Gallery: The glitz and glamour of Miss International Queen 2009

Shimmering in a tight gold evening gown, a Japanese television host wept and called for greater tolerance as she was crowned the world's most beautiful transsexual at the Miss International Queen 2009 pageant in Thailand.

The contest, which was called off last year because of political turmoil in Thailand, is taken just as seriously as more traditional pageants in the nation that is famed for its sexual tolerance. Organized by Pattaya’s famed Tiffany’s Show, it invites transexuals and transvestites from all over the world to participate. The rules state that entrants must be born male and be a transvestite or transgender (pre and post-op competitors are welcome, though proof of natural gender may be requested in form of a birth certificate or doctor’s genetic verification).

And the women are absolutely gorgeous, some so much so you'd find it impossible to believe they were born men. Check out our gallery above for highlights of the week-long pageant, which wrapped up on the weekend.