委內瑞拉變性人奪得選美桂冠

A 22-year-old Venezuelan was crowned "Miss International Queen" on Friday night at a beauty contest that bills itself as the world's largest and promotes the rights of transsexuals and transvestites.

Isabella Santiago beat 21 contestants from 18 countries to win the title and prize money of $12,500 at a glittering pageant in the Thai resort town of Pattaya. The winner of the 2014 contest can also opt for free cosmetic surgery.

Santiago, who wore a shimmery white evening gown, laughed and said "Sleep!" when asked about her plans after the win.

"When on stage, she is so elegant and that's why the judges' decision was unanimous," said Seri Wongmontha, one of the pageant's judges.

The contest, in its tenth year, was held at the Tiffany's nightclub famous for its transvestite cabaret.

Like other beauty pageants, contestants for "Miss International Queen" paraded in their national costumes, evening gowns and swimsuits.

Miss USA Samira Sitara told Reuters TV that participating in the contest was a "dream come true", and this was the first time she was coming out publicly after being encouraged by friends.

"You know what, this is life and you can't run away from the past. I can't hide it anymore," she said.星期五晚，一名22歲的委內瑞拉選手奪得選美大賽桂冠，成爲“國際選美皇后”。這是世界上最大的一場選美比賽，旨在宣揚變性人和易裝癖者的權利。

這場盛大的比賽在泰國的度假勝地——芭提雅（Pattaya）舉行。伊莎貝拉·桑提亞哥（Isabella Santiago）從來自18個不同國家的21名參賽選手中脫穎而出，奪得“國際選美皇后”稱號，並獲得12500美元獎金。2014年的冠軍還能享受免費的整容手術。

桑提亞哥當晚身着一件光彩照人的白色晚禮服。當被問到獲勝後想做的第一件事是什麼時，她笑着回答說想睡覺。

作爲比賽的評委，社裏·王夢薩（Seri Wongmontha）表示，桑提亞哥在舞臺上表現得優雅大方，這正是評委們一致選擇她的原因。

本次第十屆選美大賽在蒂凡尼的夜總會（Tiffany's nightclub）舉行，這裏最有名的要數它的反串歌舞表演。同其他的選美比賽一樣，“國際選美皇后”的參賽者要穿着她們的民族服飾、晚禮服及泳裝走秀。

美國小姐薩米拉·西塔拉（Samira Sitara）接受路透電視臺（Reuters TV）採訪表示，參加這場比賽就像是實現了自己的夢想。在朋友們的鼓勵下，這是她第一次向公衆展示自己。

她說道：“你知道嗎，你無法逃避過去的日子，這就是生活。我不需要再遮遮掩掩地生活下去了。”