Mascara is a tricky friend,lethal in charm but capable of ruining a Kodak moment,should it merge with tears and leave a dark trail down your cheeks. Therefore,Poonam applies it with great care,if she goes on to win a place in the semi-finals of the Indian Super Queen,Indias first national transgender beauty pageant. Just six months shy of her 30th birthday,shes aware of younger competition but that does not stop her from helping young Zooni with her make-up. Were from the same community and this is an opportunity for all of us, says Poonam,mixing two shades of lipstick. Conceived and organised by celebrity transgender personality Laxmi Narayan Tripathi,in association with VCare company,Indian Super Queen is a dream-come-true for many of its contestants. The pageant will travel to 10 cities,choosing 30 semi-finalists and 12 finalists. The pageant is supported by UNAIDS,Heroes Project and other AIDS-awareness organisations. Participants will be groomed to become ambassadors for the hijra community and will be educated in safe-sex measures, says Tripathi,founder member of several hijra organisations,including Astitva,which work for sexual minorities. Tripathi is a role-model for the kinnar community; her education and social work has brought in contestants,who braved even the cold to turn up in their finest ensembles. Most people think hijras cannot be beautiful. We are made to feel invisible all the time because people look through us, says Khushi,24,who has come all the way from Shahdara. The pageant will put the contestants through the usual drill,but the yardstick is different. How confident the contestant is about her sexual identity is very crucial. How she has overcome the stigma of society will help her win a place in the semi-finals, says Tripathi. Khushi is confident of performing well in the talent round. Ill be performing Ring ring ringa from Slumdog Millionaire. Were called for badhai functions and have plenty of practice. We can sing and dance and not lose our breath, she laughs. Kamini is dressed like a diva,but is quieter. She is preserving all her energy to be spontaneous. Besides,it is an important day for her as a guru Zooni is her trainee and she will make her first major public appearance. I never thought of participating in such a pageant but Laxmi makes me believe I can do much more with my life. There is more to us than begging and performing and being sexual objects, says Kamini softly. As more contestants trickle in,there is a buzz in the greenroom,the mirror is witness to makeovers,touch-ups and just that hint of vanity. All in a days work at a beauty pageant.
