Miss International Queen 2016 is Thai

Miss Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin from Thailand has just won the crown at the world's largest transgender beauty pageant in Thailand.

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Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin won the Miss International Queen 2016 transgender beauty pageant - Photo: Reuters

According to Reuters, the 25-year-old Thai contestant defeated 24 other contestants in the final night of the Miss International Queen 2016 contest held on the night of March 10. The first and second runner-up positions of the contest respectively belonged to contestants from Brazil and Venezuela.

This is considered the world's largest and most famous beauty pageant for transgender people, gathering contestants from all over the world. Initiated a decade ago, the pageant aims to help transgender women become more confident when accepted by society.

This year marks the 12th year of the Miss International Queen 2016 pageant. The event was held at Tiffany's nightclub in the coastal city of Pattaya, Thailand.

Like other beauty contests, contestants have to go through national costume, evening gown and swimsuit competitions.

Despite having a significant lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, Thailand remains a relatively conservative society. The country has yet to have a law recognizing same-sex marriage.

The 2016 Miss Transgender pageant was postponed from November last year due to the mourning period for Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej after he passed away on October 13 at the age of 88.

According to TTO