In An Empowering Move, India Will Host Its First 'Miss Transqueen' Beauty Pageant

India will soon play host to a never-before beauty pageant aimed at empowering the women of the transgender community.?

The pageant is titled 'Miss Transqueen' and the pageant winner will be crowned as 'Miss Transqueen India 2017'.

bccl

Recent efforts have managed to gain greater inclusivity for the transgender community who has, for a long time, been ostracised by our society.

The pageant's first edition will be held on 27 th August, 2017 in Gurugram, Delhi. The pageant, open to all with age no bar, saw 1500 applicants from cities like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Manipur sign up. After rigorous grooming and training, top 16 were chosen.?

afp

The winner will get to represent India at Miss International Transqueen which will take place in Thailand. The first runner up will compete in the Miss Transsexual pageant to be held in Australia. The pageant winners will be crowned by Laeticia Phylliscia Raveen, Miss Transsexual Australia 2017.

Reena Rai, the pageant organiser is the brain behind this pageant. Founder and chairperson of Suhani Dream Catchers, she has been trying to win support for the pageant since November 2016. She powered through rejections and the lack of financial support and self-funded the pageant with Rs. 10 lakhs.

bccl

The panel of judges will include: "Transgender social activist Gauri Sawant, former Mr Gay India Sushant Divgikar, fashion stylist Shaine Soni, educator and grooming expert Avleen Khokhar, nutrition and beauty expert Varun Katyal and Hector Ravinder Dutt, Principal of Delhi Public School Rohtak."