At last, Thailand’s trans men and masc-of-center lesbians are getting their moment in the sun — or in this case, on the stage. The Tom Thailand 2026 will be the country’s first-ever beauty pageant uplifting masc-of-center lesbians, transmasculine people, and trans men.
Organized and owned by Bunnada Thippibal, known in many spaces as Phi Lek, the pageant isn’t just about presentation or suits; contestants will be judged based on their confidence, character, and self-expression. The novel Tom Thailand 2026 pageant was announced on June 15 during a press conference by Calypso Cabaret, trans performance group, at the Asiatique The Riverfront in Bangkok, per TimeOut Thailand.
Though the country is known for its beauty pageants, many of which uplift trans women and kathoey, a pre-colonial transfeminine gender identity specific to Thailand, there has never been such an event focusing on “toms,” or masc-of-center lesbians and transmascs. Because Thailand is the only country in Southeast Asia to have never been colonized by European countries, it has preserved its rich history of gender variance. The goal of the show is to put toms and trans men in the public eye, and highlight their excellence.
Joining Phi Lek will be Wilailak Sirisakhon as pageant director, as well as masters for the contest Anant Semathong, also known as Mae Uan Return, Winit Bunchaisri, and Thachai Prathumwan, a musician known as Keng. The competition will be hosted by social media creator Mod X and actor Thanaphol Khiaoorn. The coaching team will include Patitthaya Khwantrakun, Sumonrat and Piyawan Chuentako.
For those interested in entering, applications are currently open for those between 18 and 40 who are toms or trans men. You’ll need three to five headshots, a personal biography, and a special talent to perform at the show itself.
The new pageant marks another step in uplifting masc-of-center people, who have historically been invisibilized, even in queer spaces. The small but growing canon of performance arts spaces centered on transmasc people also includes King of Drag, a drag competition show highlighting drag kings.
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