Mehandi, a transperson from Chennai, was crowned Miss Koovagam at a beauty pageant held in Villupuram on Monday in connection with the annual Koothandavar festival. Organised by the South India Transgenders Federation along with Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society, the beauty contest saw quite a number of entries.
The contest tested the general knowledge and social awareness of the participants. The contestants’ contribution to the future of the community was also one of the requirements of the event.
Mehandi was declared the title winner and Riyana Soori from Tiruchirapalli the first runner-up. Sakshi of Salem was the second runner-up. They were crowned by Minister for Minorites Welfare and Non-resident Tamils Welfare Gingee K.S. Masthan at the municipal grounds.
