Transgender model Anjali Lama recently made history at India's Lakmé Fashion Week. While this seems to be progress, Kiran, a Transgender model, talks about the reality by highlighting problems transgenders face in the Indian creative industry. She shares the struggles of a trans model in India through her life journey.
“Just looking at the photos, they think that we are women, it is when they call us to meet in person that they realise that we are “trans-women”. The auditioners then start passing inappropriate comments, and shame us.” Kiran found her voice after years of enduring emotional trauma, culminating in being disowned by her family. Growing up in a home in Port Blair, where she was constantly ignored, dismissed and belittled—she left her house when she was 17 years old. With little education and no financial support, she found a small job at Drift Wood Hotel, Port Blair. Everything seemed to be going fine till one day, the Owner’s brother misbehaved with her, and when Kiran refused to give in to his demands, he spread rumours about her relationships with other employees and guests. She was unaware of her rights, and was left with no option but to leave the job.
Kiran came to Delhi with her then boyfriend when she was 19. For about an year, she wasn’t allowed to leave the house a lot and thus, was completely unaware of her surroundings. Her boyfriend abruptly left her, leaving her helpless in a new city. The landlord starting troubling her, and it was becoming difficult for her to sustain. She ventured out into Delhi, trying to look for a job. She eventually found out about Naz Foundation online, and has been working for the organisation for the past six years.
Her close friends also encouraged her to model part-time, and she has been doing that for three years now. She played a role in Sridevi’s film ‘Mom’, and has modelled for companies such as Urban Clap, Jazba, WhiteHouse, Salt Attire and more. She says that she was broken but she never gave up. “The most disturbing thing to hear was the reason of rejection, which was being ‘transgender”, she exclaims.
She tells how she has been denied most of her roles because the directors feel that the audience is ‘not ready to see trans people in those scenarios’. Through this photoshoot, we’ve tried to highlight the invisible life trans people are living in our country, and the ignorance they are subjected to. As Kiran continues to model and demand respect for her community, we aim to amplify her voice and contribute to change.
Kiran came to Delhi with her then boyfriend when she was 19. For about an year, she wasn’t allowed to leave the house a lot and thus, was completely unaware of her surroundings. Her boyfriend abruptly left her, leaving her helpless in a new city. The landlord starting troubling her, and it was becoming difficult for her to sustain. She ventured out into Delhi, trying to look for a job. She eventually found out about Naz Foundation online, and has been working for the organisation for the past six years.
Her close friends also encouraged her to model part-time, and she has been doing that for three years now. She played a role in Sridevi’s film ‘Mom’, and has modelled for companies such as Urban Clap, Jazba, WhiteHouse, Salt Attire and more. She says that she was broken but she never gave up. “The most disturbing thing to hear was the reason of rejection, which was being ‘transgender”, she exclaims.
She tells how she has been denied most of her roles because the directors feel that the audience is ‘not ready to see trans people in those scenarios’. Through this photoshoot, we’ve tried to highlight the invisible life trans people are living in our country, and the ignorance they are subjected to. As Kiran continues to model and demand respect for her community, we aim to amplify her voice and contribute to change.
CREDITS:
Photographs by Shreya Jain and Muskaan Jain
Editing by Nayanika Mukherjee
Makeup by Ankita Poddar
Conceptualised and Directed by Sanchi Budhraja
Story by Siddhi Pal
Special thanks to:
Gitanjali Poonia
Sidhant Sumant