Dayalid Coronado, a transgender model from Peru, is competing in the Miss International Queen 2026 pageant, whose final gala takes place Saturday, September 19, at the Tiffany's Show theatre in Pattaya, Thailand.
Coronado is one of 27 candidates from different countries competing for the crown currently held by Midori Monét, the representative of the United States who won the title in 2025.
From Tumbes to the pageant stage
Coronado was born in Tumbes, a region in northern Peru that she has represented at different stages of her career in entertainment and in beauty pageants.
She began working in show business at 17, when she started performing drag and dance. In 2018 she traveled from Tumbes to Lima to compete in Reina Drag, but was eliminated during the first round of the contest. The experience marked one of her first steps on a path that would later keep her connected to the stage and to beauty pageants.
Five years later, in 2023, Coronado competed as Miss International Trans Tumbes. She stood out in that competition and won the sash for best smile, again carrying her region's name onto a platform dedicated to trans beauty.
In 2026 she was selected to take part in Miss International Queen, with the goal of bringing the title back to Peru after her compatriot Catalina Marsano won it in the 2024 edition.
A wardrobe malfunction during the Talent Quest
During the pageant's recent talent competition, known as the Talent Quest, Coronado drew attention for the composure and professionalism she showed while dealing with an unexpected problem during her performance.
While performing her choreography onstage, the dress she was wearing suffered a significant malfunction. The Peruvian representative chose to continue her performance without losing concentration or showing any insecurity in front of the audience.
The way she reacted to the mishap, her ability to adapt quickly and the attitude she kept up for the rest of her performance were praised by followers of the pageant and by beauty pageant specialists.
Speaking on equality at the World Equality Forum
Coronado also took part in the World Equality Forum, where candidates addressed issues related to inclusion, equality and the rights of transgender people.
During her remarks, Coronado said true equality begins when the law recognizes people as they are, because identity, dignity and rights should never be barriers to living in freedom.
The 27 candidates of Miss International Queen 2026
Coronado is competing alongside representatives from 26 other countries and territories: Stella de Monas of Germany, Sophia Di Martino of Brazil, Srey Sros of Cambodia, Aria Sterling of Canada, Cata Vallejo of Colombia, Anahí Festerling of Ecuador, Valeria Rodríguez of Spain, Thelocolby of the United States, Red Spiegelman of the Philippines, Morgane Ocean of France, Tiffany Brooks of Honduras, Shreya Patel of India, Kaila Azhari of Indonesia, Yuka Suzuki of Japan, Phounphin Souvanh of Laos, Zara Evans of Malaysia, Ivanna Cázares of Mexico, May Thway of Myanmar, Brenda Vega of Nicaragua, Nicole Rivera of Puerto Rico, Chloe Sinclair of the United Kingdom, Nicole Chen of Singapore, Book Theerachaya of Thailand, Rachel Lin of Taiwan, Daniela Marquina of Venezuela and Nguyen Cao Minh Anh of Vietnam.
As part of the competition, candidates have taken part in various activities and events held across different regions of Thailand, including Prachuap Khiri Khan, ahead of Saturday's final.
