Cebuana wins Miss Photogenic at Miss Int’l Queen

CEBU, Philippines - Stacy Biano of Mandaue City, Cebu managed a Top 10 finish and was recipient of a major award at Friday night’s Miss International Queen 2016 finals held in Pattya City, Thailand.

The transgender BPO employee and part-time model was named Miss Photogenic among 26 other contestants in the tilt billed as the world’s largest and most popular transgender pageant.

The other Philippine bet in this year’s edition, model and part-time actress Sabel Gonzales of Pangasinan, was also part of the Top 10 finalists.

Hometown candidate Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin, 25, succeeded the Philippines’ Trixie Maristela, who was crowned winner in 2015. Brazil’s Nathalie Oliveira and Venezuala’s Andrea Collazo finished second and third, respectively.

Sirimongkolnawin is a former dental health student who now works as a model and fashion designer.

Held annually in Pattya City since 2004, the Miss International Queen 2016 finals was originally scheduled for November of last year, but was postponed after the death of the host country’s King Bhumibol Adulyadej in October.

The four-month postponement makes Maristela the second longest-reigning Miss International Queen winner after Tanyarat Jirapatpakon of Thailand who reigned from 2007 to 2009. Due to political unrest in Thailand, no contest was mounted in 2008.

Thailand has the most number of winners so far with four title-holders, followed by the Philippines with two (Kevin Balot won in 2012).

Launched to help propagate LGBT awareness and acceptance all over the world, Miss International Queen requires that its contestants must have been born male, between the age of 18 and 35 and can be at any stage of their gender reassignment surgery. (FREEMAN)