Encore for transgenders as they walk on the ramp

“This is an effort to covey the message to the larger society that we consider ourselves beautiful,just the way women consider themselves beautiful. Why should women’s beauty be celebrated and our efforts to look good or dress up be jeered at? We love to showcase our beauty and talents just like anyone else,” said Nitai Giri,president of Anandam.

Giri,who had dressed up like a 19th-century zamindar’s wife,said the fashion show had no theme – the idea was to be themselves and have fun.

Of the 50 applications from individuals and via NGOs,30 were screened for the final competition. “We will mark them out of 100 on the basis of their dress,walk,appearance,personality and anwers in the question-answer round. I love the kind of exposure these marginalised people get from platforms like these. More events like these should be organised,” said film director Reshmi Mitra Ghosh,who was the judge along with fashion choreographer Sourav Nandy.