Japanese television host Haruna Ai, 37, won the the "Miss International Queen 2009" transvestite beauty pageant held in Pattaya, Thailand.

Haruna was among 18 contestants in the last round of the contest held Saturday night at Tiffany's Show which is billed the world's largest transsexual cabaret.
Kyodo reported that Haruna was awarded $10,000 (RM34,125), a tiara and a trophy.

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. More photos here

Twenty-one contestants from around the world, including those from Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, the United States, China and Brazil, participated in the fifth pageant, according to the organizers.

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 television on Saturday.