Well-known transgender model and actress from Manipur Bishesh Huirem has been engaged as “State Icon” by Election Commission of India to motivate people of the state to participate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

She has been appointed mostly to encourage the transgender community to exercise their franchise for the upcoming elections, reports The Telegraph.

Huirem is the first Indian to participate in Miss International Queen beauty contest in Thailand in 2016.

Miss International Queen Beauty Contest is a beauty pageant for transgenders from different parts of the world.

The pageant is a registered trademark of the Thailand company, Tiffany’s Show Pattaya Co, Ltd.

Huirem is one of the highest paid actresses in Manipuri films and mobile theatres.

Born to Manglem Huirem and Khomdonbi, she is an acclaimed actress who is also has a graduation degree in fashion and apparel designing from Bangalore University.

For the first time, transgenders were recognised as third gender by the commission during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court in this regard.

Of the third gender voters, 26 have made it to the final photo electoral rolls published by the Manipur election commission office in January.

Manipur will go to polls on April 11 and April 18. Election to the outer Manipur parliamentary constituency (ST), which comprises 28 Assembly constituencies including eight valley constituencies, will be held on April 11.

The inner Manipur parliamentary constituency comprising 32 assembly constituencies will go to polls on April 18.