Filipina entrepreneur Fuschia Anne Ravena has won 2022’s crown for the world’s largest beauty pageant for transgender women – Miss International Queen. The 27-year-old comes from the Cebu province in Philippines. The finale took place in Pattaya, Thailand, on Saturday, and 23 other contestants participated. Colombia’s Jasmine Jimenez finished second, while Aëla Chanel from France bagged the third spot.
The pageant first began in 2004 and is an annual event, but organisers had to cancel it in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since it coincided with Pride month this year, they chose the theme ‘Pride Together’.
“I always think that the most beautiful asset of being a human and being a trans woman is not just a head that’s full of knowledge — (it) should be a heart that’s full of love and respect, an ear that’s ready to listen and hands that (are) willing to help other people,” CNN quoted Ravena during the question and answer round of the pageant.
In her introduction video, she said, “Coming from a very remote area with little access to HRT and technology, my transitioning has not been easy. The acceptance in my own home is the best gift I’ve received throughout my trans journey”. She also discussed the prevelant misconceptions about transgender women. Ravena wants to use the platform provided by Miss International Queen to become a voice that resonates globally.
She shared an Instagram post about the win as well:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CfQUv9Hr2Ar/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Fuschia Anne Ravena received 450,000 Thai baht, or $12,700 dollars in prize money from the pageant. Her win is undoubtedly an inspiration not just to transgender women, but to Asian transgender women as well. According to CNN, she is the third Filipina to win the title.
