Chen Lili
Encyclopedia
Chen Lili is a transsexual singer, model, and actress from China
. She became widely known in 2004 when she competed and attempted to compete in beauty pageants as a woman.
Named Chen Yongjun at birth, she was born into a peasant family at Yilong County
, Nanchong
City of Sichuan
Province, she received sex reassignment surgery
in Qingdao
in November 2003. On February 11, 2004, she was issued an ID card establishing her female identity by the Public Security Bureau of Nanchong
.
Chen attempted to compete in the Miss Universe
contest in early 2004. Although the Miss Universe China committee initially announced, on February 23, that she would be allowed to participate, on February 25, they retracted their original decision, stating that she would not be allowed to participate because she was not a "natural female." Despite being barred from the competition, Chen was nonetheless given the opportunity to perform at the event. It is believed that Lili is the first transsexual woman to attempt to compete in the Miss Universe
contest.
In late 2004, Chen competed in China
's first Miss Artificial Beauty pageant. She finished as second runner up.
In 2005, she appeared in the motion picture The Secret .
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. She became widely known in 2004 when she competed and attempted to compete in beauty pageants as a woman.
Named Chen Yongjun at birth, she was born into a peasant family at Yilong County
Yilong County
Yilong County is a county of Sichuan Province, China. It is under the administration of Nanchong city....
, Nanchong
Nanchong
Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479 kilometers. and the home to 7,300,000 people. It has the second most populated area and suggested to be one of the eight largest cities of Sichuan Province...
City of Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
Province, she received sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery
Sex reassignment surgery is a term for the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble...
in Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
in November 2003. On February 11, 2004, she was issued an ID card establishing her female identity by the Public Security Bureau of Nanchong
Nanchong
Nanchong is a prefecture-level city in the northeast of Sichuan Province of the People's Republic of China, with an area of 12,479 kilometers. and the home to 7,300,000 people. It has the second most populated area and suggested to be one of the eight largest cities of Sichuan Province...
.
Chen attempted to compete in the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
contest in early 2004. Although the Miss Universe China committee initially announced, on February 23, that she would be allowed to participate, on February 25, they retracted their original decision, stating that she would not be allowed to participate because she was not a "natural female." Despite being barred from the competition, Chen was nonetheless given the opportunity to perform at the event. It is believed that Lili is the first transsexual woman to attempt to compete in the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
contest.
In late 2004, Chen competed in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
's first Miss Artificial Beauty pageant. She finished as second runner up.
In 2005, she appeared in the motion picture The Secret .
External links
- An article about Chen Lili in the Taipei Times: Chinese transsexuals gaining acceptance
- An article exploring Beijing's gay and transgender nightlife, and mentioning Chen Lili, in The Standard: Never a drag
- An article describing social changes in China favorable to transgender people, and mentioning Chen Lili, in the China Daily: Transsexual's wedding mirrors social changes
- An article describing Chinese society's growing tolerance of transsexualism in the People's Daily: Chinese now more tolerant toward transsexuals
- An article arguing that transsexuals ought to be permitted to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, by Dann Halem at Slate.com: There He Is... Miss Universe