Japanese television host Haruna Ai, 37, is the new global transvestite diva.

She was crowned “Miss International Queen 2009” at the beauty pageant for transsexuals in Pattaya, Thailand over the weekend.

Haruna was among 18 contestants in the last round of the contest held at Tiffany’s Show which is reputedly the world’s largest transsexual cabaret.

The first runner-up was Thai contestant Kangsadal Wongdusadeekul and the second runner-up was Brazilian Daniela Marques.


Some of the contestants of the transsexual beauty pageant
Twenty-one contestants from around the world, including those from Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States, China and Brazil, took part in the fifth annual pageant.

The Miss International Queen contest is aimed at the promotion of tolerance and positive attitude towards transsexuals and transvestites.

Millions in Thailand, a country well known for its tolerance and acceptance of transsexuals, watched the contest live on televsion on Saturday. - DC