Kerala’s very first Transgender Beauty Pageant called “Queen of Dhwayah 2017” to be held in June 2017.
Words by: Vandana Devi
Photographs from: Various Sources
In an initiative by an association of transgenders in Kerala called Dhwayah Arts and Cultural society, Kerala is going to have its first ever Transgender Beauty Pageant in June 2017. This pageant seeks to go beyond just looks and beauty and wants to empower and include this third gender in society.
“Queen of Dhwayah 2017” is another feather in Kerala’s cap, in their movement towards gender equality and inclusion. After the athletic meet, government jobs in KMRL, this pageant also seeks to give them a venue to come out and claim their space. The idea of this pageant according to renowned make up artist Renju Renjimar, “is to give trans people more confidence, to be active in the mainstream. Though Kerala has become more trans-friendly on paper, we are still discriminated against. We hope this pageant will help trans people come out of their shells.”
15 contestants from various parts of Kerala will be vying for the crown. They will have grooming sessions as well, after the auditions. “Queen of Dhwayah 2017” will be crowned in a gala event and though it has already gained support from the celebrity community as well as the public, it hasn’t found a sponsor yet.
The auditions were judged by Femina Miss India Bangalore 2016, 1st runner-up, Elizabeth Thadikaran and Fashion choreographer Sunil Menon. Miss World 2008 1st runner-up Parvathy Omanakuttan and Ranjani Haridas will be judges for the final round while Shwetha Menon will be crowning the winner. In 2010, a similar transgender beauty pageant was held in Mumbai called the Indian Super Queen pageant and it was organised by activist Laxmi Narayan.