Photos show casting call for India's 1st transgender modeling agency
Activist Rudrani Chettri held what local media called the first auditions for an all-transgender modeling agency in New Delhi on Sunday as part of a campaign to alter widely held perceptions about trans people in the country.
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An aspiring model waits for her turn to audition for a spot in India's first transgender modeling agency, in New Delhi, on Feb. 7, 2016. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
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Five models from a field of about 70 auditioned for a trans-gender modeling agency in New Delhi, organized by activist Rudrani Chettri.
A transgender model hoping to turn professional poses for activist Rudrani Chettri and a panel of fashion industry representatives during auditions on Feb. 7. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
Chettri has been championing LGBT rights for about a decade.
She runs the Mitr Trust charity that provides support to people shunned by their families and, in many cases, who have been forced into the sex trade.
Chetri says she is setting up the modeling agency to give young transgender people a shot at a career that was unavailable to her growing up. (Rajat Gupta/EPA)
Auditions were the first step towards launching a national campaign.
To cover costs, Chettri has set up a crowdfunding page on which she explains her plan to boost morale in the transgender community by "hopefully" landing a spread in a top Indian fashion magazine.
Chettri, with her back to the camera in this photo, held the open casting call on Feb. 7 in New Delhi. (Rajat Gupta/EPA)
Aspiring transgender model Niharika takes a smoke break during auditions in New Delhi on Feb. 7. (Rajat Gupta/EPA)
Aspiring models got face time with a professional stylist.
Stylist Rishi Raj, who along with Chettri is featured in an as-yet unreleased documentary, was on hand for the auditions, as was a professional photographer.
Caitlyn Jenner is opening doors, Raj hopes.
Raj told the newspaper India Today that Jenner is a role model for aspiring models in the country and that an all-trans agency is a logical next step towards mainstream acceptance. The fashion industry has a history of "breaking boundaries and creating trends," Raj said.
Niharika strikes a pose during the camera test component of the Mitr trust auditions on Feb. 7. (Rajat Gupta/EPA)
Chettri said, in an interview with India Today, that the campaign is intended to give transgender Indians an avenue into mainstream society and to break long-held beliefs about members of the community 'who are made to feel ugly.' (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
Indian passports and voter cards offer three gender options.
In 2014, India joined a short list of countries to recognize transgender as an official third gender, granting the country's large "hijra" population certain constitutional rights.
An aspiring model takes a selfie before her audition on Feb. 7. (Adnan Abidi/Reuters)
