International transgender modeling contest Slay Model Search Asia 2023 declared Tracey de a Cruz as the Bigo Fan Favourite among 24 finalists from different parts of Asia. The Filipino model from Paranaque City was also hailed as the crowd favorite, having emerged as the winner of the Top Vote Box for garnering the greatest number of votes during the competition from the Bigo Live app.

Dela Cruz, who was awarded a gift check of 100,000 Bigo Beans and a trophy, said, “I am grateful to represent the Philippines in this historic event and was lucky to share these memories and experiences with different girls from Asia. I was surprised to find out that I was the Bigo fan favorite, garnering the most votes from supporters across the region. I had an amazing and fun time and am thankful for being given a platform to inspire others and elevate trans beauty on a global stage.”

Slay Model Search Asia 2023, helmed by international model management agency, Slay Model Management, was launched in partnership with global livestreaming platform Bigo Live Philippines and cosmetics brand MAC Cosmetics. The finale event on 27 April saw contestants strutting the runway, showcasing their beauty, confidence, grace and creativity in different challenges and rounds of the competition.

The competition made history as it featured trans women from all over Asia and was aired on
ABS-CBN and Bigo Live attracting thousands of viewers and supporters in the Philippines and worldwide.

De la Cruz made it to the top 12. Nana Jantarat from Thailand was crowned as the winner, bringing home prizes including a modeling contract and a gift cheque of one million beans from Bigo Live.

“We would like to congratulate all the talented and beautiful finalists and winners of the Slay Model Search Asia 2023. Bigo Live is proud to be a major sponsor of the inaugural modeling competition, celebrating and elevating trans women in Asia. At Bigo Live, we remain committed to creating a safe and respectful space for our trans and LGBTQ+ community to connect, listen and support each other,” said Chancy Chen, country manager of Bigo Live Philippines.