Transsexual — Qualified for Beauty Contest or Not?

[ashiva.livejournal.com]

Is sex by birth a qualification for a beauty pageant?

It appears not, as a male-turned-female transsexual has passed the preliminary stage of the 2009 Super Model Contest.

Choi Han-bit, 23, was among 50 participants selected from a list of 1,200 candidates at the preliminary stage of the contest on July 2. She still has to pass another preliminary on July 28 to be included in the final selection, but if she does, Choi will be Korea's first transsexual super model.

A dance major at the Korea National University of Arts, Choi underwent a sex change operation in 2006, and was legally recognized as a woman by a court. She also changed her name from Han-jin to Han-bit.

After grabbing the public's attention, she said on her blog, "This is only the beginning. I have not lived in a vain hope. I just believed that I can be happy and I can do it."

But cyber world is divided on Choi's selection in the preliminary.

Some Internet users, including several unsuccessful contestants at the preliminary, say that a person who has artificially changed sex should not be allowed in the beauty contest.

They claimed it is not right for a transsexual, who has obtained a female body artificially, to take part in the contest that evaluates appearance.

But many others supported Choi, saying she is just the same as other "real female" contestants who underwent plastic surgery. They left messages on her blog, saying, "You made a courageous choice," and "I saw a picture of you before having the sex change operation, and you were beautiful then as well."

SBS MediaNet, the host of the pageant, said the sex change does not conflict with the contest's rules because her legal sex is female.

It also said that Choi disclosed to other contestants that she is a transsexual.

In 2005, before undergoing the sex change operation, she appeared in a television show as a man who was disguised as a woman.

Source

Comments

[biznass.livejournal.com]

She's really pretty and I hope she goes far.

[coowkiemonster.livejournal.com]

same here.
She looks beautiful in that picture. I really hope she'll get far in the pageant though

[carrotsandroses.livejournal.com]

Good for her. She is rather pretty.

[magicmelodyx.livejournal.com]

This makes me incredibly happy. Here's hoping she makes it through the next prelim.

They claimed it is not right for a transsexual, who has obtained a female body artificially, to take part in the contest that evaluates appearance.

So genetically-born women who got plastic surgery shouldn't count either, no? Seeing as they've obtained the bodies they have now artificially as well. /unashamed semantics pedant in this case

[jaybomb.livejournal.com]

mte.

[-ochre.livejournal.com]

sex change does not conflict with the contest's rules because her legal sex is female

Good on them. Stay that way and don't pressure in to netizens.

[tsatske.livejournal.com]

i'm glad she's got supporters and that sbs didn't back down; hopefully she passes the next preliminary, too

[-ochre.livejournal.com]

haters gonna hate.

[luvey.livejournal.com]

"They claimed it is not right for a transsexual, who has obtained a female body artificially, to take part in the contest that evaluates appearance."

considering the high popularity of plastic surgery in korea, the majority of the contestants would be disqualified for having artificial parts with the evaluation of appearance (eyes, nose, boobs, chin, lipo, etc).

unless they are checking for working female reproductive system, then those who balk should sit down and shut up.

[magicmelodyx.livejournal.com]

unless they are checking for working female reproductive system, then those who balk should sit down and shut up.

I...I think I love you a little.

[carumbola.livejournal.com]

It's too bad the publicity of her being a transsexual is equal to her success. As far as I'm concerned, in today's society, we should be able to just be interested in this person as a success story, not for an operation.

[xoxoknlove.livejournal.com]

ha! this isn't a beauty contest!
its more like a who-had-the-better-plastic-surgeon.

[chibi-rei.livejournal.com]

Well clearly she wins, yes?

[bourbonnapoleon.livejournal.com]

She's gorgeous, I hope she gets far.

[liu-zhoucheng.livejournal.com]

WOW she is sooo pretty *__* I hope she goes far

[maisoui.livejournal.com]

Get it girl~

[ari-meh.livejournal.com]

i hope she wins, it'd be such a great slap in the face of all those conservative, jealous netizens~~
she looks pretty, too!

[nemo-88.livejournal.com]

You go girl! \o/

[labobo93.livejournal.com]

I'm so pro-trans it's not even unny.
Good luck to her!

[legens-legentis.livejournal.com]

Work it gurl!


But seriously, I hope she does well.
Even if she doesn't do well, at least she'll serve to bring up the discussion of trans issues in a country that is notorious for it's horrible treatment LGBTQs.

[majimak-bb.livejournal.com]

if you're plastic you're plastic. i don't care whether or not you had a penis at one point.

(plus we all know that asian boys are just as pretty if not prettier than girls anyway keke)

[mystisblom.livejournal.com]

Wow, she looks really pretty. And I hope that she rocks that competition. That would be a big step into the right direction.

[anewsymphony.livejournal.com]

another pic:


personally I think, good for her getting the op and all, but from the other articles I've read and quotes from her cyworld, she seems to be milking the publicity thing for all it's worth. which is kinda sad, cos she should get through this contest on her own merits :/......

[telrunyaaa.livejournal.com]

well, why not?

[bluiiee.livejournal.com]

Good for her! ;)
Although I'm not an advocator for gender change, I think its GREAT that she's not being discriminated against! She deserves the same chance as all those other girls.

[kittykitt129.livejournal.com]

It should be allowed.
Discrimination over this is a little late, especially since Harisu can be successful as a celebrity and guys can model in dresses.
She's pretty too.

[streetrat.livejournal.com]

it's a superficial contest that judges you on how you look from the outside, regardless of who or what you are right? so i don't see how it's any different for a transsexual to do it. most of the girls won't even be natural, themselves.
if it was a contest on natural beauty or the best looking vagina then i'd see where they might be coming from

[hyphensaregreat.livejournal.com]

tbh she might still win for best looking vagina.

[nodevillivedon.livejournal.com]

I wish her the best.