- 6 months ago
Hailey travels to Thailand to explore how transgender models are redefining fashion and influencing a new generation. But does representation on the runway lead to social progress?
This episode of States of Undress first aired in 2017.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Hailey Gates explores global fashion and issues the industry often ignores, showing us what the world wears, and why.
ABOUT REFINERY29
Refinery29 is a modern woman's destination for how to live a stylish, well-rounded life. http://refinery29.com/
RELATED CONTENT
The Streets Of The Congo Turned-Fashion Show
https://youtu.be/n61y1Fr_lxE
Is Style An Act Of Bravery In Pakistan?
https://youtu.be/ybQngyhGtZI
Fashion Defined By Borders In Palestine
SUBSCRIBE TO REFINERY29
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Follow Refinery29 on Instagram: https://instagram.com/refinery29/
Follow Somos on Instagram: https://instagram.com/r29somos/
Follow Unbothered on Instagram: https://instagram.com/r29unbothered/
This episode of States of Undress first aired in 2017.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Hailey Gates explores global fashion and issues the industry often ignores, showing us what the world wears, and why.
ABOUT REFINERY29
Refinery29 is a modern woman's destination for how to live a stylish, well-rounded life. http://refinery29.com/
RELATED CONTENT
The Streets Of The Congo Turned-Fashion Show
https://youtu.be/n61y1Fr_lxE
Is Style An Act Of Bravery In Pakistan?
https://youtu.be/ybQngyhGtZI
Fashion Defined By Borders In Palestine
SUBSCRIBE TO REFINERY29
Subscribe to the Refinery29 channel: http://bit.ly/subscribe-to-r29
Follow Refinery29 on Instagram: https://instagram.com/refinery29/
Follow Somos on Instagram: https://instagram.com/r29somos/
Follow Unbothered on Instagram: https://instagram.com/r29unbothered/
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:03Today, we're going to start with how to walk like a supermodel.
00:11Step 3.
00:14The third part.
00:17Shallow.
00:181, 2, 3, 4.
00:24Unstable.
00:26Very unstable.
00:275, 6.
00:29No.
00:30No.
00:31Slow down.
00:33And have no feeling in your face.
00:36Okay, strong eyes, no feeling in my face.
00:38Yes.
00:39We are mortal.
00:41We just...
00:42You have no feelings?
00:43No feelings.
01:01Is this a live wire?
01:05Just helping the world's people get the internet.
01:13We're in Thailand, and it's hot as .
01:17I think Western perceptions of Thailand are that it's this kind of playground and a place where you can indulge
01:23in fantasies and where you can be whomever you want to be, particularly in terms of gender and sexuality.
01:34Thai transgender women have been capturing international attention for decades.
01:40Not only does the country have one of the largest transgender communities in the world, but it also holds the
01:46world's largest beauty pageant for trans women.
01:48And Thai transgender models are leading a new wave of gender fluidity in fashion.
01:54We've come here to meet some of the people that are making these strides, but we've arrived at an unprecedented
02:00time.
02:01Many events have been cancelled, including Fashion Week, because the king of Thailand has died, and the country is in
02:09mourning.
02:17We're on our way to walk into the palace where all of the mourners have been gathering since the king
02:25died to pay respects to him.
02:27Upon the death of King Rama IX, the government declared that the country will mourn for one year, and that
02:34for the first 30 days, Thailand will be drained of all color.
02:38Every Thai TV channel has gone black and white. Newspapers have been printed without color. And citizens are mandated to
02:46dress in dark clothes. This is an unrivaled display of grief.
02:51It's really hard to understand the weight of the king's death because it's not something that we've ever experienced in
03:00the U.S. before, but because this was a person that was ruling for 70 years.
03:05Needless to say, everyone has come out here in their best black clothing to pay tribute to the king. It
03:11feels sort of like a pilgrimage that people are making in order to pay their respects.
03:19How do you feel?
03:21How do you feel?
03:24How do you feel?
03:25How do you feel?
03:34How do you feel?
03:44How do you feel?
03:46How do you feel?
03:52How do you feel?
04:04Okay. Ready?
04:04Rain.
04:05My name is Zero One.
04:06Nice to meet you.
04:07Hi, Haley.
04:08Thank you so much for having me.
04:10Well, welcome to Lips magazine.
04:13So it will come like this?
04:15Yes.
04:16Wow.
04:16It's beautiful.
04:18And this would have about 96 different images of our king.
04:24Do you expect to see many black collections from Thai designers this year?
04:31Apparently, yes.
04:32Even if the international designers, they have to cancel the color collection that they bought from Fashion Week.
04:40And then all those designers ready to produce in black for them.
04:45And did you anticipate this happening?
04:48How did you feel when you heard the news?
04:57I don't know what to say.
04:59It was a shockwave throughout the country.
05:01Yeah.
05:02He's not just a king.
05:03He is the heart of a whole nation.
05:05Uh-huh.
05:06He's a god.
05:08At his death, the 88-year-old king was one of the world's longest reigning monarchs.
05:14He was a champion of Thai culture.
05:17And to his people, the king was the embodiment of the Thai identity.
05:28So was the king known for his fashion?
05:32He got a sense of style.
05:33Yeah.
05:34Really strong.
05:34As a Buddhist monk, he was seen as the moral compass of the country.
05:39Oh my god.
05:40He was also a great musician.
05:41This is amazing.
05:43Just music.
05:44Though he had no power of governance, he was perhaps the only unifying force over years of political unrest.
05:52Today, Thailand is under military rule.
05:56Should we slide here?
05:58Lips was the first Thai magazine to put a transgender model on their cover.
06:02Today, they're holding a casting session for their next photo shoot.
06:06And you can be...
06:08Honestly.
06:09Okay.
06:11So what do you want to know?
06:12Okay, so how do you predict...
06:14How this thing works?
06:15Yeah.
06:16Basically, look at her.
06:17When you see the girls in person, so you know her.
06:20The fun people, the cool one, you know.
06:24The sexy one.
06:25Depends, you know.
06:26I think I'm handsome.
06:28What's Lips' relationship to transgender models?
06:32We see a lot of beautiful transgender everywhere, but never see them in the fashion business.
06:37Right.
06:37Luckily, my boss, the editor-in-chief, he's really open-minded guy.
06:41And then when there's a girl who getting so popular as transgender, so I asked her to be on the
06:48cover.
06:49Of course, Thailand is really accept of all any genders in any way.
06:53But as a transgender back in the day, it is a big decision for him.
06:58Okay, hi, darling.
06:59Hi.
06:59This is my book.
07:02Serena.
07:04Serena is the first Thai transgender model to walk in New York Fashion Week.
07:09You know, if they write a book about the Thai fashion business timeline, she's going to be one page of
07:16that.
07:17Does she have the lips for lips?
07:20Yes.
07:21She got everything for lips.
07:23Yeah.
07:25Look at all these baby chickens.
07:27What kind of aged chicken is that?
07:30It's like teenager chicken.
07:32So cute.
07:34I'm here in the outskirts of Bangkok to meet up with Serena.
07:38I brought her and her mother some flowers.
07:41I'm hoping to get a sense of what this mourning period means for her and her family.
07:48Hi.
07:49Hi.
07:49How are you?
07:51There are some flowers.
07:52Oh, thank you so much.
07:53Wow.
07:54It's so beautiful in here.
07:57Hi.
07:57This is Hailey.
07:58How are you?
07:59Welcome.
08:00You look beautiful.
08:03How has it been since the king died for you?
08:07It's sad.
08:08Yeah.
08:09It's sad.
08:10Yeah.
08:10It's sad.
08:10It's sad.
08:14It's sad.
08:16Have you had to buy more black clothes?
08:19Oh, she made herself.
08:22Oh, wow.
08:22She do like some...
08:24Amazing.
08:25Amazing.
08:28I hate myself.
08:29What kind of color do you usually like to wear?
08:34Like red and blue.
08:36Bright.
08:36Like bright.
08:37When the king died, were you surprised?
08:39Oh, my God.
08:40Everything dark and quiet.
08:42Uh-huh.
08:42I remember that night, like our family, my dad, he's crying.
08:47I mean, I never see him cry a lot.
08:50This isn't quite your average Thai family.
08:53Serena's father is a Supreme Court judge and has close ties to the royals.
08:58These, like, my mom and dad and my grandparents, when they're wedding,
09:04we have the picture of the king and the queen.
09:06Queen in the back.
09:06In the back.
09:07And inside here, this is the card that she's greeting.
09:10Oh, yeah.
09:11From the...
09:12Her royal highness.
09:14Highness, yeah.
09:14Granddaughter of the king really show respect.
09:17We, you know, have, like, bow, you know.
09:19You have to be lower than the king?
09:21Yeah, from the king or something.
09:22I mean, to show, like, deeply respect.
09:27Is this your mom?
09:28Yeah, this is my mom.
09:29Oh, my God.
09:30This picture's amazing.
09:31And I think that it's about the pageant and she won the pageant.
09:34They had a pageant amongst themselves?
09:37Yeah, right, right.
09:37Oh, my God.
09:37So she's the queen of the judges' wives?
09:41Yeah, something.
09:41Something like that.
09:43Like, hey.
09:44Oh, my God.
09:45It's so nice in here.
09:48The very interesting thing is, like, this is me and my younger brother.
09:52And you can see that my mom put the makeup on.
09:54Oh, my God.
09:55Like, when we were young, right?
09:56Why would she put makeup on you?
09:58Almost everyone, when we have the school ceremony, something like that,
10:02they're gonna put the makeup on in their children.
10:05Not only me and my brother.
10:07Yeah, but no matter if it's a boy or a girl.
10:08Yeah, no matter if it's a boy or a girl.
10:09How did you feel when she put it on you?
10:11I love it.
10:12You loved it?
10:14So much makeup.
10:15Is there a stigma to being trans?
10:19In Thailand, they are very accepted in terms of, like, the actual life, but not in terms of the law.
10:26The law.
10:27If we don't have the same-sex marriage law, we cannot change the title to be Miss or Mrs. or
10:34something.
10:35Really?
10:35Like, my ID's still Mr., you see?
10:37Still?
10:37Yes.
10:38Did you have to change your picture?
10:40They said I have to kind of, like, hold the hair on the back, like, kind of, like, no hair.
10:48And who are you more afraid to tell, your mom or your dad?
10:51My dad.
10:52Why?
10:53Because he's a judge, and I can see entire society, people kind of, like, honor him, like, respect him.
11:00Yeah.
11:01And I don't want to disappoint them.
11:03Because, I mean, I have to say that the press, the television, they like to make jokes and make fun
11:09with the ladyboy.
11:10Uh-huh.
11:10And the people that are not that educated, like, when they think of the ladyboy and transgender, like, they don't
11:17have too much choice.
11:18They have to work in the sex worker part, or they have to be the joke or something like that.
11:23Be a what?
11:24Like a joke.
11:25A joke.
11:25They're like,
11:26Gatheoi, Gatheoi.
11:28Gatheoi is mean, like, ladyboy or tran.
11:30Right.
11:30But when they're like, oh, you Gatheoi, Gatheoi, ha, ha, ha, ha.
11:33And maybe my parents, like, no, you know.
11:36But, I mean.
11:37So are ladyboys considered to be kind of.
11:41More.
11:41Like, more, like, um, freak, like, something like that.
11:45And what was, has your dad accepted?
11:48Yeah.
11:49Like, I mean, since then.
11:51But my mom, we, we are very close.
11:53Yeah.
11:54As you can see, you know, like, we are more close.
11:57It's very sweet.
11:57And I think she's the one, actually, to help me talk to my dad.
12:01Are you proud of her?
12:03You're good.
12:04I'm proud.
12:05Very proud.
12:06Aw.
12:09It seems like there are still obstacles for trans women to overcome within Thai society.
12:14And while the fashion industry is creating new opportunities,
12:18it must present its own unique set of challenges.
12:27We're on our way to Apple Model Management,
12:30which is the first modeling agency in the world to make a trans division.
12:33And I'm going to speak to their founder, Apple.
12:37I want to show you the composite card of our girl here.
12:42Like, male, female, transgender, and female.
12:47They all mix when we represent them.
12:51LIBS magazine.
12:52Okay.
12:53This is like the interview about the transgender division project.
12:57Most of the trans models, they are represented from another agency as a female.
13:03Right.
13:04Okay.
13:04And nobody knows that they are trans.
13:08And for us, it's like, yeah, you know, you are the same, like a woman.
13:11We didn't see the difference.
13:14And the minute that we opened this division, they came to us and they said,
13:18wow, this is the first agency that accepts us the way we are.
13:23We don't need to hide anymore.
13:25Why do you think the first trans modeling division happened here in Thailand?
13:29If you walk on the street, you see we had a lot of the transgender person.
13:35Mm-hmm.
13:36And we're thinking like, okay, why not?
13:38You know, because we have the material.
13:41And since then, we start to see that it could be the opportunity for the benefit of clients
13:46that they can do with the transgender.
13:47So are they getting more runway work?
13:50Yeah.
13:50They will work more on the fashion show and fashion shooting.
13:53Right.
13:54More than the TV commercial.
13:55Some, some clients, they have no problem to select them.
13:59But of course, some they are.
14:01They're wary.
14:02Yes.
14:06Thailand is notorious for its sex industry.
14:09Since the Vietnam War, a steady increase of tourists flocking to Pattaya and Bangkok
14:15has made Thailand one of the top sex tourism destinations.
14:40Even in the fashion industry, acceptance of trans women is relatively new.
14:45Due to stigma and lack of options, many trans women have been pushed into the sex trade,
14:52forming a cultural association between Thai trans women and sex work.
15:11Officially, the Thai government frowns on prostitution.
15:14But the industry continues to bring in approximately $6.4 billion every year.
15:21And this type of supply and demand makes it even harder for trans women to shed this stigma.
15:30One of Apple's models, Lolita, is walking in a runway show today.
15:34I'm on my way to Pattaya, two hours south of Bangkok, to attend the event.
15:40Lolita.
15:41Hi.
15:42Hi.
15:43How are you?
15:44So what are you going to do today?
15:46Today I'm going to have a fashion show called Bikini.
15:50Bikini?
15:51Yes.
15:52Exciting.
15:53Let's do this.
15:54Okay, let's do this.
15:55Let's go.
15:55Which way do we go?
15:57I think here.
15:58Okay, let's go.
16:02Oh!
16:05Have you ever done a bikini show before?
16:08Yeah, like four or five times.
16:11Four or five times?
16:12Yes.
16:12Mega health.
16:13Mega health.
16:15This is the conference for mega health.
16:19I think here.
16:20Here?
16:20Okay.
16:26Oh my God, it's so dark.
16:28It's like...
16:29It seems...
16:32You want to know how to walk like a runway?
16:35Yeah.
16:36Like this.
16:40So all these models are waiting here for the Chinese designer to give the makeup artist
16:45the reference for the show.
16:48So I guess we're just going to wait around.
16:54That's what you're wearing in the show?
16:56Yeah.
16:57That's lingerie though, not swimwear, right?
16:59Until the show is finished.
17:02Wait.
17:02There must be something inside.
17:05Oh my God, there's something in here.
17:07It feels like the bottom of a tennis shoe.
17:09Yeah.
17:10Right?
17:10Oh, it's like jelly.
17:12Something.
17:17You think it's okay?
17:19I don't like it.
17:21It's too much?
17:22Yeah.
17:23I like my underwear.
17:24It's better.
17:25Your other underwear?
17:27When your agents book you jobs to do like laundry and bikini, do your agents have to
17:33tell the client?
17:34Yeah, I give it to you.
17:36Why?
17:36They didn't know also.
17:38They didn't know.
17:42Okay, I'll make sure that nobody's coming this way.
17:45Okay, wait.
17:46Hold on.
17:48May I?
17:49Yeah.
17:50Okay.
17:50I'm so lucky I'm born in Thailand.
17:52Why?
17:53I don't know.
17:54Thailand, they have everything, you know?
17:56Like food on the street.
17:58If you're hungry, you just go out five minutes.
18:00There's a lot of food at night, you know?
18:03But why did you just say it now?
18:05So many 7-Eleven and...
18:08Wait, okay, do me a favor.
18:10Yeah.
18:11This sticky one, grab your boob on the inside and pull it in.
18:14Okay.
18:15Alright.
18:16Yeah, that's better.
18:18Yeah, better.
18:18Yeah, much better.
18:19Okay.
18:31There's some kind of rehearsal happening here.
18:35The way that this was described to me is that this was like a big fashion show of a Chinese
18:40designer.
18:41But we're in this bizarre, huge hotel for a Chinese convention on mega health, which includes these beauty sales women
18:52doing this crazy dance in like really suggestive bras.
18:57And I guess the swimsuit fashion show is going to be a part of all of this.
19:03Yeah.
19:03Oh my God.
19:04This little run though.
19:05This little run.
19:07I don't know how I ended up at the mega health conference, but here we are.
19:12Fashion brings people together.
19:14Give me something to let go.
19:29Hello, Eve.
19:33What do you need?
19:34Tape, for what?
19:37For keeping.
19:38For keeping it, okay.
19:40Can we get some tape?
19:41What kind?
19:41Medical tape.
19:45You need something else?
19:46Yeah.
19:47Okay, hold on one second.
19:49I know, do you have this kind of tape?
19:55No, no, one second.
19:56You just have the tail sticking out.
19:58Scissors, scissors, scissors, scissors.
20:01Don't move!
20:03Okay, okay.
20:05Okay, I think you're good.
20:07Oh, my God.
20:15Has the trans presence in the modeling industry given them sort of new opportunities and more mobility?
20:22Maybe yes, but not more than women, of course.
20:25For us, like the past two years that we did this, it's very hard work, you know, for us to
20:31tell or represent them to client and trying to get them job and all that.
20:36And I can tell you that they all work much, much more, like, hard than male or female models.
20:43Yeah.
20:43They really try.
20:45The increasing visibility of transgender women in the fashion world is also opening doors for other communities in Thailand.
20:53So, how did you make your legs look less like this?
20:5715.
20:59You want to say the queen?
20:59Yeah.
21:02Oh, my God.
21:03I've come to Thailand to explore the role of transgender women in fashion.
21:09And since arriving here, I've learned that there are actually 18 distinct sexual identities.
21:15All of which have their own interpretation of gender and presentation.
21:20There are cherries, lesbians who like trans women.
21:23Kings, gay men who date queens.
21:26Boats, fights, Angie's.
21:28And there are toms and dees.
21:35Hi.
21:36Miu Miu Miu is a dee who's getting me ready for a double date with a tom.
21:42Can you see?
21:43Yeah.
21:44She's giving me a full makeover in the dee style.
21:47Is it difficult to be a woman in Thailand?
21:49I think the person who has a daughter's daughter.
21:52I think the person who has a daughter's daughter is a little fun.
21:53Because in the early days, the family has a job.
21:59It has a lot of culture.
22:00It has a lot of support.
22:04We have to have a lot of support.
22:08We must be able to take care of a long time.
22:12But it's like the person who has a children who has a lot of people that have a lot of
22:17people.
22:18We shouldn't have to follow the same time.
22:19Toms, a la Tomboy, are women who dress like men
22:23and adopt masculine mannerisms.
22:26They pair exclusively with Ds.
22:29Femme females.
22:32The Tom and D duo has become a phenomenon in Thai pop culture.
22:37There are Tom and D movies, TV shows, magazines, and stores.
22:42Many Toms strive for a handsome and buff physique.
22:46Jib is an Apple model and personal trainer.
22:48Though Jib is transgender,
22:51he's created a gym routine for Toms to achieve their ideal body.
22:57One more.
22:59Fifteen. Now we go.
23:01Six.
23:02Seven.
23:08Fifteen.
23:11And.
23:12You want to take the weight?
23:16Oh my god.
23:17Okay.
23:19What was the thing about your appearance that bothered you the most?
23:24I think it's leg.
23:25Your legs?
23:26Yes, leg and hip.
23:27Really?
23:28Yes.
23:28What part? Wait, can you help me put this down?
23:30Sorry.
23:30Okay.
23:32I don't like this here and here.
23:36Because it's too feminine.
23:37Yes.
23:38The shape of my legs is straight like this.
23:42Right.
23:43But the woman is like D.
23:46Yeah, yeah, yeah.
23:47So how did you make your legs look less like this?
23:50Do squat.
23:51Mm-hmm.
23:52Can I see your leg?
23:55Wow.
23:56That's insane, dude.
23:58Oh my god.
24:03But not every Toms has time for the gym.
24:06Wow.
24:07Many rely solely on their clothing to achieve the Toms beauty ideal.
24:12And with the rising demand for Toms style, stores like Toms Chic are opening up around Bangkok.
24:20Hi.
24:21Hi.
24:22Hi.
24:27What's the most important thing to achieve if you are trying to dress as a Tom?
24:46I see.
24:55Okay.
25:03So which one's the most effective?
25:11So what are you going for when you're trying to achieve this Tom look?
25:27Should I try it on?
25:28Yeah.
25:28Okay.
25:28Yeah.
25:35Oh my god.
25:38Should I try it on?
25:44Oh my god.
25:45No, in casing my ass.
25:47Oh, okay.
25:49Slack.
25:50What do you think?
25:52Look like a tomboy.
25:53Yeah.
26:17It feels like an elephant is like laying on me.
26:25Yeah.
26:29Yeah, beauty is pain.
26:35I saw some people watching on you.
26:38Oh, yeah?
26:39Do you think they like my luck?
26:40Good.
26:41You walk weird.
26:43Yeah.
26:44I'm walking weird.
26:46You walk like a man, but not too wide.
26:49Okay, okay.
26:49Show me.
26:51Just like regular.
26:53Okay.
26:53I'm going to try and blame it on the shoes.
26:58Toms and Dees use style to signify gender roles and sexuality.
27:02But some people are looking for more permanent options
27:05to meet their ideal of beauty.
27:08Do you have an elevator?
27:09No, no.
27:10No?
27:10We don't need it.
27:11If they can't walk upstairs, they're not strong enough to have surgery.
27:15This is the litmus test?
27:25You are so happy, too.
27:33I'm so happy.
27:35Especially if she comes to her.
27:35Some people don't need it.
27:37Some people don't need it.
27:37Some people don't need it.
27:39I don't need it.
27:47women. One of the ways that models break into the fashion industry is through the
27:52beauty pageant scene. And here in Thailand, pageants are huge.
28:03They were originally introduced by the government in the 1930s with the Miss
28:07Siam pageant, now known as Miss Thailand. Beautiful Thai women were broadcast in
28:13order to promote a Thai national identity. As beauty ideals have evolved,
28:19trans beauty pageants have gained popularity, which has created an avenue
28:23into the fashion industry for trans women, and also draws in tourist dollars to the country.
28:29I like your freckles, because I take my home on here.
28:33Really? The hormones gave you freckles?
28:34Yeah, yeah.
28:35It's the night before the pageant, but Pinky and Armie are going shopping to take
28:39their minds off the big day.
28:45I'm running out of black clothes here, so I feel like I need to get some more stuff.
28:50So apparently, right after the king died, there was such a high demand for black clothing that
28:55they ran out of black shirts everywhere, and people were dyeing things in the street because
28:59they were so desperate to get everybody black clothing. I think at this point, everybody's
29:03kind of caught on and, like, started to sort of merchandise the morning. This is very interesting.
29:11They made, like, a fake Chanel mourning ribbon. So you can be fashionable and sad at the same time.
29:18I think that it was like a fake, like a fake, like a fake, like a fake, like a fake,
29:21like a fake, like a fake, like a fake, like a fake, like a fake.
29:24Yeah.
29:26Oh!
29:28Oh, Remy.
29:29Yeah.
29:32Okay.
29:35Do you want a beer?
29:36I don't know how to open this.
29:38I can.
29:39Oh, okay.
29:40Okay.
29:42Wow!
29:42Oh, my God.
29:44Are you guys from Bangkok?
30:05Wait, he took you out of school?
30:12Oh, my God. That's insane.
30:27But now you're a city girl.
30:32So what are you guys most nervous about for the pageant?
30:36I've never been able to do this.
30:38I've never been able to do this.
30:39It's like this is the first time.
30:45But I'm really excited to be here.
30:58Pinky is considering surgical enhancements for her body.
31:02I'm meeting her at a doctor's office for a consultation.
31:10Good evening.
31:12It's like when you're doing the hormones,
31:14it's like a light bulb.
31:17It's coming out and it'll get a little bit.
31:19It'll get a little bit, and it'll get a little bit.
31:22I know that it's going to be able to do it.
31:27Or we have to put it out here.
31:29It's not because...
31:32It's because the hormones are the hormones.
31:36It's going to affect the hormones.
31:38I have to stop the food.
31:39So before you do this, do you have to stop?
31:42Yes, yes.
31:43If you don't eat the food, it's not a problem.
31:49Because if you eat the food, you eat the food,
31:52you will be like a child.
31:54I can't eat the food in Thai food.
31:57I can't eat the food in other parts.
31:59I can use the food in my house.
32:01I can use the food in my house.
32:02If you can use the food in my house,
32:05you can use the food in my house,
32:06you can use the food in my house.
32:08You can use the food in my house.
32:09If you buy the food in my house,
32:11you can buy it.
32:13Thailand is a top destination for cosmetic surgery.
32:17Lax regulations keep costs low and accessibility high.
32:21Not only for hormones, but also for medical procedures.
32:26And notably, Thailand performs more gender confirmation surgeries
32:30than any other country.
32:32Dr. Thep performs one of the cheapest.
32:34Here at his clinic, the procedure costs just $2,000.
32:39What surgery are you best known for?
32:42What surgery are you best known for?
32:43I am a lot of surgery.
32:45I am a lot of surgery.
32:46I am a lot of surgery.
32:47But I am doing other things.
32:50I am doing other things.
32:52In this room, we have one examination bed.
32:56If you need some examination,
32:58you can lie down and we make an examination here.
33:02Okay.
33:03And we do not want the patient to take off their shoes.
33:06So we put a small piece of food here.
33:09Why don't you want them to take off their shoes?
33:11It takes time.
33:12It takes time.
33:13How many operations do you do a day?
33:16Wow.
33:32Do you have an elevator?
33:34No, no.
33:36We don't need it.
33:37If they can walk upstairs, they're not enough to have surgery.
33:41This is the litmus test?
33:44After the surgery, we transfer the patient to stay here.
33:48Can we go in?
33:49Yeah, you can come.
33:50No problem.
33:51We have only two patients.
33:53Okay.
33:54These are my stuff.
33:55Uh-huh.
33:57Everybody's taking a nap.
33:58They have to...
34:00What surgeries did you do today?
34:04Uh-huh.
34:06How are they doing?
34:08Huh?
34:08How are they doing?
34:09It's okay.
34:14You don't have to wake him up.
34:16Yeah.
34:19She's sleepy.
34:20Yeah.
34:21Okay.
34:22Okay.
34:23Hi, guys.
34:39We're gonna start now.
34:48We're here at the location of the pageant, which happens to be a massive government complex.
34:55This also happens to be the site of the 2014 Yellow Shirts siege.
35:00The siege was led by the political party, the Yellow Shirts, who held massive street protests against the ruling party,
35:06the Red Shirts.
35:07Soon after, the prime minister was ousted due to a corruption scandal.
35:11And then the military took power.
35:13And this whole complex was just ravaged with Molotov cocktails and grenades, which is kind of hard to imagine, considering
35:22it feels like a parking lot in middle America.
35:26This is the first annual event of the transgender model pageant.
35:31Thai TV star Nepop is the founder of the event and our host for the evening.
35:36And I've been told he has ties to the royal family, which might explain why he's able to hold this
35:42event during the mourning period.
35:43Of course, they have a single-use project.
35:47And I'm just sitting there in the front of the two of them and I'm interested to figure out what
35:51they liked and what they liked.
35:54And my friends, I'm really excited to see.
35:57I came here from the Thai krause.
36:02I was just a long-term project.
36:05I said it was very popular as many members of the country.
36:13And I want to make Thai people open up for this world.
36:18I want to make people meet more people.
36:21I know this event is happening in a government complex.
36:24Is the government also promoting this event?
36:56Our runway coach Mimi Tao is one of the first Thai trans models to gain attention in the fashion world.
37:03She'll be walking in the opening show and then joining the judges panel.
37:07Hi, you look amazing.
37:12Is Lolita here?
37:14She's in the toilet.
37:18What's she doing there?
37:22Do you think that winning this could jumpstart a modeling career?
37:26I hope so. I hope so. I hope it will be the greatest opportunity for them.
37:31How many pageants have you been in?
37:33Not much. I don't like pageants.
37:36You don't like pageants? How come?
37:38Sometimes they have business in this.
37:41It's not the real pageant, you know?
37:43Yeah. Do you think this one has business in it?
37:47Yes. I don't know.
37:50The judges panel includes the head of a TV network, big business owners, actresses, and now me.
37:58They're going to start now.
38:01Very sparsely attended.
38:24We're running backstage because I think the girls have to get ready now in their gown outfits.
38:29And I'm going to help Pinky and Army get into their outfits.
38:38Okay. Thank you.
38:39You look so beautiful.
38:58How do you feel?
39:00How do you feel?
39:01How do you feel?
39:01I'm excited.
39:03I'm excited.
39:04I'm excited.
39:05I'm excited.
39:08I'm excited.
39:09I'm excited.
39:09How do you feel?
39:10I don't see anything like this.
39:17Do you feel like you know how to walk in this dress?
39:20Mm-hmm.
39:21Okay, good. You look great. Don't be nervous.
39:31It's the final round of the pageant and Pinky is about to take the stage.
40:21The final round of the pageant is the final round of the pageant and the final round of the pageant
40:29and the final round of the pageant.
40:46Mimi, what's going on?
40:47Oh, I really have no idea what happened, but it's not the one we select that.
40:53What do you mean? How is that possible?
40:57I think...
41:00So they just didn't listen to anything you said?
41:03Everything had business behind you.
41:06So are most trans pageants in Thailand rigged?
41:11Not only trans pageants, it's all pageants.
41:12All pageants. All pageants.
41:15Oh, my God.
41:17You just crushed all my dreams.
41:22I don't know where she is. Let me see if she's still on stage.
41:25Thank you, my uncle. Thank you, my uncle.
41:26Oh, thank you so much.
41:28That was so fun. Thank you.
41:31How's it going?
41:33You okay?
41:35You okay?
41:35Okay, okay.
41:36What's wrong?
41:38Oh, really happy. Really happy.
41:39You're very happy? Oh, my God.
41:41Oh.
41:41Thank you, thank you.
41:42Oh, oh, my God.
41:44Thank you for your team.
41:45Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
41:47Oh, my God.
41:48Oh, my God.
41:52Oh, my God.
41:54Hi.
41:57Um, Mimi told me that they picked the wrong girl.
42:01Yes.
42:02You knew that?
42:03You found out?
42:04I feel it.
42:05You feel it.
42:06Yeah.
42:07It's weird.
42:08It's okay.
42:09Okay.
42:09Yeah.
42:10It's okay.
42:11Well, I'm really proud of you.
42:12I think you're so great, and you look so beautiful.
42:16It was so, so nice getting to know you.
42:20I have no idea what just happened.
42:24It's like we came to this weird government building.
42:27It's completely empty, and allegedly the pageant was rigged.
42:31And then the organizer just, like, cried in my arms out of joy.
42:37There's something really good happening right here, though.
42:45After the king's passing, the government is figuring out what identity it wants to project to the world.
42:51But tonight is Loi Kretong, a night when the people of Thailand get to decide what they want for their
42:58future.
42:59We're still in the mourning period, but the government wants us to keep our tradition still.
43:04So I think the king would want us to just keep going and keep doing our thing, you know?
43:11When we light these, is there any kind of ceremony?
43:14When we light these, just, like, have, like, ask whatever you want to be in the next year.
43:19Like, good thing.
43:20And some bad thing, you just, like, throw it away or something like that.
43:25Yeah.
43:26Okay.
43:27Like, trum.
43:28Not trum.
43:55So to speak, don't they really choose what kind of
43:59movement, it takes place when you do the Emperor of a King prac over with such things that
44:01It's normal without having to select, you know, theausianヤ, being just there.
44:01And the one with a whole world with such things is it when we have an attention that you turn
44:01it,
44:01it's not quite enough to do with such things.
44:01You
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