Twenty transgender women sashayed on a stage dressed as ethnic and tribal characters in the beauty pageant, drawing rounds of applause from the audience. The contestants came from India’s remote eight northeastern states, some of them nestled in the Himalayas in a relatively undeveloped region known for its stunning natural vistas.
The event on Wednesday promoted the beauty and uniqueness of the northeastern region and community pride to uplift the transgender community, said Ajan Akash Barauah, the organizer.
![Participants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Participants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
Sexual minorities across India have gained a degree of acceptance, especially in big cities, and transgender people were guaranteed equal rights as a third gender in 2014. But prejudice persists and the community continues to face discrimination and rejection by their families. They’re often denied jobs, education and health care.
The top prize at Miss Trans NE went to Lucey Ham from Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh state which borders on China, while Aria Deka and Rishidhya Sangkarishan, both from Assam in the far northeast, were runners-up.
![Contestants wait to compete for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants wait to compete for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![A participant wearing a traditional walks on a ramp during the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
A participant wearing a traditional walks on a ramp during the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
Creating awareness about transgender people and educating them about their rights was what got Ajan involved with the event.
![Mayumi from Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh walks on the ramp during the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Mayumi from Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh walks on the ramp during the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Participants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Participants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Mayumi from Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh gestures during the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Mayumi from Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh gestures during the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![A participant prepares to participate for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
A participant prepares to participate for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Dione, left, and Mayumi wish each others before the start of the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Dione, left, and Mayumi wish each others before the start of the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants walk on the ramp for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants walk on the ramp for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![A participant prepares to participate in the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
A participant prepares to participate in the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![A contestant gets ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
A contestant gets ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants apply make up before the start of Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants apply make up before the start of Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants compete for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants compete for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants get ready for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants walk on the ramp for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants walk on the ramp for the Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![Contestants who were not selected for the final round sit back stage during Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
Contestants who were not selected for the final round sit back stage during Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
![A friend talks a contestant back stage before the start of Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)]()
A friend talks a contestant back stage before the start of Miss Trans Northeast 22, beauty pageant in Guwahati, India, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
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