Plus-size beauty pageant proves a hit with larger ladies in Thailand

Plus-sized Thai women competed in a beauty pageant that likens contestants to elephants.

Twenty chubby women jostled to be crowned Miss Jumbo Queen 2024 in the seventh iteration of the annual pageant in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, on August 2.

Footage shows the confident ladies showcasing their grace and elegance as they catwalked and posed in front of the audience at The Mall Korat.

Both cisgender and transgender women were welcome to join, but in order to qualify, candidates must weigh more than 176 pounds (80 kilogrammes).

This year, Krittiyanee Somkamnerd, 27, from Bangkok, bagged the title of Miss Jumbo Queen 2024 while her transgender counterpart Peerada Kienrukul, 17, won the LGBT category.

Dabusvinee Mahittisinsophon, 28, was awarded the elephant conservation ambassador position and Supatsara Sriphuwong, 33, won as LGBT ambassador.

The yearly contest aims to celebrate variety in women's beauty, promote tourism in Thailand's Korat region, and draw attention to elephant welfare issues.

Jitravadee Chutimantanon, president of the Miss Jumbo Queen pageant, said that contests help to fund a conservation project called 'Bringing elephants back to their homeland'.

She said: 'This event is inclusive for all plus-sized women and transgender. It promotes animal welfare in a warm and fun way.

'With the support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, all contestants in the final round will be presented 'Pak Thong Chai' silk, one of the Korat's identities, along with experiencing Korat's local wisdom during the contest period.'