She is a Miss Coimbatore. But for her, the use of “she” for her identity was not one that came easily. Yes. Miss Coimbatore Anjali is a transwoman from Kerala. She is an example to many transgenders to overcome regular hardships in life and achieve great things. She received the Miss Coimbatore title from the Coimbatore District Transgenders’ Welfare Association here on Tuesday.

Born at Kozhikode in Kerala, Anjali left her family seven years ago. She completed B.Sc. Nursing from a private college in Bengaluru. Anjali got into modelling and later, acting. She has acted in movies, which include Sokku Sundaram (Tamil) and Nizhalkoothu (Malayalam).

She is proud of having won the Miss Coimbatore title, as this was the first ever Miss Coimbatore title organized by the Association, Anjali is the most happy when she is in the company of fellow transgenders as there is a sense of belonging and oneness. “This is a joyous occasion for us. We are all so happy to meet each other and share our thoughts,” she told Covai Post.

This popularity and happiness did not come without effort to Anjali. She was forced to live alone when her family shunned her. Though her family accepted her later, they refused to accept her as a transwoman until recently. The acceptance is however with conditions. “They do not like seeing me as a woman even after having accepted me as a transgender,” she says.

“I am working in a Malayalam soap opera. They do not like me acting as a woman. Yet, I am trying to bring about a change in them,” she adds

Living alone in Chinnavedapatti, it is Anjali’s belief that getting a house is no more a trouble for transgenders as the society is slowly accepting them.

“It all depends on how you behave. People accept you, though not completely, if they find your character impeccable,” she says.

However, according to Anjali, family acceptance is more important for societal acceptance as it would encourage transwomen. “Most family members, over time, tend to renew their contact with their estranged son or relative who has become a transwoman. But they do not let the transwomen stay with them. I have my family support and I am able to go home whenever I can. This is a big encouragement,” she says.