XY Doc

TheAge.com.au – Natalie Craig, Reviewer

Miss International Queen
Documentary, Channel: SBS,
Date: Friday August 17
Time: 10:00 PM

The cheeky sound of the “Mr Miss World” competition suggests that it’s an enlightened, self-aware version of the Miss Universe pageants. But this is no tongue-in-cheek Priscilla, darlings – it’s a cut-throat, superficial world in which stilettos and sticky tape are more important than camaraderie.

This documentary makes the point that prejudices still exist between transgendered and transexual Mr-Misses, and that acceptance as a beauty queen doesn’t necessarily mean acceptance by family and friends. Mr Miss World is held annually in Thailand – a country where thousands live and are accepted “as a third gender”. Gavin, 41, from County Durham in England, should be so lucky.