Bisma Manzoor

Manu Bebo, a make-up artist from Srinagar, Kashmir, whose tutorials are becoming popular on social media is a proud third gender. However, her journey from accepting to flaunting her biological identity in a rather conservative environment has not been easy.

Her Instagram page describes her as A Proud Third-Gender. Her make-up tutorials are popular and one Smoky Eyes garnered about 25,000 views.

Manu loves to apply make-up and is not afraid of showing her raw no-makeup look on camera.

Visit her Instagram page. Jalne waale khaak hai. Kyonki chahne waali lakh hain, Manu says with attitude. The jealous ones don’t matter because millions love me. She rolls her tongue.

In another video, she lip syncs to a popular scene. Kya mein ek achhi actress hoon? Answer the damn question! You have to admit. Yes Bebo. You’re a good actress.

Manu Bebo doing makeup on a client

She has taken her second name from her favourite actress Kareena Kapoor, whose pet name is Bebo.

She was born as Mansoor in a middle-class family of Nawakadal, Srinagar downtown. Due to her sexual identity since her childhood, she had to hear nasty and brutal comments of relatives and even face a heartbreaking rejection of her parents.

 “I realized when I was in Class 7 that I have the atma of a girl,” she says. Manu refused to fudge her identity for others. Her teachers, her peers, her relatives – all ridiculed her for dressing up and behaving like a girl. At times her teachers punished her for “acting like a girl.”

Manu was being herself; she felt like a girl, and she was going to be one.

Her parents were upset and stopped talking to her at times because they thought her ‘behaviour was inappropriate.’ Manu was their only child and yet she was not invited to family weddings. She would cry but she never let go of the truth of her gender.

She decided to ignore the hate and barbs thrown at her and decided to find happiness within herself and in the company of friends who loved her. Her friend Ifra has been a pillar of support for her.

Manu loved doing makeup and she decided to make a career out of her interest and skill.

Manu Bebo doing her make up

Today, she is a popular make-up specialist in Srinagar, who is sought after for bridal and party make-up looks by clients.

Manu has learnt to take others’ bias towards her in her stride. “I buy the best make-up products for my clients; want to be the best make-up specialist that anyone knows,” says Manu.

Some of her bookings get cancelled as the clients suddenly realize she is transgender. It no longer bothers her. “Keep your head up, nothing lasts forever,” she has posted in Urdu on her Instagram handle, probably after one such rejection.

 She has close to 10,000 followers on Instagram. Manu says she wants to be a role model for transgenders and encourage them to live life on their terms.

Manu says her parents are now more accepting of her after she has started earning and providing for her family. Her father Mohammad Amin is a mason and her mother a homemaker.

She says being financially secure is the way to ensure that people let you live life on your terms.

Even though she has accepted her sexual identity, at times she feels why Allah didn’t create her as a girl.

Manu wants to work for the welfare of the transgender community. “One must never lose hope. Believe in Allah and do what you feel is right. Allah shall always take care of you,” she says.

 Her deep desire is to be a glamorous celebrity.