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Victoria Finlay

HONG Kong has always been a place where beauty contest winners can be confident of finding instant fame, money and jobs on TVB.

  So it was no surprise that the top prizes for the five prettiest contestants in an annual Philippines beauty pageant should turn out to be return trips to the territory.

  But local ladies' men should be cautious: these Filipino beauties, who will soon be touring Hong Kong's clubs and shopping malls as part of their prize, are not quite what they are made up to be.

  The beauty queens are guys.

  According to an Associated Press correspondent on the spot, more than 1,000 spectators packed an auditorium at the Philippine International Convention Centre for the fifth annual Miss Gay Philippines contest on Saturday.

  The contestants, proudly showing off their silicon breasts and wearing heavy make-up, appeared in traditional swimsuits and evening gowns and answered questions on such issues as AIDS prevention, drug abuse, and the role of gays in Philippine society.

  ''Mikee'' Aldana, one of the five winners, drew a standing ovation when he answered with a curtsy that he was certain ''homosexuals will go to heaven, not because we are gays but because of what we do in this world''.

  Another contestant told the audience that his ambition in life was to become a ''fully-fledged woman''.

  ''I am reaching out to all the 'closet queens' to come out and shout to the world that 'I am proud to be a true and genuine homosexual','' another contestant said to the wild cheers of the audience.

  While the judges selected the five prettiest boys, as well as choosing Miss Amity, Miss Photogenic and Miss Absolutely Beautiful, a number of entertainers - both gay and straight - performed for the crowd.

  One singer began her act by explaining to the audience that ''I have nothing against gays but I am a real woman''.

  The pageant was organised five years ago by Jun Encarnacion, a prominent local hairdresser. He said organisers had problems finding sponsors because of fears that the show might be considered lewd in this conservative Catholic society.



Gay response to fame and fortune