By now, we all know that a local news channel, Koh-e-Noor, made history by hiring Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor.
#Pakistan first transgender news caster on screen now – Maavia Malik pic.twitter.com/uXJipyrEfL
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) March 23, 2018
Previously know as Maavia, and now known as Marvia, the newscaster first made headlines when she walked the ramp for Jeem under the designer Hamza Bukhari.
Therefore, Marvia Malik was also the first ever transgender model to walk the ramp at the PFDC Sunsilk Fashion Week
Graduating from the University of Punjab, she came into the limelight when some students of the Lahore Grammar School and an NCA graduate came together to organize an absolutely breathtaking photo shoot with a transgender model.
The shoot, called the Flip Side, was for a Global Perspectives CIE project. It was at this point when MangoBaaz got in touch with Marvia as well.
Marvia wanted to do things differently ever since she was a child. This desire came at a cost. Marvia opened up about these struggles:
“My family was not supportive of who I was and what I wanted to do. I was regularly beaten up. I was isolated from my family, friends and my entire community. However, there were a few friends who have been supportive throughout and the Khuwajah Sira community which has been a source of immense support. The community helped me with my dream and is always supportive.”
Having struggled herself, she intends to further her aim of making our society more inclusive and tolerable:
“I’ve always wanted to fulfill my dream and want to promote inclusion. I want to tell people that the transgender community can do and achieve anything.”
For young trans individuals, she said,
“The only advice I have for the young transgender community is to stay just as united as we are. All of us should be passionate to promote the best practices of the transgender community to show people that we can do and achieve anything.”
She also urged them to accept themselves first and keep fighting the uphill battle. The journey will be hard, but the destination will be worth the struggle.
Marvia is looking forward push for change and make history.
She wants to do more to get her message for inclusion and tolerance across to society all through her positive contributions. And clearly, she’s moving ahead steadily in that direction.
MangoBaaz reached out to Marvia again, asking her how much her life had changed. While sounding ecstatic about her new-found success, here’s what she had to say:
“Main shukar guzaar hoon ke main baarish ka woh pehla qatra hoon jis se badlao aye.”
She went on to say that she looks forward to seeing more and more trans individuals making their way into mainstream media. Moreover, she believes that the perception of the transgender community is slowly beginning to change.
Marvia also mentioned how people have started treating her a lot better.
People are more open-minded and accepting around her. She sees this as a welcome change and hopes that the attitude of the world towards the transgender community experiences major changes too.
While complete acceptance for trans individuals is a goal somewhere down the line, the fact that there is empathy for the community is a great sign. Let’s hope more inspiring individuals keep shattering these barriers to set powerful examples.
This Transgender Model’s Photo Shoot Organized By Students In Lahore Will Leave You Absolutely Mesmerized
Cover image via: dawn.com
