Anjali Lama was born into a farming family in Nuwakot district, north west of Kathmandu. She was the fifth child of seven siblings. Raised as a boy, she was often bullied and teased for her feminine tendencies and her interests in modelling, fashion and beauty.
Lama eventually moved to Kathmandu for further studies and to search for modelling opportunities. She got a job working at a hotel, but she was fired because of her feminine behaviour. After that, she came into contact with Blue Diamond Society.
“That’s where I got to know that I’m a transgender. That people like me are called transgenders. When I realized that I wasn’t alone, I felt a sudden hope, and was encouraged to be myself.”
Anjali Lama
In 2009, she was featured on the cover of Voice of Women magazine for a feature on transgender people. It was her first big break into modelling. But it wasn’t easy at first – Lama was rejected multiple times by local agencies because of her gender identity. Still, she was determined to make a name for herself in the industry.
Fast-forward to 2017, when she became the first transgender model to walk at Lakme Fashion Week in India. This opportunity opened many doors, and she has since been featured on international catwalks and worked with several high-profile fashion designers and agencies in Asia and around the world.
At Blue Diamond Society, we are proud of Lama’s success in the modeling industry and her advocacy work in raising awareness and visibility of transgender people.
Read more about her journey in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Vogue India and Femina.
