from the U.S., gets her picture taken before the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012. Some 21 contestants from 15 countries, all of them born male, compete in the week-long event for the crown of Miss International Queen 2012.Reuters 
Tukishima Beni, a contestant from Japan, gets her make-up done before the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Ruby Bella Cruz, a contestant from the U.S., gets her make-up done before the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Panvilas Mongkol, a contestant from Thailand, waits for the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Kevin Balot, a contestant from the Philippines, reacts as being crowned winner at the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Jessika Simoed, a contestant from Brazil, gets her make-up done before the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Bianca Gold, a contestant from Brazil, smiles for the camera before the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Kevin Balot, a contestant from the Philippines, reacts as being crowned winner at the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Tukishima Beni, a contestant from Japan, prepares to go onto the stage during the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Contestants prepare to go onto the stage during the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Kevin Balot, a contestant from Philippines, reacts after being announced winner at the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Ruby Bella Cruz, a contestant from the U.S., gets her make-up done before the start of the final night of Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Contestants wear national costumes during the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Miriam Jimenez, a contestant from Philippines, prepares to go onto the stage during the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters 
Kevin Balot (R), a contestant from the Philippines, reacts while being crowned winner at the Miss International Queen 2012 transgender/transsexual beauty pageant in Pattaya November 2, 2012.Reuters
Kevin Balot of Philippines won the prestigious Miss International Queen 2012 title at a beauty pageant for transgenders and transvestites on Nov 2, in Pattaya, Thailand.
The 20-year-old nursing graduate from Philippines also won the Miss Photogenic title. Jessika Simoes of Brazil went to become the first runner-up and Panvilas Mongkol was adjusted to the second runner-up position.
[PICTURES OF TRANSGENDERS AT MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN CONTEST]
Other award winning contestants include Sunny Dee-Lite of the US for Best Evening Gown, Beni Tukishima of Japan for The Angel Talent Competition, Noah Herrera of Venezuela for Miss Congeniality and Yuki Tachibana of Japan for Miss National Costume. Matricia Mae Centino of Guam was honoured with the Miss Perfect Skin title by Asoke Skin Hospital.
Promoted by Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co. Ltd, Miss International Queen is a competition exclusively for transgenders and transvestites and has turned into a big event over the years with contestants from several countries participating to win the coveted title.
According to Miss International Queen official website, the beauty pageant was organized with an aim to "offer an international competition for transgender and transsexual from around the world, to provide an opportunity for transgender/transsexual to be more accepted in today's world, to create human rights awareness among international communities and to build friendship and exchange ideas among international lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender/transsexual communities."
[PICTURES OF TRANSGENDERS AT MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN CONTEST]
