The biggest myth? That you can always tell.

Some guys walk around like they’ve got ladyboy radar — “I can spot one from a mile away.”
Until they can’t.
And by the time they realize, it’s back at the room and the towel’s already off.

Reality check: some ladyboys in Thailand look better, act sweeter, and dress sharper than half the girls on Walking Street. Surgeries, hormones, years of practice — they’ve mastered the art.

So yeah… thinking you’re too smart to get fooled is the fastest way to get fooled.

That they all want to trick you. Total BS. The vast majority of ladyboys I’ve met are open about who they are. They’ll tell you upfront if you ask nicely. It’s the guys who don’t want to know the truth that end up surprised. The whole “they’re trying to fool you” narrative is just lazy thinking. They’re out there to have fun or earn a living — just like anyone else in nightlife.

Another myth? That they’re all sex workers. Not true at all. I dated a ladyboy in Chiang Mai who was a makeup artist with no interest in bar life. Sure, many work in go-go bars or on the streets, but plenty have real careers and normal lives. Thailand’s social tolerance has allowed them to thrive in ways we don’t often see in the West.

That you’ll always be able to tell. Truth is, some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful "girls" on stage are ladyboys — and unless you’re checking passports or pants, you’d never know. The idea that they all look “manly” is just outdated fantasy. Some of them look better than real women.

That they’re all out to scam you. Truth is, many are just looking for fun, love, or a regular. The scammers exist—but so do genuine, kind, drop-dead gorgeous ladyboys who’ll blow your mind (and other things).

The idea that “you’ll always know” is laughable. Some ladyboys look more feminine than most cis girls. Don’t assume your eyes are sharper than years of hormones, surgery, and Thai-level beauty tricks.

Ladyboys don’t trick you — you trick yourself by not asking.