PERU: LIMA: ANNUAL TRANSVESTITE MISS UNIVERSE CONTEST

Описание: (30 Mar 1998) Spanish/Nat

Celebrations have been underway in Peru for the 15th annual Miss Universe contest.

But in this is no ordinary beauty contest -- all the contestants are transvestite and all come from Peru.

This year's winner was Miss France from the Peruvian capital Lima.

The annual beauty contest brings Lima's homosexual community together.

Contestants from all walks of life come to the event held in one of the capital's cinemas.

The event's organiser is a one-time winner of the contest and has watched it grow from a small time event to one which attracts hundreds of contestants and a worldwide audience.

But despite the title it's Miss Universe in name only - all the contestants are in fact Peruvian.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"Why the title Miss Universe? Because all the people here are unique, we are incomparable, we don't have an equal, we are unique, inimitable, so, that's where the title Miss Universe came from."
SUPER CAPTION: Marisol Malpartida - Miss Universe contest organiser

Contestants represented countries from all over the world.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We don't want to hurt people's sensibilities nor be apologetic about homosexuality trying to imitate but we want to make people understand that every human being has the right to choose their way of life, their way, without having to judge anyone else because I believe that in this world, we are all sinners and no-one should judge the life or behaviour of anyone else."
SUPER CAPTION: Marisol Malpartida - Miss Universe contest organiser

France was this year's winner among contestants representing Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Espana, Cuba and Brazil.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"At the moment I'm representing another country, but at least this means that there are many beauties in our country and now I'll have the opportunity, the facility to go out of our country and represent it."
SUPER CAPTION: Lady Angela, Miss France and Miss Gay Universe 1998

Miss Gay Universe 1997 presented this year's winner with the crown.

The contest is in sharp contrast to the predominantly conservative culture in Peru's capital Lima.

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