Meet Naaz Joshi, The World’s First Transsexual Miss World Diversity

Naaz Joshi World's First Transsexual Miss World Diversity
Image Via Winning Stree

Abandoned as a boy for being effeminate, Naaz Joshi never dreamed that one day she would go on to win beauty pageants as a confident transgender woman. But life is unpredictable like that and Naaz is no stranger to its ups and downs. In an interview with Mahevash Muses, the brave beauty talks about how she won Miss World Diversity, what it is like to be a transgender woman in India, and so on.

You won Miss World Diversity two times in a row, in 2017 as well as in 2018. How did you achieve this feat?

When I was thirteen, I was enchanted by the photos of Aishwarya Rai and Sushmita Sen wearing their beautiful crowns. I too desired to wear a crown of my own, but with many responsibilities in my teens and twenties, my dream took a back seat.

It was only in 2017 that I was able to pursue my lifelong dream. Back then, I wanted to take part in Miss Trans Queen India 2018, but I was rejected because of my weight.

Then, I saw the advertisement for Miss World Diversity 2017, an online pageant, and I decided to take a chance and enter. What did I have to lose anyway? 87 ladies from 87 countries sent in their entries, out of which 50 got shortlisted. We were given several tasks to perform and soon, just 22 of us were shortlisted. And then through a final Skype interview, the first ever Miss World Diversity 2017 was chosen, and that was me!

Things were way harder for me when I participated in Miss World Diversity 2018.

The 2018 pageant was scheduled in Dubai and Dubai is infamously anti-transgender. I had to struggle to change my gender from male to female in my passport. And even with a female passport, I was mentally tortured by a female immigration officer at the airport who called me all sorts of derogatory names.

I was detained at the Dubai airport for a good one hour and was free to go only after undergoing a humiliating physical test. The “test” involved me removing all my clothes in front of male and female immigration officers.

Once I was in Dubai, I didn’t have to struggle much in the pageant as from day 1, I became everybody’s favorite contestant. After I won my crown, I was vindicated when people lined up to take selfies with me at the same airport where I was mentally and physically assaulted. And that’s the story of how I won my crown.

While transgenders are accepted by law in India, they are still discriminated by society. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

I was abandoned by my family when I was just 7 years old, so my biggest challenge is that my own parents have not accepted me till date. Even after winning Miss World Diversity 2017 and 2018, they consider me a disgrace to the family.

Indian Society is transphobic and so is our media.

The news that should have been flashed on TV channels was completely ignored. Our honorable prime minister never called me to honor me, even though I wrote to him many times.

Today, many men are ready to accept me within the fours walls of my house but refuse to do so in the outside world. They are ashamed of what people will think. Despite winning Miss World Diversity two times in a row, I still struggle to get work today. I don’t even have enough money to spend on Facial Feminization Surgery. If anyone wants to sponsor my surgery, I will be extremely obliged as it will solve a lot of problems in my life.

Tell us about your upcoming project, Queen Universe 2019. Also, what are your plans for the future?

MIHM Queen Universe 2019 is India’s very own first international beauty pageant organized by a transgender girl aka me. The theme of the pageant is trans empowerment. The finale will be conducted on June 18, where contestants from diverse cultures will compete for the coveted title of Queen Universe and dedicate 1 year of their lives to the upliftment of the trans community.

I aspire to be a leading actress. When I see a cisgender woman playing the role of a transgender girl in Sacred Games, I feel under-represented. It is only right that a trans role should be played by a trans woman!

I really wish to play such a strong female character one day and people who think trans actors do not/cannot exist, well, they will be my biggest fans ever!

If you could share only one message with the world, what would it be and why?

Do not hate us and please do not laugh at us. Make us a part of society, come forward and help us. Do not disown us just because we are born different from you. Give us equal opportunities and we shall prove that we are as able as the rest of the world. We have the drive and the caliber, all we need is basic respect and a safe work environment to succeed and live respectfully.

Naaz Joshi is an inspiration to all of us and I wish her the very best in her personal and professional life. You can reach her at queensofuniverse@gmail.com

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