Living the gay pageant dream

Having joined and won several gay pageants in the Philippines, anyone would suppose that hairdresser Anne Arafol will do just the same when she arrived on Saipan in 2005.

“I’ve come a long way in that area,” Anne said in Tagalog during an interview at a popular restaurant next to her humble abode. “I have several gay beauty contests under my belt, including the ‘Five Prettiest’ in 2002,” she added.

Despite being blessed with an attractive face, flawless skin, and a physique more eye-catching than most women, Anne did not join gay pageants on island up until last month.

“I had a boyfriend for four years who didn’t want me to join these pageants,” Anne revealed.

The 27-year-old Anne won second runner-up in the first Queen Marianas Gay Pageant, the very first contest she joined on island, held at the Fiesta Resort & Spa Hibiscus Hall on June 25.

Organized by A Ge’la & Friends Production Inc., the pageant aimed to raise funds for Operation Home Front in support of the uniformed men and women from the CNMI.

“The Queen Marianas Gay Pageant was the culmination of three months of intense, frenzied, and stressful rehearsals and activities,” Anne told Saipan Tribune.

Still, Anne deemed the actual competition—strutting the runway, showing off her costumes, and answering the interview—“a walk in the park.”

Despite not capturing the coveted crown, Anne still feels very proud and happy of what she achieved.

“This is the first Marianas pageant I joined and I placed second,” said Anne who hails from Taguig. “I am a Filipino who won in a gay pageant on Saipan. For me, it’s a big accomplishment.”

Joining gay pageants, however, wasn’t Anne’s initial interest when she was growing up.

“I used to play basketball a lot when I was in elementary,” said Anne. “All that changed when I was in high school. I was in the company of a lot of gay classmates then I changed my sport into volleyball.”

It was then that Anne eventually admitted that she was gay.

Fortunately for her, her coming out had the full support of her four siblings, her mother and father, who was working in Saudi Arabia at that time.

“My father’s only concern was that I finish my studies,” added Anne, who received her salon training from the Isang Gunting, Isang Suklay livelihood training program established by renowned Filipino hairdresser, businessman, and philanthropist Ricky Reyes.

While she was accepted wholeheartedly by her own family, Anne disclosed that she was subjected to a lot of teasing after coming out of the closet.

“I took it as a challenge to look better,” said Anne. “In my observation and opinion, there is less teasing when gay men look more feminine.”

That’s when Anne embraced her femininity, avoiding manual labor and taking hormone pills to develop a more feminine look.

When deciding on her female name, Anne revealed that it was an older gay friend who gave her the idea.

“That friend of mine uses the name Anne and she was really beautiful. I thought the name would also fit me,” she said.

For her screen name, Anne said she settled on Miranda Kerr, the Victoria’s Secret model whom she finds gorgeous.

Anne shared that she wants to get breast implants, which she prefers to a sex change operation—for now.

“I would like to go home and get a boob job to look sexier,” she said. “But it’s an expensive operation so I need to save. Hopefully I’ll save enough now that I’m done providing financial support for my youngest brother’s schooling.”

Anne, who dreams of becoming a celebrated makeup artist, said it is essential that gays have respect for themselves. She learned this important lesson early on.

“It’s not just about looks. If you respect yourself, others will also respect you. Be presentable and match it with character and personality, which are equally important,” she said.

Anne also found herself learning more of life’s lessons when she joined the Queen Marianas Gay Pageant.

“I learned to focus on the positive side of things, to be patient in achieving what you want, and be happy with new found friends,” she said.

Of all the candidates, Anne said she became close to Prosti La’hore, whom she described as down to earth and fun to be with.

Anne thanked her family and friends for all their support and assistance as she strives to live the gay pageant dream. “Living my dream wouldn’t have been fun and simple if it weren’t for all of you.”