Trans beauty queen raises voice against trans teasing, discrimination

A story of sheer grit and determination, Indian trans beauty Naaz Joshi's journey to being crowned winner at several beauty pageants was not without a fair share of struggle.

Today, Joshi is a pioneering transgender international beauty queen, a trans rights activist, and a supermodel from the trans community. But the 37-year-old says her life had "no family support, no friends, no relatives", and has achieved solely due to her individual effort. Born Aizya Joshi in Delhi's Malviya Nagar, Joshi shares her life story and views on issues that affect the LGBTQIA+ community.

"All the pageants that I have participated in, I have had to arrange my own money for my fee, for my costumes and flight tickets. All the international contests I have participated in have been with women. I have faced discrimination to the point that gyms didn't allow me membership because my presence would make other clients uncomfortable. So to work on my body, I saw YouTube videos of Shilpa Shetty and learnt the art of yoga. I have been through physical and verbal abuse by my family and society. I escaped an acid attack attempted by strangers a few years ago. While traveling by metro, I have seen many people turn to me with hate," Joshi said.

In a poignant chat, Joshi says that life has been hell and one "worse than an animals" for her, adding that she isn't allowed to meet her relatives till date. Joshi recently won the international title of Empress Earth 2021-22 in a virtual contest during COVID-19.

Trans teasing and discrimination

Sharing her views on the strictly-enforced gender binary in India, and how any other identity stands to be erased, ridiculed and discriminated against, Joshi says:

"India lacks gender sensitivity. Trans Bill 2019 spoke about how sexual harassment to transwomen is subject to punishment of just two years, while for natural born women it's seven years. In a country where the state of women is still regressive, parties ask for votes on agendas like No Rapes. Do you think in this country we shall get freedom of expression?"

Unrealistic beauty standards for women, including transwomen

Joshi recalls seeing fairness cream adverts, which claim fairness can unlock Miss India titles and high ranking jobs.

"The beauty standards have increased now, I see everyone using filters and using beauty apps on Instagram. Photoshop has become an essential need. Beauty is from within. Internationally, Indian skin is loved, look at Priyanka Chopra, people called her 'kaali' (dark) in her childhood and today she is ruling the world. I have been offered many webseries where I auditioned but roles were given to extremely female looking trans women. Do you think it's fair? I don't look like a woman, I don't wear much make up, people age shame me, body shame me, colour shame me, they comment, look at her, is she a beauty queen? But internationally beauty standards are changing. The standards of Indian beauty for women and transwomen must change. We are full of compassion and passion to human kind. Kindly see our heart not the face," she adds. (IANS)

Also Read: 'Transgender weightlifter's presence in Tokyo Olympics unfair'

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