Contestants from Miss Teen Vietnam 2009

The increasing popularity of homosexual beauty contests has raised eyebrows, with people asking whether or not such events are legal.

Publicity magnets, these events have launched the careers of several of Vietnam’s most successful models, actresses and singers.

But as the times change, so have the beauty contests and fashion shows, as some of the most popular pageants are now for homosexuals and teenage girls while the catwalks have become crowded with transsexuals.

Many of these events are unlicensed, but they’ve been growing in popularity and numbers throughout the country. But some worry about their legality.

Issued last December by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Department of Performing Arts, Regulation No. 87 states that transsexuals cannot take part in beauty contests. The regulation, however, doesn’t mention anything about pageants for homosexuals.

But in Vietnam, it is commonly accepted that if something is not mentioned in the law, it is forbidden.

Gender benders

Despite technically being underground, gay contests have attracted a lot of public attention.

One popular pageant is the annual Miss Angel Contest for homosexual men, first held in 2006 by The gioi thu ba (The Third World) Co. Ltd. and gay club Bau troi xanh (Blue Sky). Contestants, aged 16-24, compete in three rounds including the female costume round and a session in which they must demonstrate their knowledge about HIV/AIDS and safe sex. The jury consists of make-up artists, psychologists and members of the Ho Chi Minh City’s AIDS Prevention Committee.

This year’s pageant was held in June, attracting hundreds of contestants from HCMC and other provinces. An audience member who wished to remain anonymous said most of the contestants were transvestites but that some transsexuals had also participated in the event.

The crown was won by Lam Thy, 20, from the southern province of Tay Ninh. In an interview with Thanh Nien after the contest, Thy said she had had her breasts augmented and would undergo more complicated sex-related surgery in the near future.

The Prince Style Contest for lesbians was held earlier this month, becoming the first public contest of its kind in HCMC open to all lesbians from southern provinces aged 17-28.

Opening up?

Vietnamese society is relatively conservative on issues of homosexuality and gay people and transgendered individuals often suffer social stigma.

But in recent years, several famous transsexuals, such as singer-actress Cindy Thai Tai, have opened up about their sexuality and gained acceptance. An increasing number of people from the transgender and homosexual communities have become more confident in going public about their sexuality. Many experts have said the government should consider changing laws to accommodate cultural events for transgendered people and homosexuals.

The Department of Performing Arts is currently drafting a new law on fashion shows, but it so far does not mention whether or not transsexuals and homosexuals can perform in fashion events.

Transsexual model Ha Vy, however, told Thanh Nien, she had been earning a living performing at parties, bars and other local venues throughout HCMC and neighboring provinces.

The Dem Vong (Echo of the Night) Café in Hanoi is famous for its regular fashion shows every Monday and Thursday by models from Pattaya Club, the first public transsexual model group in the capital.

An official from the HCMC Department of Justice who asked to remain anonymous said Vietnamese law only allows sex-related surgery for those who want to reaffirm their innate gender, specifically in cases of genital deformities and unclear genitalia.

“There is no mention about transgendered people in the Civil Code,” he said.

Too much too young

Miss Teen Vietnam 2009, also called Teenage Star Vietnam, organized by Vietnam Multimedia Corporation’s VTC Television and VTC Game, has attracted female student competitors aged 16-19.

Thousands of contestants competed in the pageant’s initial round from June to July 15, hoping to win a wide range of prizes from tourist trips to scholarships and cash.

But the contest has violated the Regulation No. 87, which states that only those over 18 can compete in beauty contests.

Pham Dinh Thang from Department of Performing Arts said the department had told organizers that underage girls cannot take part in the pageant.

“We also asked Miss Teen’s organizers to consult the Ministry of Education and Training because the contestants are high school students, but the ministry has not responded yet,” he said.

Reported by Do Tuan