I can see up that young ladies dress...

Those words were uttered by my very good friend Jeff in reference to a drag queen that was sitting not so lady-like at a club in what seems a life time ago. Having just spent the weekend in Bangkok, I found Jeff’s words echo in my head on more than one occasion. Unlike that particular drag queen who shoved his bulging muscles into a tacky dress, the lady boys and transvestites that I bought handbags from, got a facial by and saw trying to entice gentleman into the Pussy Collection club, this was not just a Saturday night thing but how they lived their lives and from what I could tell is pretty much accepted in the daily culture.

After noticing and making a mental note of this to tell you all about..this article appeared in Monday’s newspaper.

Teenager crowned Thailand's most beautiful transvestite

PATTAYA (Thailand) - A TEENAGE transvestite who grew up on a military base was crowned Thailand's most beautiful transvestite late on Friday, in an extravagant annual pageant which transfixed the nation.
Kangsadarn Wongdusadeekul, known by her stage name 'Nonk', cried as she accepted her Miss Tiffany crown from last year's winner.
Nonk, 19, particularly impressed the panel of judges with her question round.
Asked if she would be happy to join the army as a man, she told the audience: 'Last year I went to register as a soldier but my figure had changed so the government did not let me.'
'We are beautiful - so we have no need to be soldiers,' she said, getting the biggest laugh of the night.
Her win brings considerable financial reward: 100,000 baht (S$4,356) - equivalent to a year's wages for a factory worker - and a Honda car.
But with the cost of a single pageant dress at least 10,000 baht, winning Miss Tiffany is about more than the prizes.
Most of the 30 transvestites parading across the glitter-filled stage said they were seeking social acceptance rather than money.
Nonk says she is lucky to have been accepted by her family as her father is a colonel in the Thai army.
Nonk said after the contest that she had known she wanted to be a girl from a very young age, and her military family were so understanding they now tell friends she is their daughter. They keep few photos of Nonk as a boy.
'They said I can be whatever I want to be so long as I take care of myself and other people,' she said.
Miss Tiffany 2008 was crowned in a sold-out 2,000-seater theatre, and televised nationally.
The runners-up were Pailin 'Bank' Denfhanapapol and Doolkamon 'Golf' Kontun, with awards also given for Miss Congeniality and Miss Photogenic.
The event has become increasingly high profile, with winners forging careers as television presenters and as the faces of beauty products.
Miss Tiffany will now advance to the global competition, Miss International Queen, to be held here in October. -- AFP
What I find so interesting is that the competition was a sold-out event and televised nationally, not just held in some niche club
Would you watch??? I certainly would!

There was a picture but its embedded in the article and I can't extract!!