Miss Transgender UK stripped of her title for ‘not being transgender enough’
The winner of Miss Transgender UK 2015, Jai Dara Latto, has had her title removed after footage has emerged of her wearing a pair of boxer shorts.
Pageant organiser Rachael Bailey has branded the 22-year-old a ‘drag queen’ and is accusing Jai as not living full-time as a woman. Runner-up Daisy Bell will now hold the title.
Filmed for BBC Three documentary ‘Miss Transgender’, airing next month, Jai is apparently seen wearing a pair of boxer shorts and working out at the gym in a T-shirt and shorts, The Independent reports.
Jai says of the decision: “I am transgender. It seems to me that Rachael has based [her claims] on her subjective opinion from having viewed the documentary Miss Transgender, which is yet to be aired. I gave consideration to sharing a letter from my doctor on my gender dysphoria [the feeling your psychological identity as male or female is opposite to your biological sex] but decided against it.”
“The documentary clearly shows me living full time in my community functioning on a daily basis interacting with family, friends and others in my desired gender role. Being transgender is not some exclusive club. There are many of us in it and we are all different from one another,” she added.
Rachael Bailey said: “When Jai entered the competition, she said she was full time and she is not – she is a drag queen. The documentary showed her living as a gay male in her boxer shorts. Underwear is very important to transgender females – one of the first thing people do is change their underwear as it makes us feel like we are finally a woman.”
Jai has returned the contest’s controversial prize of £10,000 worth of surgery in India.
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