| Name | Anjali Lama |
|---|---|
| Former Name | Navin Kumar Waiba |
| Age | 36 years (as of 2021) |
| Birth place | Nuwakot, Nepal |
| Nationality | Nepali |
| Almamater | Trichandra College |
| Height | 5 ft 9 inch |
| Occupation | Model, Activist, Actress |
| Title | First Transgender model of Nepal |
| Hollywood Debut | The woman stories |
EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION
Anjali was born as Nabin Waiba in the family of farmers in Nuwakot. Waiba was different from others she did not conform to gender stereotypes. It brought self-doubt and confusion to Waiba who she really was and what is her identity. Lama underwent a sex-change operation after moving to Kathmandu for higher studies. She became Anjali Lama from Nabin Waiba. She later became an activist for an LGBT rights group called Blue Diamond Society.
She had done schooling from Shree Gyan Jyoti Secondary School and pursued higher studies in Tri Chandra College. Anjali had to struggle with sexual standards imposed by society. But She always builds up her confidence and has no shy to reveal her true identity.
MODELLING CAREER
BREAKING STEREOTYPE: FIRST TRANSGENDER MODEL
Lama came to the spotlight after participating in Transgender Peagant named “Miss Pink” in 2007. Although She could not win the title, She made it to the Top 10. She revealed her identity to society through this pageant. She later also participated in International Trans Peagant named Miss International Queen in Thailand.
Anjali had to face a lot of rejections for being transgender but she never gave up. She struggled a lot for her dream and finally had her professional photoshoot in 2009 as a cover girl for Vow Magazine. She was later featured in many other magazines and walked in for many prestigious ramp shows. She became the First Nepali Transgender Model.
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION
Anjali applied for Lakme fashion week, one of the prestigious fashion shows in India but she was rejected twice. She was accepted to the fashion show on her third attempt making her the first transgender model to walk in Lakme fashion week. After that, she went on working with high profiled designers such as Monisha Jaising, Gaurav Gupta, etc.
She is also went to feature in the magazine covers for Elle , L’officel, Femina , Harper bazaar and so on.She has also worked for the prestigious international brand calvin kein. She is also the first Nepali to ever walk in Cannes Film Festival.
ANJALI : THE DOCUMENTARY
In 2014 she featured in a documentary titled “Anjali: Living Inside Someone Else’s Skin” which shows her struggle for acceptance being the transgender and her achieving the dream to become who she really wants to be.
THE HOLLYWOOD DEBUT
Anjali Lama would be making her hollywood debut with the film Woman stories.She would be sharing the screen with Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez in a segment titled Sharing a ride .The film would be directed by filmmaker Leena Yadav who is credited for films such as Parched, Shabd, Teen Patti.
FACTS ABOUT ANJALI LAMA
- She was born as Nabin Waiba in Nuwakot.
- She went to have sex change surgery in 2009.
- She is first transgender model of Nepal
- She is first transgender model to walk in Lakme Fashion Week in India.
- She is the first Nepali to walk in Cannes Film Festival.
