Indonesian contestant Kaycia Lee drew widespread praise during the Miss International Queen 2025 final in Pattaya, Thailand, after offering an immediate embrace to the newly crowned winner, Midori Monét of the United States.
The event, held on Saturday (20 September 2025), was marked by celebration as well as controversy, but Lee’s gesture of warmth stood out.
Footage showed Kaycia stepping forward soon after the announcement to congratulate Monét with a hug. Malaysian representative Khloe Ambrose also moved quickly to the centre of the stage, extending her own congratulations.
Their actions were seen as an early sign of solidarity during a moment of tension. According to Mothership, many viewers believed Lee demonstrated humility and respect by offering her support without hesitation.
“Kaycia and Khloe successfully showed that international events can be more than competition. They can strengthen friendships,” wrote one Indonesian commentator. The sentiment was echoed in Malaysia, where netizens praised Ambrose for her sincere approach.
Reactions and Criticism
Monét’s victory has not been without dispute. She became only the second Black trans woman to win Miss International Queen, following Jazell Barbie Royale in 2019, yet the announcement was met with muted reactions from some contestants.
Cameras captured a group cheering for runner-up Olivia Lauren of Cuba, leaving Monét briefly standing alone.
Observers speculated this reflected pageant etiquette, whereby runners-up are congratulated first, but critics viewed it as an example of exclusion. Netizens quickly pointed out that the Indonesian and Malaysian contestants were the first to welcome the winner warmly, setting a positive example for others.
Monét later acknowledged the support, sharing on Instagram that Ambrose was “a true sister and queen.”
Tensions escalated further when Olivia Lauren gave a post-event interview that many saw as disrespectful. She said the competition “transcends the boundaries of beauty” and spoke of being bullied during the event.
When asked about Monét’s victory, Lauren replied that the organisation would have “a lot of work to do if that’s what they choose,” a comment interpreted by some as undermining the winner.
Lauren later apologised, admitting, “Regarding the mention of Miss USA and Miss Vietnam, I realised it wasn’t appropriate to speak publicly before speaking directly with them. Since then, we’ve had an open discussion and resolved the issue with great understanding. I have the utmost respect for them and all the other contestants.”
Monét’s Perspective
Amidst the discussions, Monét used her platform to speak candidly about resilience.
In a separate interview with Out, she said, “There’s so much hate here. There’s so much envy, bitterness, jealousy all the different emotions that plague this world. I want you to know that it’s okay to believe in yourself.”
She added, “Karma is real. Love is real. It’s not about what you do, but how you make someone else feel.”
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Monét now lives in Seattle. She grew up in a creative household, her father a musician and her mother a fashion designer, and it took years before she came out as gay, later realising she identified as transgender.
Her first steps into pageantry came through Miss Washington USA and Miss Capitol Hill USA, before eventually reaching an international stage.
Miss International Queen, held annually in Pattaya since 2004, provides a global platform for transgender women to showcase talent and advocate for inclusion.
This year’s event highlighted both the opportunities for solidarity, as seen in the actions of Lee and Ambrose, and the challenges of prejudice and misunderstanding still faced by many contestants.
