PATTAYA: Filipina Fuschia Anne Ravena was crowned Miss International Queen 2022 on Saturday (June 25) at a contest in Thailand billed as the world's largest and most popular transgender pageant.

The 27-year-old business owner beat 22 other contestants for the crown, with the second and third place going to contestants from Colombia and France, respectively.

After winning the crown, Anne Ravena, Miss International Queen 2022, said, "My first message to everyone is to spread love and peace and unity because that is the most important thing that we do as of the moment and what's happening in the world right now.

The pageant, which was halted for almost two years because of the pandemic, resumed in the Thai seaside town of Pattaya during Pride Month to also celebrate gender equality, said Alisa Phanthusak, the CEO of Miss Tiffany Show, the organizer.

She said, "Pride together is mean that if we are together and put the same message to let everyone understand (equality), we will win somehow, to get something from the society, to get the understanding, to get the law that we want, to eliminate discrimination within the country and also the world.”

Miss International Queen Cambodia, Sai Fhon said that it’s important for her to join the competition to stop the discrimination of transgender people.

She said, “For me, I think I come here not only for the crown but I come here for all the transgender in my country, all transgender around the world. Because in my country (the society) not yet accept all transgender, just some people. So, I want to inspire my voice to some people who still have some discrimination to transgender or some people (who) still look (at) transgender look so bad, look like a monster.”

The contest, which brings together transgender people from around the world, was launched over a decade ago to help transgender women feel more accepted by society.

Thailand has one of Asia's most open and visible lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT+) communities, adding to its image of tolerance and attraction as a liberal holiday destination for foreign tourists.

But activists say Thai laws and institutions have yet to reflect changing social attitudes and still discriminate against LGBT+ people and same-sex couples.

^{PHOTO: FUSCHIA ANNE RAVENA BEING CROWNED AS MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN 2022/RAVENA WITH RUNNERS UP/ SOUNDBITE RAVENS/ CONTESTANTS ON STAGE / CONTESTANTS GETTING READY BACK STAGE/ SOUNDBITES/ EXTERIOR VENUE}