Nationalism Identity Communication of Beauty Queen Fan Club: A Case Study of Homosexual Fan Club toward Miss Universe Thailand Pageant

Abstract

This article aims to explain the communication of the nationalism identity of the beauty queen fan club subculture, by utilizing integrated qualitative research methods. The results of the study revealed that most of the homosexual fan club who normally partake in the beauty queen text would do so based on gender and nationalism consciousness. Nationalism identity are often communicated through means of tangible identity set of signs, which include the national flag, national costumes and sashes. On the other hand, intangible identities were communicated through national-related screams, legends of beauty queens, set of beliefs relating to beauty queens, e.g. the national flower, the nation’s heroines, national treasures, paying respects through the “Thai Wai”, the monarchy, as well as myths and Thai food that fan club have changed from being invisible to being a visible identity. When communicating with outsider (non-fans), it is more likely that fan club will communicate through a stronger nationalism identity than through gender identity, as nationalism identity possess a set of meanings that can be used to counter the “nonsensical” stigma that outsider (non-fans) often give labels to.