With strong stage presence and striking features, 32-year-old Anjali Lama looks at home among the sea of models at Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai.
But with every step on the runway, she is making history.
Born Nabin Waiba, as a boy growing up in the rural district of Nuwakot in Nepal, Lama was often severely bullied for having feminine tendencies.
The journey to Lakmé Fashion Week
Lama's first foray into fashion was inspired by the very community of friends she established once she embraced her transgender identity.
They encouraged her to consider a career in modeling and overcome her identity issues.
"Coming out was a major step for me, so considering a career in modeling seemed like a long shot. But my friends insisted I try it out, and their encouragement made me feel good."
Lama got her first major break when she was featured on the cover of a Nepali magazine called Voice of Women. Yet she still faced resistance when she tried to develop her career further.
"I asked my agency why I wasn't getting jobs. He said it is because I am transgender," she says."But I remembered what my mother told me about not giving up, and moving forward. I knew someone, somewhere will give me an opportunity."
In 2010 she was cast to walk for Nepalese designer Subexya Bhadel and made her catwalk debut. But her sights were set on going global, and walking India's premiere fashion week became the next big step.
While she was rejected the first year she auditioned, this year, she made the cut.
Diversity in fashion
The fashion industry often receives criticism for its lack of diversity.
According to the Spring 2017 diversity report by The Fashion Spot, more than 70% of the models cast for New York, London, Paris and Milan fashion weeks were white.
But, in recent years, traditional perceptions of beauty have been challenged -- not only with regards to race but also body shape, age and sexuality.
In January, Hanne Gaby Odiele -- a Belgian model who has worked with high-profile clients such as Mulberry and Balenciaga -- made headlines after revealing that she identifies as intersex.
And it seems that organizations have started responding.
Model comes out as intersex 01:14
Lakmé Fashion Week made diversity a key priority this year, specifically looking to cast unique faces and features. This season, alongside Lama, another gender neutral model will walk the runway in Mumbai. The organization has also put together what they call a "tag-free" show, which rejects labels and rigid categories.
"Fashion is looked at as a closed society. People feel it is out of reach and untouchable. We want to change that" said Jaspreet Chandok, Vice President and Head (Fashion), at IMG Reliance, the event owners of Lakmé Fashion Week.
This move, so far, has been a success.
Chandok says that more plus size and transgender models have started to reach out to them for future castings.
But for Lama, seeing a more diverse lineup on the catwalk is only half the battle. Once the curtains close, she hopes to encourage confidence in sexual minorities off the runway as well.
"I just want to live life the way I want, and I'm not scared to do it."
