Gay Filipino in History: Trixie Maristela

 

Trixie Maristela
Second Filipino Miss International Queen
(1986 -   )

Trixie Maristela is a Filipino beauty pageant titleholder, actress, model, and author best known for being crowned Miss International Queen 2015. She is the second Filipino woman to win the world's most prestigious transgender beauty pageant, following in the footsteps of Kevin Balot.

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Early Years and Education

Trixie Maristela was born on April 30, 1986, in Makati, Philippines. Unlike many who find themselves in the spotlight, Trixie is as much a scholar as she is a queen. She attended the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in European Languages, majoring in Spanish and minoring in French.

Her intellectual pursuits didn't stop at her undergraduate degree. Demonstrating a "beauty and brains" ethos that would define her career, she later moved to Australia to further her education. She successfully completed a Master’s degree in Professional Accounting in Queensland, where she currently resides.

Life as a Beauty Queen

Trixie’s journey to the international stage was paved with several local victories. In 2014, she competed in Eat Bulaga!’s Super Sireyna Worldwide, where she finished as the 1st runner-up. Not one to settle for second, she returned to the pageant scene in May 2015 and was crowned the first-ever Miss Gay Manila.

On November 6, 2015, Trixie represented the Philippines at the Miss International Queen pageant in Pattaya, Thailand. Competing against 26 other candidates, she won the crown, a cash prize of 400,000 baht, and the option for gender-affirming surgery. During the Q&A portion, she impressed the judges by stating that a "true queen possesses a golden heart" that radiates from within.

Filmography and Publications

Beyond the runway, Trixie has made significant contributions to Philippine media and literature:

• Literature: In October 2015, she and her long-term partner, Art Sta. Ana, released a memoir titled He’s Dating the Transgender (also known as He's My Girl). The book chronicles their relationship and aims to humanize transgender experiences and romance.

• Television: In 2016, she made her acting debut on GMA Network's drama anthology Karelasyon. Her own life story was also featured in an episode of Magpakailanman, where she was portrayed by actor Martin del Rosario.

• Film: She appeared in the 2015 film Pinagpalang Ama.

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Interesting Facts and Trivia

• The Academic Queen: Trixie is often cited as one of the most academically accomplished beauty queens in the Philippines due to her cum laude honors from the country's premier state university.

• A Growing Legacy: By winning in 2015, she solidified the Philippines' status as a powerhouse in transgender pageantry, proving that Kevin Balot’s 2012 win was the start of a "golden era" for Pinay trans queens.

• Human Rights Aspirations: In various interviews during her reign, she expressed a desire to become a human rights lawyer to further advocate for the LGBTQIA++ community.

• Australian Life: As of 2026, Trixie has largely transitioned from the entertainment industry to a professional career in accounting in Australia, though she remains an influential figure for trans visibility.

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Sources:

1. Wikipedia: Trixie Maristela

2. Philstar: Pinay transgender Trixie Maristela is 2015 Miss Int'l Queen

3. Bangkok Post: Philippines contestant wins transgender pageant

4. Anvil Publishing: He's Dating the Transgender