Vietnam’s Nguyễn Cao Minh Anh has been named among the leading contenders for a place in the top five at Miss International Queen 2026, as the international transgender pageant gets under way in Thailand.

Vietnam’s representative takes the stage

Minh Anh is representing Vietnam at this year’s competition after being selected by Miss International Queen Vietnam organisers in August. The 24-year-old model secured the place after a selection process involving former finalists.

The global contest brings together transgender women from 27 countries and is being held in Thailand this month.

Strong recent record

Vietnam has built a notable record at the pageant in recent years. Phùng Trương Trân Đài reached the top six in 2022, Nguyễn Hà Dịu Thảo made the top 11 in 2023, and Nguyễn Tường San finished as second runner-up in 2024.

Those results have raised expectations for Minh Anh, whose participation has drawn attention from Vietnamese pageant followers and international prediction sites.

Competition continues in Bangkok

Contestants arrived in Thailand earlier this month before taking part in a welcome ceremony and a programme of public events. The preliminary competition is due to take place on September 17, followed by the crowning final on September 19.

The pageant was founded in Pattaya and has developed into one of the world’s best-known international competitions for transgender women.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

Minh Anh’s appearance gives Vietnam visibility on an international stage focused on identity, representation and inclusion. For foreign residents, it is also a reminder of the country’s growing participation in regional cultural and entertainment events.

22 September 2026

I am most definitely not into ladyboys but that is one good looking guy. I've always felt there should be some kind of a qualification standard for transitioning as some guys are just simply not suited for the task!

The problem is not about gender identification and the freedom to choose... it's the biological and hormonal consequenses of embracing it so fully. Having the operation to remove male genitals etc. is not good for biological males, and then loading up on female hormones to get smoother skin et al, plus society pressure on the issue, is a path to serious mental problems because it's not natural... hence why most serious ladyboys end up completely crazy etc. and many die early. How many 65 year-old plus ladyboys do you know or see... gone long before that age mostly, but not all, I guess.

If you want to be gay, then okay, much more of a sustainable avenue of lifestyle than challenging nature to the full extent... and no, I'm not talking about the sectionable tranny with a beard or stubble in drag with pink hair pretending about it all. The ones in this article are on a different level and go a convincingly long way to succeeding in the way they look. However, each to their own as it's a strange world we live in.