The modeling industry is often criticized by the “company they keep” aka the models they sign. People say models are often too skinny, too tall, too white and/or too unrealistic, but Anjali Lama is changing the game. This Indian model is transgender and she slayed at the India’s Lakmé Fashion Week.
32-year-old Anjali Lama, born as Nabina Waiba, was a simple boy living in the rural district of Nuwakot in Nepal. Lama admits to being bullied growing up since she had more feminine qualities and her fellow peers did not approve, “…The kids at school used to mock me and say ‘he’s a girl’,” said Lama about her experience attending school. At the age of 18, Lama made the big move to the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu, where she attended college and worked at a hotel. It was here that she faced criticism at the hotel she was employed because of her identity and was ultimately fired because her “feminine behavior” made customers uncomfortable.
Desperate to feel comfortable in her own skin, the young women reached out to the Blue Diamond Society; a group in Nepal who’s purpose is to advocate for sexual minorities. With loyal supporters behind her, Lama squared up her shoulders and applied for her first modeling job. Voice of Women, Nepal’s magazine, offered Lama her much needed big break when they put her on the cover of their publication
It was after this that Lama,with some new found confidence, was casted to walk in Subexya Bhadel 2010 show. After walking the catwalk, Lama knew she wanted to take her career global and walk in India’s premiere fashion week.
Her dream came true this year when Anjali Lama made history by being the first transgender individual to walk in India’s premiere fashion show. The show, which also casted a gender neutral model, was named a “tag-less” showcase, maybe these other fashion shows should take notes. According to Spring 2017 diversity report by The Fashion Spot, almost 75% of the models casted for New York, London, Paris and Milan fashion week were white, and the left over 25% were women of color.
Lama was not born female nor is she white but she was able to beat the odds and reach her goal of walking in India’s Lakmé Fashion Week. “I just want to live life the way I want, and I’m not scared to do it,” said the model who made history with her bravery.
