kathleen ocampo, nhk world, mindanao. >> buddhist monks have a special place in thai society, they're highly respected in a country where about 90% of people call themselves buddhists. but one monk with a controversial past is causing believers to question their assumptions. nhk world reports. >> reporter: these monks seek before sunrise, give food hoping to receive good fortune in return. among the monks is 24 years old. but already he's a passionate preacher. but sorravee has an unusual history. he used to live as a woman. not only that, female sorravee was something of a transgender superstar. she won a worldwide beauty contest for transexuals. transexuals are widely accepted by thai society. sorravee's parents say even when he was a child he looked like a girl. he had breast implants when he was in college, although he never went as far as having a complete sex change operation. then earlier this year sorravee took everyone by surprise suddenly having his implants removed and starting life as a monk. >> translator: we were shocked after becoming a monk after living as a woman. but