Behind the scenes of the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show, Ashi, a dancer, applies makeup. Many of the ladyboy performers spend a significant amount of time making themselves look as feminine as they do when they come onto the stage (especially those who hav
       
     
Nataly Cool applies heavy eyeliner to a fellow dancer.  Nataly had her transgender surgery over a decade ago and currently lives and works in Italy as a porn star, but occasionally spends a month or two in her home country working at the Chiang
       
     
Ashi dons a wig backstage a fter finishing his makeup .  Ladyboys, also known as kathoeys, are very visible and widely accepted in Thai culture. They often are referred to as a third gender. (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
       
     
A dancer settles a large and elaborate headdress on her head before heading out to the night market to attract tourists to the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show. The show is held at a small bar in the city's market district, and is the only cabaret show in Ch
       
     
A dancer dramatically clutches the collar of his shirt in the middle of his performance of "My Way," a favorite in the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show that portrays the transformation of an elegant woman into a handsome man.  The number is particularly
       
     
Nataly Cool serenades a man in the audience, perching on his lap as she lip-syncs to a love song. Dancers involve the audience in several of the numbers, gyrating on tables or bumping and grinding against people in the crowd.  (7 May 2013, Chia
       
     
Lily, one of the ladyboy hostesses, announces happy hour to the tune of a blaring hula song. The nightly show doesn't charge an entry fee, but guests are expected to order drinks during the performance. (7 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
       
     
One of the ladyboy waitresses delivers a tray of drinks to a table of customers.  While the dancers can rely on a weekly paycheck, the waitresses depend heavily on tips for their wages.  (10 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
       
     
A dancer performs a popular song, "One Man Woman," in which the dancer simultaneously plays the part of both a man and a woman.  It is a particularly fitting piece for a show performed by a cast of ladyboys, demonstrating the dual sexuality of
       
     
Bottles of alcohol line the bar where the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show takes place.  While entry to the show is free, everyone is expected to order a drink.  Although dancers can depend on a weekly paycheck, the hostesses rely more heavily on t
       
     
Behind the scenes of the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show, Ashi, a dancer, applies makeup. Many of the ladyboy performers spend a significant amount of time making themselves look as feminine as they do when they come onto the stage (especially those who hav
       
     
+

Behind the scenes of the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show, Ashi, a dancer, applies makeup. Many of the ladyboy performers spend a significant amount of time making themselves look as feminine as they do when they come onto the stage (especially those who haven't undergone medical procedures such as breast implants, hormones and silicone injections). They use loads of makeup, wigs, and stuffed bras to achieve the affect.  (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Nataly Cool applies heavy eyeliner to a fellow dancer.  Nataly had her transgender surgery over a decade ago and currently lives and works in Italy as a porn star, but occasionally spends a month or two in her home country working at the Chiang
       
     
+

Nataly Cool applies heavy eyeliner to a fellow dancer.  Nataly had her transgender surgery over a decade ago and currently lives and works in Italy as a porn star, but occasionally spends a month or two in her home country working at the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show.  (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Ashi dons a wig backstage a fter finishing his makeup .  Ladyboys, also known as kathoeys, are very visible and widely accepted in Thai culture. They often are referred to as a third gender. (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
       
     
+

Ashi dons a wig backstage after finishing his makeup.  Ladyboys, also known as kathoeys, are very visible and widely accepted in Thai culture. They often are referred to as a third gender. (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

A dancer settles a large and elaborate headdress on her head before heading out to the night market to attract tourists to the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show. The show is held at a small bar in the city's market district, and is the only cabaret show in Ch
       
     
+

A dancer settles a large and elaborate headdress on her head before heading out to the night market to attract tourists to the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show. The show is held at a small bar in the city's market district, and is the only cabaret show in Chiang Mai.  (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

A dancer dramatically clutches the collar of his shirt in the middle of his performance of "My Way," a favorite in the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show that portrays the transformation of an elegant woman into a handsome man.  The number is particularly
       
     
+

A dancer dramatically clutches the collar of his shirt in the middle of his performance of "My Way," a favorite in the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show that portrays the transformation of an elegant woman into a handsome man.  The number is particularly appropriate in this show, which is performed entirely by ladyboys — men who exhibit varying degrees of femininity, who typically dress as women and who often undergo medical procedures such as breast implants, hormones and silicone injections.  (27 April 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Nataly Cool serenades a man in the audience, perching on his lap as she lip-syncs to a love song. Dancers involve the audience in several of the numbers, gyrating on tables or bumping and grinding against people in the crowd.  (7 May 2013, Chia
       
     
+

Nataly Cool serenades a man in the audience, perching on his lap as she lip-syncs to a love song. Dancers involve the audience in several of the numbers, gyrating on tables or bumping and grinding against people in the crowd.  (7 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Lily, one of the ladyboy hostesses, announces happy hour to the tune of a blaring hula song. The nightly show doesn't charge an entry fee, but guests are expected to order drinks during the performance. (7 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
       
     
+

Lily, one of the ladyboy hostesses, announces happy hour to the tune of a blaring hula song. The nightly show doesn't charge an entry fee, but guests are expected to order drinks during the performance. (7 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

One of the ladyboy waitresses delivers a tray of drinks to a table of customers.  While the dancers can rely on a weekly paycheck, the waitresses depend heavily on tips for their wages.  (10 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
       
     
+

One of the ladyboy waitresses delivers a tray of drinks to a table of customers.  While the dancers can rely on a weekly paycheck, the waitresses depend heavily on tips for their wages.  (10 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

A dancer performs a popular song, "One Man Woman," in which the dancer simultaneously plays the part of both a man and a woman.  It is a particularly fitting piece for a show performed by a cast of ladyboys, demonstrating the dual sexuality of
       
     
+

A dancer performs a popular song, "One Man Woman," in which the dancer simultaneously plays the part of both a man and a woman.  It is a particularly fitting piece for a show performed by a cast of ladyboys, demonstrating the dual sexuality of the dancers and servers.  (7 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

Bottles of alcohol line the bar where the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show takes place.  While entry to the show is free, everyone is expected to order a drink.  Although dancers can depend on a weekly paycheck, the hostesses rely more heavily on t
       
     
+

Bottles of alcohol line the bar where the Chiang Mai Cabaret Show takes place.  While entry to the show is free, everyone is expected to order a drink.  Although dancers can depend on a weekly paycheck, the hostesses rely more heavily on tips from drink orders.  (10 May 2013, Chiang Mai, Thailand)