The dressing room was in absolute chaos.
It was hot and crowded, with beauty queens and their personal hair and make-up stylists all packed inside the room filled with mirrors, cluttered tables -- serving as their beauty station -- and ring lights. There must have been enough curling irons in there to affect climate change.
In one corner, staff were applying concealers on the beauty queens' backs and legs to make their skin appear flawless. Everyone was in their gorgeous sequin gown, ready to blind onlookers the moment they would step into the spotlight. Faces blotted. Hair sprayed. Checking there was no lipstick on their teeth. There were little time left before everyone was due to go on stage for the final round of Miss Tiffany's Universe 2018. The well-known beauty pageant for transgender women was held last Friday evening in Pattaya.
Just before the final show, Life went backstage to get to know this year's hopeful ladies. One contestant, Nanut Arpsuwaun, 26, sported a distinct, short hairstyle, making her immediately recognisable in the room. It was her first time competing for the Miss Tiffany crown. She is also a ballet teacher and a cancer survivor (hence her current hairstyle).
"I've been wanting to join the pageant for years, but I couldn't because I had to receive medical treatment. Now that I'm cured, I'm taking my shot here."
Nanut said she's always liked to dance from a young age, and she dreams of auditioning for international dance companies.
In 21 years, Miss Tiffany's contest has welcomed hundreds of transgender women onto its stage. This year, 30 ladies with 30 individual dreams and aspirations advanced to the final round. Some, like Nanut, were first-timers, but many have competed before and came back this year for another shot at the coveted crown.
"I won the swimsuit round back in 2016. I got the title Miss Fit and Firm," said second-timer Chatchapa "Baipai" Thepkunanon, 24, proudly. She now works as a beauty consultant and freelance actress. She called famous TV personality Ornapa Krisadee her khun mae (mother), who has "made society more open to transgender women in beauty, fashion and the entertainment industry", she said.
"Thai people are quite open-minded, to an extent, when it comes to sexuality," Chatchapa continued. "But some still view the 'third gender' as having certain limits. In the past, I've applied for a job and got denied because they said transgender people are all talk and don't do any work.
"If there is no limit for us at all in the world, I want us to have equal rights. Transgender, tom, lesbian, gay men -- everyone. We can start from a small thing like marriage equality. It's a small thing, but it's very important."
She was later announced as Miss Congeniality.
Many of the ladies did agree that work opportunities can be limited for them. Perhaps because of that -- as well as having seen transgender celebrities in showbiz like Miss Tiffany's own superstar Poyd Treechada -- they look to beauty pageants as a ticket to a shining future. It is a place that reserves opportunities especially for transgender people, where many hope fame can help further their lives and careers.
"Fame gives you more space, more acceptance in society, and eventually you can support your family so they'd be more comfortable," said Nanut quite matter-of-factly.
Other contestants feel this opportunity could also help them achieve something greater for society. Theerachaya "Book" Pimkitidaj, 22, a beauty adviser and Chinese interpreter at a cosmetic store who also attained second-class honours in her arts degree, said she looks up to predecessors like Nicha Rongram -- first runner-up of Miss Tiffany's Universe 2012 -- who is now an LGBTI activist.
"I think I'm ready to follow suit, to inspire others in terms of education," said Theerachaya. She was eventually placed as first runner-up this year.
While most had to face social obstacles, some even had to struggle with their families over being transgender. Theerachaya said she comes from a Thai-Chinese family, which wasn't too open with gender issues. It was a long journey before her parents finally accepted her. She gladly told us her family is very supportive of her now. The experience was quite similar for university student and part-time model Kanwara "Esmon" Kaewjin, 21, the eventual winner of the evening.
"I used to put on my mother's clothes and shoes, all the while fearing what my father and others were going to say if they found out," she said. It wasn't until she got into university and living far from home that she began dressing in women's clothes. Kanwara first joined Miss Tiffany's last year at the encouragement of her peers, advancing to the Top 30. She returned this year after learning from and improving on her flaws.
"Last year, my parents were so happy and proud of me, just for the very reason that I can live in this society happily," said Kanwara. Her parents weren't able to come and support her in person, but they were already waiting in front of the TV at home to watch the broadcast.
"Family is very important, and I don't think they meant to keep us from being who we are. Perhaps they were also afraid of how their children are going to live in society being LGBTI, but I was able to show them in the end that we can be successful too," she said.
