Bangkok ladyboys are world famous. Thailand prides itself on beautiful beaches and amazing temples but a lot of peoples first thought about Thailand is about ladyboys. Most Thai people are surprised foreigners are so interested in ladyboys but Thailand has the highest concentration of ladyboys in the world so for Thai people they are very normal. In fact everyday just walking around I see many ladyboys all around Bangkok.

I wanted to look at the different jobs and types of ladyboys you might find in Thailand. Most people just think of the sex workers but there are many more types. Perhaps as a tourist you wont meet many outside Walking Street or Nana but its worth knowing what other types of ladyboy you might find.

Salon and Makeup Artists

Many Bangkok ladyboys work in salons. They are extremely well known for their style and fashion sense. Just like women, ladyboys love to spend lots of time finding their perfect look. This is why so many foreigners don’t realize that the beautiful women they see is actually a ladyboy! As most ladyboys have to try harder than women to look feminine they have the advantage when it comes to makeup. They know all of the tricks and can help with advice and tips for any women. The ladyboys who work here tend to be more down to earth than those found in the tourist districts as they have less interaction with foreigners.

Cabaret Show

The cabaret show is a popular choice for many ladyboys. Although many Bangkok ladyboys work in cabaret the main shows are in Pattaya. The Tiffany Show is the most famous with many beautiful ladyboys dancing and singing. You also have the chance to meet them after for a photo and a quick chat. This job offers a good opperunity for ladyboys to make a good salary as they get paid by tourists for photos and can make very good money if they are one of the stars of the show. As you can see below they also get to wear some amazing dresses and get to act and dance, many ladyboys dream.

Office Workers

Many Bangkok ladyboys live a normal life. They work in offices, banks and shops. Many go to university and go on to get fantastic jobs and have successful careers. Although there are some jobs which they are restricted from doing without going back to their male appearance such as teachers and army roles. These ladyboys are hardworking and play a full part in society.

Bar Girls

Many people only see ladyboys in the areas such as Nana, Patpong and Pattaya. These areas are where you will see the highest concentration of ladyboys in Thailand. From bar girls to massage workers you will see many. Even movies such as the Hangover 2 only showed ladyboys in a strip club. Ladyboys have a bad reputation mainly because of the actions of the workers in the red light districts. The unwanted attention and shouting often scare many tourists away. However it is worth noting that some ladyboys are sent to work in these places by their families and it may not be their choice to work here. Some chose this profession as it can pay very well and money is needed for surgery and to help their family.

Famous Bangkok Ladyboys

Many Bangkok ladyboys have become famous for their job. For example Toom is a famous Muay Thai fighter. She has also become a model and actress. A movie was made about her called Beautiful Boxer.

Treechada Petcharat is probably the most famous Thai ladyboy actress and on the prestigious Miss Tiffany and Miss International titles in 2004 when she was 19 years old.

Yollada Suanyot is a Thai pollitcian and was elected in 2012 in Nan district.

There are also many more types of Bangkok Ladyboys you could meet whilst here. After living here for a couple of weeks I got used to ladyboys and see them around everyday. Most are very nice people and it is a shame many tourists have a negative view of them. In general I would say don’t judge them based on your experience in the red light district but remember the friendly waitress in the restaurant, your kind hotel receptionist or helpful shop assistant might be a ladyboy too.