Kerala is set to conduct the first-ever beauty pageant for transgender in the state, for which audition was held at Hotel White Fort in Kochi on April 25. Out of the 40 contestants, nine finalists have been selected for the pageant by Femina Miss India 2016 Elizabeth Thadikaran, fashion choreographer Sunil Menon and celebrity makeup artist Renju Renjimar. The upcoming event is being organised by transgender association Dhwayah Arts and Cultural Society.
Malayalam actress Swetha Menon will crown the winner of the beauty pageant as Queen of Dhwayah 2017, while Miss India 2008 Parvathy Omanakuttan and Miss Kerala 2000 Ranjini Haridas will be the judges of the event.
However, this is not the first time that Kerala has given consideration for the third gender in our society. Recently, India's first-ever sports meet for transgender was successfully conducted in the categories — 100m, 200m and 400m sprints, 4x100m relay, shot put and long jump. Almost 130 athletes participated in the event at state capital Thiruvananthapuram.
While Kerala is the first Indian state to unveil transgender policy, transgender will also be employed with Kochi Metro. A few of them have already become fashion models for designers in the state.
