STORY: Midori Monet form the U.S. was crowned Miss International Queen 2025 on Saturday (September 20) during a dazzling finale in Thailand, winning a competition widely regarded as the world's most prestigious transgender pageant.

The victory marks the third time a contestant from the United States has claimed the crown, triumphing over a diverse field representing 23 nations. The contestant from Cuba was named first runner-up, with Vietnam placing as second runner-up.

Operating under the theme "Beyond Beauty, Open Possibility," this year's pageant continues a nearly two-decade-long mission to foster acceptance for transgender women in society.

Thailand's reputation as a liberal holiday destination for LGBT communities was further solidified by the historic legalisation of same-sex marriage in 2025, a first for any country in Southeast Asia and the third territory in Asia after Taiwan and Nepal.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: PATTAYA, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 20, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (Left) MIDORI MONET BREAKING DOWN IN TEARS AFTER BEING ANNOUNCED WINNER OF MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN 2025

2. MONET STANDING NEXT TO PREVIOUS MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN WINNERS AFTER ANNOUNCEMENT

3. MONET BEING CROWNED

4. CROWNED MONET HOLDING TROPHY AND WALKING / MONET POSING FOR PHOTO

5. CONTESTANTS STANDING ON STAGE

6. (Left) FIRST RUNNER-UP FROM CUBA, OLIVIA LAUREN, (Middle) MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN 2025, MIDORI MONET, (Right) SECOND RUNNER-UP, HA TAM NHU, STANDING IN FRONT OF STAGE

7. MONET SMILING

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN 2025 WINNER, MIDORI MONET, SAYING:

“I feel over the moon. I feel like I am living out my ancestors’ wildest dreams to be here loud and proud in my skin, happy to be who I am and representing my entire community. It feels so amazing and I'm so happy to do it alongside with my sisters. This means the world to me. I love you.”

9. MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN EVENT IN PROGRESS / CONTESTANT FROM BRAZIL, ISABELLA PAMPLONA, WALKING ON STAGE

10. PAMPLONA WALKING, WEARING SWIMSUIT

11. PAMPLONA WALKING OUT / CUBA’S LAUREN WALKING UP ON STAGE IN SWIMSUIT

12. LAUREN POSING, WALKING

13. JUDGE’S SCREEN SHOWING CONTESTANT’S FACE

14. AUDIENCE SHOWING PHILIPPINES NATIONAL FLAG

15. AUDIENCE WAVING VIETNAMESE AND FILIPINO FLAGS

16. AUDIENCE RECORDING VIDEO

17. VARIOUS OF MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN CONTESTANTS STANDING ON STAGE

18. SIGN ON SCREEN READING (English): "MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN”

19. (NIGHT SHOTS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF TIFFANY’S SHOW BUILDING

20. GUESTS AND AUDIENCE WALKING IN BUILDING

21. AUDIENCE POSING FOR PHOTO

22. STAFF TAKING PHOTO

23. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MISS TIFFANY SHOW CEO AND MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN PAGEANT ORGANIZER, ALISA PHANTHUSAK, SAYING:

“My expectation is to create the new representative to advocate the world and to advocate (for) all leaders or influencers about transgender rights. And of course, it's the objective is the world’s equality.”

24. (Left) CONTESTANT FROM LAOS, TANEUNG CHANTHASENESACK, GETTING MAKEUP DONE / (Right) CONTESTANT FROM INDONESIA, KAYCIA LEE, GETTING MAKEUP DONE

25. CONTESTANT FROM THAILAND, PREEYAKORN POHNPROM, PUTTING ON EARRINGS

26. VARIOUS OF MAKEUP ARTIST DOING PREEYAKORN’S MAKEUP

27. PREEYAKORN’S EYE

28. MAKEUP ROOM

29. CONTESTANT FROM PHILIPPINES, ANNE PATRICIA LORENZO DIAZ, SPEAKING IN FRONT OF LIVE STREAMING PHONE

30. STAFF TAKING SELFIE WITH CONTESTANTS (Left to Right) CONTESTANT FROM CHILE, REGINA GERBIER / CONTESTANT FROM CUBA, OLIVIA LAUREN / CONTESTANT FROM PUERTO RICO, LEEANN SEDA

31. (SOUNDBITE) (English) CONTESTANT FROM VIETNAM, HA TAM NHU, SAYING:

“Yes, I would say (to) every transgender around the world, believe in me. Believe in me, because it’s important for the transgender community, so believe in me and love yourself. Believe (in) yourself and love yourself.”

32. MAKEUP ARTISIT TAKING BRUSH FROM MAKEUP STATION

33. ARTISTI PUTTING MAKEUP ON USA’S MONET / MONET LOOKING AT CAMERA AND POSING

34. MONET LOOKING INTO MIRROR

35. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MISS INTERNATIONAL QUEEN 2025 WINNER, MIDORI MONET, SAYING:

“The message I would have to say is: remember to love yourself. This world is full of negativity, but you have to remember to stay true to who you are no matter what. It doesn't matter what other people say or think about you. You need to love yourself for who you are, and that is all that will ever matter.”

36. FLAG OF VENEZUELA / HAIRDRESSER FIXING HAIR OF CONTESTANT FROM VENEZUELA, ASHLYN PIA

37. VARIOUS OF PIA LOOKING AT CAMERA