This stunning transgender woman has spoken of her heartbreak at being banned from competing in a Miss Universe beauty pageant after she signed up to be the first trans beauty ever to take part.
Nguyen Phuong Vy, 22, had hoped to take part in the Miss Universe Vietnam contest, following which winner will go on to represent Vietnam at Miss Universe 2019 but organisers said admitting her would have been in breach of their regulations.
However, they published these eyecatching photographs on their official website in tribute to her bravery and said they hoped her dream would one day come true.
Phuong Vy, from Ho Chi Minh City in the south-east of the country, had submitted the pictures for the ‘You Can Do It – Universe Online’ photo competition for women who want to compete in the event.
And she reportedly received the backing of thousands of viewers who wanted her to go through to compete in the full Miss Vietnam Universe 2019 contest.
Phuong Vy revealed she had been inspired by the Spanish transgender model Angela Ponce, 27, who won Miss Universe Spain 2018 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2018.
She said she knew she would not be accepted for Miss Universe Vietnam, but decided to send her application in anyway.
Phuong Vy said: “Angela Ponce saw her dream come true, but I can’t. I hope that one day I can appear in Miss Vietnam Universe and shout loudly that I am Nguyen Phuong Vy from HCM City.
“From childhood, I had the dream of going to the beauty pageant, being crowned and representing Vietnam internationally.
“But I was born a boy. I tried hard to become a girl, spent many nights of thinking about my dreams, experiencing many difficulties and challenges.
“But I know the opportunity to stand on the stage of Miss Universe Vietnam might never come to me. Maybe that dream must stay hidden in my heart.”
A spokesman for the organisers insisted that admitting her would have been in clear breach of their regulations.
“But the organisers believe that with your own warrior spirit and brave heart, you will continue to be a model that inspires many girls,” the spokesman said.
“We look forward to the day when you can stride onto the stage of Miss Universe Vietnam, and possibly beyond to the stage of Miss Universe World.”
Phuong Vy, who is 1.73 metres (5 ft 9 ins) tall and weighs 52 kilogrammes (8 st 3 lbs), was last year named runner-up in Vietnam’s first transgender beauty contest.
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Story By: Simon Glover, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder,  Agency: Asia Wire Report
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