Cebuana trans beauty queen Fuschia Anne Ravena is the first Miss International Queen Philippines
Beauty queen Fuschia Anne Ravena has been crowned as the country's first-ever Miss International Queen Philippines.
Hailing from Cebu, Ravena bested 25 other trans women from around the country in the pageant's coronation night held on March 6 in the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.
Fuschia took to social media to share her excitement on the historic win.
"The past few weeks have been one of the most challenging phases in my life. Only a few people know what personal battles I have to go through going into the final stretch of the Miss International Queen Philippines pageant," Fuschia wrote.
"It was a challenge to keep my focus but still, the show must go on and I have to put up a smile, stay strong and have faith in my creator."
She will represent the Philippines in the world's largest transgender beauty pageant, the Miss International Queen, in Thailand this June 25. The Philippines has bagged the Miss International Queen crown twice with Trixie Maristela in 2015 and Kevin Balot in 2012.
The Miss International Queen selection process took a page from Miss Universe Philippines, as this serves as the first time that an official pageant and coronation night was held to choose the country's representative.
Miss Grand International 2020 First Runner Up Samantha Bernardo, Bb. Pilipinas International 2021 Hannah Arnold, and fashion designer Jojo Bragais were among the judges.