A Thai Lady Boy has reached the final of a contest to find the hottest woman in Brighton.

Organisers of Brighton’s Next Hot Model had no idea Angkookrat Rawangnam, known as Toon, who performs in Lady Boys of Bangkok, was born a man.

However, once it was revealed they said Toon can take her place in the final a week tomorrow.

The 26-year-old, who has performed with the show for three years, said reaching the final has boosted her self-confidence.

She entered after seeing the competition featured in The Argus and will now battle it out against 11 other hopefuls for the prize of a trip to Dubai and a professional photo shoot.

Toon lives as a woman full-time but was born a man and still has her male name on her passport.

Toon was selected for the final after attending the heats at Madame Geisha in East Street on May 11.

She said: “I feel humbled to make it to the final and to be recognised as a woman.”

Lady Boys of Bangkok artistic director Phillip Gandey said he was “delighted”.

He said: “It seems like they didn’t realise Toon was a lady boy but our lady boys are so beautiful that every day people pass them in the street and don’t realise these girls were born as men.

“Brighton’s Next Hot Model says it is looking for hot girls and hot boys and we think Toon is a great contestant.”

Fatosh Kalan, contest founder, said: “We are very surprised. When this beautiful girl came in for the heats of Brighton’s Next Hot Model we had no idea she was a lady boy.

"There was not a single photo where she does not look beautiful and feminine.”

Joint organiser Scott Gil-Woolgar said: “Brighton’s Next Hot Model is about beauty pure and simple regardless of whether Toon is born male or female.

“We believe beauty is more than skin deep and we would be honoured to have Toon compete in our final.”

Tickets are still available for the final at The Old Market, in Upper Market Street, Hove, on May 25.

Go to www.brightonsnexthotmodel.com or www.theoldmarket.com.