A graduate of the Australian Film TV and Radio School, I have worked as a documentary director and producer on mostly half hour segments. My work has screened on SBS TV Australia, been exhibited at festivals worldwide and distributed as part of grassroots campaigns and community initiatives. I now live in Bangkok, Thailand and am continuing my creative work through photography and writing. I am a regular contributor to News Deeply - Women and Girls Hub - a digital news platform, highlighting issues surrounding women and girls in the developing world. I also have a personal blog, where I share stories about people I meet throughout the city.
Venerable Dhammananda is Thailand's most senior female bhikkhuni monk, though her title and position are not recognised by her homeland, which bans women from being ordained. I had the pleasure of spending time at the monastery, taking photos, and writing a story, which appeared in the Huffington Post.
Female Monks, chanting morning prayers at a Monastery outside Bangkok.
Contestants nervously wait for their moment in the spotlight. For Thailand's transgender community, beauty pageants are not just about the sequins and the glamour. A win and the subsequent prize money assists with the cost of surgery and cosmetic enhancement, which many crave but cannot afford.