How Transgender Models Are Changing The Face Of Indian Fashion And Culture

To be a supermodel, one has to embody an era. That is to lend not just a face and figure but also a voice to what is going on. . But there is no point in denying the fact that the industry has changed a lot in recent times.

These days, possessing a famous last name has superseded having a skill, and the simplified model that people see on fashion shows have gone through the grinds of reality shows. However, there is another community of rising models like none has expected to see on ramps: They are brave, they are diverse, and the fact that they are transgender shows how much the face of fashion is changing and diversifying.

Transgender individuals are making their presence felt as role models and showstoppers

There was a time when Indian society looked at transgender people with disdain and hatred. But times have changed, and due to a lot of awareness, this scenario is changing. As per Sheethal Shyam, there was a time when policemen addressed Sheethal as an “eda” which usually translates to a wrong meaning in Marathi.

Her Film ‘Aabhaasam’ has already released and is inspiring her to scale new heights of success. On the other hand, Gowri Savithri, a model recently became the face of a vintage brand called Karalkada. Both these transgender women are joining an impressive list of achievers who are breaking the shackles of prejudice and injustices.

Indian Fashion Week and its first transgender model

It is worth mentioning that a Nepali who became the first transgender model to walk the runway at an Indian fashion show hopes to inspire the other victims of the gender identity discrimination across the conservative Indian society. Anjali Lama was born a man in rural Nepal and was ostracized by the members of her own family.

She overcame abuse and prejudice and became the Himalayan nation’s first transgender model. It is important to note that she walked the ramp in Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai. As per her accounts, it was usually treated as an illness and was looked down upon by the Indian society.

It is important to note that the Indian society is full of various types of stereotypes and this is the reason that a majority of transgender folks in India are still dealing with poverty and ignorance. There are few people in the Indian society who can accept their condition and see it as a common illness.

Transgender fashion shows are removing taboos from the Indian society

The transgender fashion shows are successfully removing the restrictions from the Indian community. It is so because these transgender men and women walk on the ramp, at times in traditional Indian attires like kurtis which is usually aired live on the television.

By looking at the fashion shows and their success, the Indian society can be encouraged to be more open minded. They begin to take notice of the fact that transgender men and women can also be a part of the community and can contribute to its success, along with many Indian fashion brands such as Nihal Fashions who make clothing for all types of people. It is worth mentioning that these successful transgender models also play a crucial role in making sure that the Indian society is free of injustices towards the third sex.

The third sex effect on the Indian society

India has long been plagued by superstitions and taboos that lie within its inner realm. As a result, it is a commonly observed fact that transgender people in this traditional Indian society are not given equal opportunities to learn and grow. However, with the occurrence of these fashion shows and increasing participation of the third sex in various sectors, the traditional Indian society has started to change its outlook nowadays.

For instance, let’s take the case of Aeshaane; a sustainable clothing brand by Neesha Amrish, organized a fashion show for the transgender people. The main aim of the show was to bring the lives of the transgender men and women to the limelight. They also invited Prince Manvendra Singh of Rajpipla, Gujarat, an openly gay member of the royal family, who shared his journey of coming out to his family. As per him, his lineage and royal family members made it more difficult for him to live his life reasonably. He also added that arranging these types of events is a great way to break taboos and build a sense of community.

It is also worth noting that these types of fashion shows of late have received fame. This can be attributed to the higher penetration of internet and television services in various parts of India. Nowadays, an event of fame takes mere seconds to reach the ordinary citizens of the country. It is also important to note that the modern modes of communication are also playing a crucial role in making sure that the Indian society can be made aware of the prejudices.

Hence, it is vital to note that the India mass media industry is also responsible for the uplifting of the traditional Indian society in recent times. Interestingly, the future looks bright for the transgender population of India. It is so because the Indian community has been accepting the presence of the Indian transgender population with a higher degree of appreciation.