AFP[ SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 2004 08:43:02 PM ]

Treechada Petcharat, right, won the the first international transvestite competition in Pattaya, Thailand. (AP Photo)

BANGKOK: Blessed with flawless skin and a flashing smile, Thai college student Treechada Petcharat beat 23 challengers to win the world's first international transvestite beauty pageant, organisers said Sunday.

The 19-year-old cross-dresser, looking for all the world like the woman her birth certificate refutes, was crowned Miss International Queen Sunday beating transvestites and transsexuals from 10 Asian countries, France and Germany.

After rounds showing off his figure in swimwear, an evening gown and national costume, the student emerged triumphant, richer by 7,000 dollars and with a tiara for his well-coiffured hair.

Asia secured a clean sweep with contestants from India and the Philippines taking second and third spots at the pageant in the Thai coastal resort Pattaya, well-known for its relaxed attitude to all things sexual.

Although the competition was the first international one, Thailand has long held contests to crown the country's transvestites, who are widely accepted in most of predominantly Buddhist Thailand.

"We were sucessful with our first international beauty peagent and we will keep organising them for the coming years," said Alisa Phanthusak of organisers Tiffany Show Pattaya.

Beauty pageants are extremely popular in Thailand and the government is lobbying hard to host the Miss Universe contest next year.

One of the country's most famous is the annual Jumbo Queen for large-sized women while Miss Spinster is for mature single beauties aged 28 or over. Thailand now awaits next month's staging of the Miss Air Hostess pageant.