PATTAYA: Rinrada "Yoshi" Thuraphan has been crowned Miss Tiffany’s Universe 2017 in the country's largest and grandest transgender beauty pageant.
The 20-year-old communication arts student at Bangkok University was chosen from among 30 contestants on Friday night. She will represent Thailand in the Miss International Queen 2018 pageant in March next year at the Tiffany's Show Theater in Pattaya.
The current Miss International Queen is Jiratchaya Sirimongkolnawin of Thailand, who was crowned in March this year.
"Yoshi" received a Mercedes-Benz GLA 200 Urban, 120,000 baht in cash, a diamond tiara, a trophy, gift vouchers and other items worth 200,000 baht. She also won other awards for Best Costume, Miss Photogenic and Miss Silky Skin.
The first and second runners-up were Kwanlada "Rock" Rungroj-ampa and Pimpisa “Tua Lek’’ Panupavinchok. Other special award winners were Pattarathida “Pangpond" Pattani, Miss Congeniality; Patchara "Kratua" Homtalop, Miss Popular Vote; and Nichanart Eamsa-ard, who received the Miss Beauty Inside Wacoal award.
The pageant, now in its 20th year, is organised by Tiffany's Show, the largest cabaret show of its kind in the country and located in Pattaya, 100 kilometres southwest of Bangkok. It is aimed at promoting the potential and talents of transgender people.
