Transgender woman becomes runner-up at Bangladeshi beauty pageant

Transgender woman Yasin Ahmed Sokal has won the title of second runner-up in "Miss Evergreen Bangladesh 2023." This is the first time that a trans woman has competed and won an award at a beauty pageant in Bangladesh.

Elated with this, Sokal shared with the media that she would like to represent the transgender community in front of the world. 

"I consider this win as a victory for humanity. We, transgender people, are beyond our external appearance, and I dedicate this title to my fellow transgender people who are yet to be recognised by society," said Sokal.

With Sokal as its second runner-up, Happy Akhter Momotaj was crowned as "Miss Evergreen Bangladesh," and Nusrat Jahan Dipti won the title of first runner-up. The awardees got Tk 50,000, Tk 2,00,000, and Tk 1,00,000, respectively, at a ceremony that took place on Friday evening at a renowned five-star hotel in the capital.

The beauty pageant show–which is managed by Mesbah-ul-Alam Saju, founder and CEO of McCoy– made history by making a place for the participation of transgender and differently-abled women as its contestants.

The winners competed with 500 others and were selected from 15 contestants at the grand finale, said the beauty pageant sources.

Amongst the jury members were renowned artists like popular actress Mahiya Mahi, veteran actress Rozina, Moutushi Biswas, Jyotika Jyoti, Antu Kareem, Zakiya Sultana Kornia, and Ivan Shahriar Sohag.