Midori Monet Crowned Miss International Queen 2025 in World’s Largest Trans Beauty Pageant

Midori Monet is crowned as Miss International Queen 2025 in Thailand, dedicating her win to Black and trans women worldwide in a powerful victory speech.

Midori Monet, the radiant Black trans beauty queen from Seattle, has officially secured her crown as Miss International Queen 2025. The pageant, held annually in Thailand, is one of the most prestigious stages for transgender women across the globe. Monet’s win isn’t just about rhinestones and sashes. It is a declaration of visibility, power, and belonging.

Earlier this year, we at Gaye Magazine had the privilege of speaking with Monet in an exclusive interview following her crowning as Miss International Queen USA. Even then, her words carried the weight of destiny. She spoke of discrimination, faith, family, of her carrying her community on her shoulders. And, on Saturday, Sept. 20, she made good of her promises.

The night of coronation, Monet stunned in more ways than one. She didn’t just take home the ultimate crown, she also claimed the award for Best National Costume—a striking achievement in a competition celebrated for its cultural pride. As the crown was placed on her head, she fought back tears, telling the world, “I feel I am living out my ancestor’s wildest dreams, being here, loud, and proud in my skin, happy with who I am, and representing my entire community.”

Monet’s road to the crown began even earlier in the week. She captured the Best Preliminary Performance award, dazzling the judges with stage presence and artistry. For that honor, she received 30,000 Thai baht, a trophy, a sash—plus additional prizes from sponsors of the competition. The award also came with a major advantage—she was fast-tracked into the Top 12 finalist, ensuring her brilliance had a direct path to the final round.

And then in a heartfelt speech shared with her growing audience online, she took to Instagram and said:

“I did it. 💚 Say hello to your new @missinternationalqueen! I put my heart and soul into everything that I did this pageant and I’m so honored to represent my nation of USA. Thank you to my MIQ USA team that helped support me, be there when I needed to cry, and uplift me every step of the way! I want to dedicate my new crown to trans women everywhere who have ever dealt with self-worth issues, gender dysphoria, discrimination, or any kind of injustices. And to BLACK WOMEN across the world who have ever felt left out or made to feel less than your peers. I want you to know that you are enough, you are loved and you are worthy of taking up the space that you do! So much love from Miss International Queen 2025 💚”

Her words were not the polished, empty declarations we’ve come to expect from pageant culture. They were a sermon, a liberation chant, a love letter.

And in this moment, they mattered. Because representation for trans women, particularly Black trans women, is not symbolic—it is lifesaving. In a world that too often dismisses, erases, or legislates against trans existence, Monet’s triumph reminds us that trans women are not just surviving but flourishing, leading, and redefining beauty.

After her win, social media buzzed with praise for Miss Malaysia, Khelo Ambrose, and Miss Indonesia, Kaycia Lee, who were among the first to congratulate Monet. Monet later called Ambrose a “true sister and queen,” showing that even in a competitive space, community was still the heartbeat.

Midori Monet’s Swimsuit Look at the 2025 Miss International Queen Beauty Pageant

Beyond the crown and sash, Monet is deeply rooted in work that extends far beyond the stage. She co-founded The House of Scott with her brother Mufasa, creating a chosen family for queer youth—a sanctuary described as a space “to create, belong and shine where love is louder than rejection.” That ethos carried into her win. She is not just a queen, but a vessel for those who have felt cast aside.

Her faith also shapes her path. Her Instagram bio cites Romans, reminding us that judgement belongs to no one. This foundation makes her victory even more layered. She walks with ancestral reverence, a nod to the church pews she grew up in, while also moving boldly into the future as a woman who insists on her right to be seen, celebrated, and crowned.

This is about more than a tiara. Midori Monet’s victory is a reubke to every lawmaker, every troll, every system that has tried to deny trans women their humanity. It is a reminder that Black trans women, in particular, are architects of culture, beauty, and resilience. Her win is a door flung wide open for those who will come after her.

Monet is no stranger to pageantry. She first graced stages in Miss Washington USA and Miss Capitol Hill USA. She has long cited Kenya Moore, Miss USA 1993 and star of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, as a personal inspiration. To see Monet now as Miss International Queen is a testament to persistence, vision, and the refusal to shrink.