Brazilian Transgender Crowned as Miss International Queen 2013 (See Video)
Miss Brazil Marcelo Ohio is the new Miss International Queen 2013, a transexual beauty contest in Pattaya on Nov. 1, 2013. Ohio bested 25 contestants from 17 countries worldwide, Shantell D'Marco of U.S.A. is the first runner-up and Nethnapada Kanrayanon of Thailand is the second runner-up.
Along with the a rhinestone crown, Miss Brazil Marcelo Ohio is going to take home 300,000 baht ($9,677) and free surgery "for anything" courtesy of Bangkok's famed plastic surgery clinic, and not just that, an apartment at Woodland Hotel and Resort for a year in Pattaya City.
Redesigned in 2010, the official Miss International Queen crown was inspired by butterflies as it represents beauty in nature and a symbol of rebirth. This a fitting crown for a queen and it is valued with a whopping amount of U.S. $15,000, the crown remains with the Miss International Queen Organization.
Since 2004, the pageant is held in Pattaya, Thailand organized by Tiffany's Show Pattaya Co. Ltd and sponsored by Tourism Authority of Thailand. Launched 10 years ago to generate Pattaya beach resort, 100 kilometers south-east of Bangkok, a form of entertainment as it offers transgenders a genuine career option.
The first Miss International Queen is Miss Thailand Treechada Petcharat Marnyaporn in 2004 followed by Miss U.S.A. Mimi Marks in 2004, Miss Mexico Erica Andrews in 2006 and Miss Thailand Tayarat Jirapatpakon in 2007. Due to political unrest in Thailand in 2008, the pageant was cancelled during that year and Miss Japan Ai Haruna won the crown in 2009 followed by Mini Han from South Korea in 2010. Thailand won again for the third time in 2011, and Kevin Balot from the Philippines won the crown in 2012.
Pattaya City
Famous for its holiday resorts, Pattaya City is located on the eastern coastline of Thailand's exotic Gulf of Siam south of the country's capital. Pattaya is a known city for its tourists and expatriates, a self-governing municipal area that covers the whole tambon Nong Prue and Na Kluea and parts of Huai Yai and Nong Pla Lai.