Kevin Balot
Kevin Roxas Balot is a Filipino model, actress, and beauty pageant titleholder, who was crowned Miss International Queen 2012, making her the first Filipino transgender woman to win the pageant.
Early life and education
Balot was born to Renato and Liberty Balot. She has two sisters, Karen and Kimberly. As a child, her father, Renato, wanted her to be an engineer. This and other gendered expectations, such as criticism for wearing make-up, made it difficult for Balot to find acceptance from her family.After graduating high school, she lived on her own and entered LGBTQIA++ beauty pageants in order to finance her college studies as a nursing student. She has a degree in BS nursing, and as of 2012 worked as a volunteer nurse. That year she also accepted a job teaching English in Thailand.
Beauty pageants and modeling
In 2012, Balot won Miss International Queen in Pattaya, Thailand. Her winnings included US$13,000 and, if she wanted, a free gender-affirming surgery. Balot went on to accept this offer.In 2018, Balot became one of Pantene's ambassadors for their #StrongerNow campaign.