Transgenders are breaking barriers around the world with their beauty and talent, and India's Bishesh Huirem is one among them. The 27-year-old transgender from Manipur will represent India at the Miss International Queen 2016 beauty contest scheduled to take place on Nov. 11 in Thailand.
Huirem will soon leave for Chonburi, Thailand, to attend the beauty pageant. She, along with 29 other contestants, will represent their country at the Miss International Queen platform.
Huirem is proud to represent India at the global arena. She told Manipuri newspaper Poknapham that although she is proud, what disappoints her is the discrimination her community faces in the home state. "Many are hostile, and members of the community in Manipur are often segregated and treated badly," she said.
Miss International Queen is one of the biggest and most prestigious beauty pageants. The 30 final contestants are selected from over 155 countries.
Huirem, a graduate from Bangalore University, holds a degree in Fashion and Apparel designing. She has also worked in Manipuri films and is one of the highest paid actresses in that film industry.
"As a child, she was attracted toward girls' clothes and her grandmother would bring such dresses for her. I beat her several times to get her to change her orientation. I now realise that was a mistake," Huirem's mother told the Hindu.
Besides Huirem, there are other trans-models who are breaking barriers in the field. Valentijn de Hingh, a Dutch trans-model, did a photo-shoot in August wearing a dress made of flags from the 72 countries where homosexuality is illegal, IANS reported.
"Every country that changes its legislation will have its flag replaced by a rainbow flag. Let's hope this dress will represent a patchwork of rainbows sooner rather than later," she posted on Instagram.
