Miss International Queens Reflect on Family, Survival, and Growth Beyond the Crown

Miss International Queen 2026 brought together transgender contestants from around the world in Pattaya, where Thai-American contestant Lo Colby, representing the United States, took the crown. Thailand’s Theerachaya Pimkitidaj was named first runner-up, while Japan’s Saki Iwai finished second runner-up. The three queens visited Khaosod English on Wednesday to discuss what brought them to the competition, the challenges they have faced, and how they hope to use their new platforms. During our Q&A, Lo, Theerachaya, and Saki spoke less about the competition than about family, mental health, visibility, confidence, and the work they believe still lies ahead for transgender people around the world. Their responses below have been lightly edited for length and obvious verbal fillers. Lo Colby: Finding family What is it like to finally come and connect with Thailand? “More than just connecting with the country, I got to connect with family that I’ve never met before,” Colby said. “I’ve never met anyone from my mom’s side of the family. And so, 34 years old is a long time to go without knowing anyone from my family.” “It’s been a really, really special experience, and then to win the crown was definitely the cherry on top.” Is there anything about Thailand or Thai culture that surprised you? “There is an innate warmth of the people of Thailand that you don’t really experience in the U.S. In the U.S., people tend to keep to themselves, mind their business. But here, you definitely feel welcome.” “You don’t feel like an outsider, even though I’m not from here, I don’t live here, I don’t even speak the language. I have never felt more comfortable in a place that is so foreign to me.” Now that you have the Miss International Queen title, what message do you want to help spread around the world? “I want people to know that trans women and trans people are so capable. We are so much more than the media has historically made us out to be. “We are beautiful, we are intelligent, and we are capable of doing the same work that everyone else gets to do — so we should be given the same opportunities.” Is there anything about American and Thai culture that you want to see bridged? “In Thailand, you are celebrated for being different. You’re celebrated for being an individual. And there is a general sense of respect for all.” “I think in America, when you are too different, you’re looked down upon. Or you’re looked as ‘the other’.” “We are in 2026. The fact that people just like us are still looked as so far beyond than anything that is deemed ‘normal’ in, say, more Western cultures, is baffling sometimes.” “In the U.S., we could just accept people for who they are. That’s it. We’re just trying to exist.” What is the biggest challenge you have faced? “I think the biggest challenge is to get out of my own way.” “We are in a pageant, you’re in a pressure cooker, and you have this expectation that every queen needs to kind of be the same carbon copy of what a pageant queen is — a typical pageant queen. “Poise, proper, well-spoken, very mechanical, almost. And I found myself getting into that, where what everyone wanted to see is just personality. What are you most proud of? “We survived it. A lot of nights were only two hours of sleep, and then we would have 10-hour days,” she said. “We all did it, and we did it with grace and energy and happiness, which is a testament to what we all can do. And we are still here.” Theerachaya Pimkitidaj: Survival “For me, the most challenging thing is the same before and after. Before the competition, I focused only on mental health problems for LGBTQ people, because I am the one who struggled with this problem since I was young.” “Actually, there are still so many problems, like what Lo has mentioned before — opportunities in work, to get a job for LGBTQ people, and healthcare, that Saki always focuses on too.” “It’s good that I finally got the title, and we have so many opportunities to meet the press, to spread our purpose.” “There’s not only one thing that we need to change in the world. There are still so many problems that we have to fix and make better. “I am alive.” Theerachaya said she had previously struggled with suicidal thoughts and felt fortunate to have continued living her life. “I can see so many beautiful things in my life. One of that is to have many foreigner friends from the competition, which is one of my dreams.” “To have many friends from around the world, because I love to learn language and cultures.” Saki Iwai: Confidence and visibility “My challenge is opening my sexuality to the world,” “Before I entered the competition, I was just a student, surrounded by my friends, just surrounded by my family. But I entered the competition, so many people know I’m transgender.” “I feel a little bit anxious about revealing my life. But now that I got this sash, I can tell them: I’m transgender. I want to do this.” “I feel like it’s a good thing, because young people know transgender people face problems in Japan and all over the world.” “Growing up in this competition.” “The first time we met, I see that I don’t have any confidence for my beauty. But so many queens said, ‘You are beauty. You have to have confidence.’” “In these two weeks, so many experiences. Now I have so much confidence for my own.” The post Beyond the crown: Miss International Queens reflect on family, survival, and growth appeared first on Khaosod English.