Transsexual beauty pageant in Singapore a success

A groundbreaking transsexual beauty pageant held over the weekend in Singapore to raise money for the poor is being hailed by organizers as a sell-out success, Agence France-Presse reports. An estimated 1,350 people watched 13 finalists compete for the title of Miss Tiffany Singapore, based on the famous Thai contest of the same name, at the city-state's biggest in-house restaurant on Saturday night. Thirty-three Singaporean transsexuals originally entered the contest, including one national serviceman, according to event organizer Mogan Aruban. Mogan, who is the chairman of nonprofit charity organization Singapore Amalgamated Services Co-Operative, told AFP the contest reflects an increasing tolerance in famously conservative Singapore. "This was a groundbreaking event considering the whole family values thing [of Singaporean society]," Mogan said.