Thailand - Ms Marcelo Ohio (centre) from Brazil, the winner of the ninth Miss International Queen transgender beauty pageant, receives kisses from first runner-up Shantell D'Marco of the United States (right) and second runner-up Nethnapada Kanrayanon of Thailand. The week-long contest concluded last Friday at Thailand's beach resort city of Pattaya.

A total of 25 contestants from 17 countries took part in this year's pageant, reported Bangkok Post. All contestants were born male.

Organisers said Ms Ohio would walk away with a cash prize of 300,000 baht (S$12,000), a crown and sponsored surgery "for anything" at a renowned plastic surgery clinic in Bangkok.

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