Thailand on Friday holds the tenth annual Miss Tiffany Universe pageant. The beauty contest which brings on stage the most beautiful transvestites from all over the nation, is one of the country's most watched event with millions of viewers.

Started as a transsexual cabaret in Pattaya, a resort town about 68 miles southeast of Bangkok, the show has evolved into a full fledged national competition, whose winner like any traditional beauty contest is beset with loads of prizes and contracts with advertising firms.

"It is unique. It is a show by girls who are not a girl and who are prettier than a girl," Alisa, the 32-year-old daughter of the owner of Tiffany's Show Pattaya told the Star Online.

According to Alisa, all the contestants are naturally beautiful and have only undergone breast augmentation and a sex change.

Miss Tiffany's Universe 2006 was won by 23-year-old Ratrawee Chirapraphakun who says comparing the winners of Miss Thailand Universe to Miss Tiffany is like comparing an apple with an orange.

"Miss Thailand Universe looks more natural as she is a woman while Miss Tiffany's Universe doesn't have a natural womanly look. And when you look at her (Miss Tiffany's Universe) you know she's a transvestite," she told the Star Online.

Her comments were in response to the results of a public poll conducted by a now defunct newsmagazine, Asiaweek, which considered Miss Tiffany's Universe 1999 Pattareeya Siringamwong more beautiful than Miss Thailand Universe 1999 Apisamai Srirangsan.