Her walk at Lakmé Fashion Week in 2017 broke a barrier. Anjali Lama became the first transgender model to grace that major Indian runway. The moment rewrote industry standards.
Her journey started far from the spotlight. Born into a farming family in rural Nepal, she was the fifth of seven children. At eighteen, she moved to Kathmandu for education and work.
She faced constant discrimination but carried a fierce determination. Modeling found her through chance and relentless spirit. After three rejections from Lakmé Fashion Week, she finally secured her spot.
Success came quickly after that historic debut. She landed the cover of Elle India and starred in a Calvin Klein campaign. She became the first trans woman from the region featured by an international brand.
In 2022, she reached New York Fashion Week, walking for designer Prabal Gurung. Her career stands as powerful proof. Persistence against rejection can open doors for everyone who follows.
Early Life and Breakthrough Moments
Growing up as the fifth of seven children in Nuwakot District meant farm labor and constant questions about identity. Her childhood experiences built the foundation for later resilience.
Growing Up in Nuwakot Village
Life in the remote village centered on family farming. She worked alongside her parents and siblings daily. The rural setting offered little exposure to diverse gender expressions.
Teachers and classmates frequently mocked her feminine mannerisms. This created years of internal struggle. She felt different but lacked the language to understand why.
From Struggle to Self-Acceptance
At eighteen, she moved to Kathmandu for education and work. A restaurant job ended when staff rejected her feminine presentation. Isolation deepened during this difficult time.
Everything changed after watching “Sangharsha,” a show about transgender people. Seeing others like her on television provided the first mirror. She finally had words for her experience.
Two transgender women directed her to the Blue Diamond Society in 2005. The organization provided crucial community support and education about rights. This became her turning point toward self-acceptance.
| Year | Turning Point | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Discovery of Blue Diamond Society | First access to transgender community and resources |
| 2005 | Coming out to family | Public affirmation of true identity despite initial rejection |
| 2007 | Miss International Queen competition | International exposure and networking with transgender women worldwide |
She came out to her family that same year. While initially met with resistance, she held firm. The 2007 Miss International Queen pageant connected her with a global community of transgender women.
Anjali Lama: Breaking Barriers in Fashion
Mumbai in 2017 became the stage for a historic catwalk moment. This show would redefine South Asian fashion standards. Anjali Lama’s walk was a quiet revolution.
Historic Lakmé Fashion Week Debut
Her first two Lakmé Fashion Week auditions ended in rejection. For the third try, she quit her job and moved to Mumbai. She prepared with intense focus, studying every detail of the runway.
Standing among two hundred models, she chose authenticity over comparison. The selection panel chose five. Lama was among them, becoming the first transgender model to walk for Lakmé Fashion Week.
The impact was immediate. Within weeks, she graced the cover of Elle India. This cover cemented her status as a new face of change.
International Runway Triumphs
Her success at Lakmé Fashion Week opened global doors. In 2019, Calvin Klein featured her in an International Women’s Day campaign. She was the first trans model from the subcontinent chosen by an international brand.
By 2022, she reached New York Fashion Week. She walked for designer Prabal Gurung, sharing the runway with Nepali model Varsha Thapa. This moment was a full-circle triumph on a world stage.
Her journey, captured in the documentary “Living Inside Someone Else’s Skin,” shows the resilience behind the spotlight. She has since worked with top designers like Anita Dongre and Rohit Bal.
Challenges and Triumphs on the Catwalk
Success on international stages didn’t shield her from everyday discrimination. The fashion industry’s progressive image often masked deep-seated resistance.
Overcoming Discrimination in the Industry
Finding housing in Mumbai proved impossible for the transgender model. Landlords repeatedly turned her away despite her growing career.
Her first modeling agency canceled the contract after one year. They claimed she wasn’t getting enough work. Another agency told her directly, “You are not like our kind.”
Financial instability became a constant worry. She earned less than other models with similar experience. Supporting herself in an expensive city remained challenging.
Activism, Community, and Support
The Blue Diamond Society provided crucial community support years earlier. It gave her education and her first safe space as a transgender woman.
Her boyfriend stood as a steady pillar through career uncertainty. Her late mother’s wisdom about facing problems head-on became daily fuel.
Every runway appearance now carries activist weight. Anjali Lama challenges the industry to expand its definition of beauty. Her work pushes for real change behind the glamour.
Reflections and Future Horizons in Fashion
Looking back across years of transformation, the model sees both progress and unfinished work. Policy changes in Nepal and India have created better conditions for transgender people. Yet true equality remains distant for many in the community.
Lama’s philosophy centers on self-acceptance as the first step. “You have to accept yourself for who you are,” she advises. This foundation carried her through industry rejection to international runways.
Her historic Lakmé Fashion Week debut opened doors that she hopes will stay open. The fashion industry must move beyond token appearances. Transgender models should be regular fixtures on every catwalk.
With her 2021 Hollywood film announcement for “Women’s Stories,” Lama continues expanding her reach. Each fashion week appearance carries the hope of broader change. Her journey reminds us that systemic transformation requires collective will.
