Nadira Mehrin is an Indian actor, model and journalist who is known for being the first transwoman to take admission to the government’s transgender quota for her first master’s degree. In 2023, she appeared as a contestant in Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 5) reality show on the Asianet channel
Wiki/Biography
Nadira Mehrin was born on Friday, 17 September 1999 (age 22 years; as of 2022) in Manacaud, Thiruvananthapuram. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at A.J College of Science & Technology, Kerala, a master’s degree in political science at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, and a master’s degree in Theatre at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kerala. While she was growing up, she knew something in her body was different from others, but she could not tell her family about it because she was very young at that time. When she turned sixteen, she realized that her identity was different from the one she was assigned at the time of birth. After one year, when she turned seventeen, she told her family about it, but they did not accept her and asked her to leave the home. In an interview, she said that she is still not accepted by her family, but they were happy that she is independent. When she left home, she did not have any money to continue her studies, but fortunately, she received help from a trans community who helped her complete her education. To earn money, she started to tutor students and do modelling. When she was pursuing graduation, she faced many problems like no gender-neutral washrooms in her college. When she used to go to the police station to complain about assaults against her, the police never filed an FIR and in fact supported the assaulters. In an interview, she shared an incident that happened to her in class 8 when she was sexually assaulted by her classmates after which she was afraid to go to school for many days. When she complained about the incident to her teachers, they did not take any action and even told her that this happened because she used to behave like a girl. After that, she stopped going to school till class 10 and used to study at home.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 7″
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
Nadira was born into a Muslim family.
Parents & Siblings
There is not much information about her parents and siblings.
Religion/Religious Views
Nadira follows Islam.
Career
Modelling
In 2018, she won the title of Miss Trivandrum.
Nadira Mehrin (centre) wins the title of Miss Trivandrum
Film
Nadira made her debut in 2022, with a Malayalam anthology film Freedom Fight.
Nadira Mehrin in the film Freedom Fight (2022)
Television
In 2023, she appeared as a contestant on Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 5).
Nadira Mehrin in the show Bigg Boss (Malayalam season 5)
Journalist
She works as an anchor on the 24 News channel.
Nadira Mehrin reading news on 24 News channel
Tattoos
- Elephant inked on her arm
Nadira Mehrin’s tattoo on her arm
- On her chest
Nadira Mehrin’s tattoo on her chest
Facts/Trivia
- She follows a non-vegetarian diet.
Nadira Mehrin eating chicken
- According to her, education is the only thing that makes her empowered. She wants to change people’s thinking about transgenders. In an interview, she said that she took admission to the master’s degree because she wanted other trans people to have the courage to study further.
- In an interview, she said that she faced discrimination when she started acting. She said that directors and producers prefer a man or woman to play the role of a transgender even when a transgender can be cast in the role.
- In 2018, while pursuing her post-graduation in Political Science at University College, Thiruvananthapuram, she became the All India Students’ Federation (AISF) general secretary candidate. In 2022, she became the vice president of the federation (AISF). In an interview, while talking about politics, she said that she had an interest in politics since she was in school. She is happy with the fact that there are many political parties that have trans members, but trans is never supported to contest the elections.
Nadira Mehrin as a part of All India Students’ Federation
- In 2019, she became the director board member at Queerythm LGBTIQ Community.
- In 2019, she started earning money by opening a juice stall named ‘Aanoruthide Kulukkikada’ near Tagore Theatre.
Nadira Mehrin selling juice
- In 2020, she addressed the SAMANWAYA fest on the topic of ‘celebrating differences.’
- In 2021, she became the first trans person in Kerala to pursue her first post-graduation degree and second master’s degree under the government’s transgender quota.
- In 2021, she started an online campaign Kaleidoscope to spread awareness about transgender across India. In an interview, she talked about the campaign and said,
Our aim is to spread awareness so that people can live a life of dignity. We also provide mental health support to the community.”
- In 2022, she came live on Facebook and shared that she was asked to leave the hostel at 12 in the night because she had asked the hostel authority to repair a fan in her room which was important for her hormone treatment. The incident occurred in the Deputy Warden’s room at Priyamvada, a women’s hostel in Kaladi, the centre of Sri Shankaracharya the University of Sanskrit. The warden of the hostel asked her to leave the hostel and live somewhere else if she had a problem.
- She has worked as a resource person for the Kerala government.
- She teaches people about Sexual Gender Minority.