Miss Sahhara Explained

Miss saHHara
Birth Date:27 August 1984
Nationality:British
Occupation:Singer/songwriter, fashion model, beauty queen, Founder of Transvalid organisation,
President of Miss Trans Global
Height:5ft 11in

Miss Sahhara (stylized as Miss saHHara)[1] is a British Nigerian singer, model, beauty queen and human rights advocate.[2] [3]

With her 2011 participation in Miss International Queen, a beauty pageant in Pattaya for transgender women, Miss Sahhara became the first trans woman from Nigeria to come out in the international press.[4] [5] She subsequently founded a global transgender awareness news curation organisation called TransValid.[6] [7]

In 2014, she became the first black transgender woman to win an international beauty pageant when she was crowned Super Sireyna Worldwide 2014 on Eat Bulaga!, Philippines longest noontime show.[8] [9] [10]

Biography

Miss Sahhara grew up in a small village in northern Nigeria. Her grandmother, who raised her while her mother was away at university, supported her in expressing her gender identity, but her neighbors and other family members were less supportive. As a teenager who wanted to wear makeup, dresses, and high heels, she was bullied at home and in public for her gender expression, suffering physical and sexual assault, harassment, and death threats. Her uncles beat her, and her church told her she was possessed by evil spirits.[11] [12] [13]

After two suicide attempts as a teenager, and being imprisoned for her gender presentation in January of 2004, Miss Sahhara resolved to either leave Nigeria or succeed in completing suicide. Later in 2004, she emigrated to London, where she was able to meet other transgender women, access gender-affirming care, and live openly as a woman.[14] [15] [16]

Miss Sahhara graduated with a Master's degree in digital media from London Metropolitan University in 2011.

Pageants and modeling

Miss Sahhara has participated in a number of pageants in the UK and abroad, representing her birth country of Nigeria to draw attention to the plight of the African LGBT community.[17] [18] She is also the founder and executive producer of transgender advocacy pageants Queen of Nations and Miss Trans Global.[19]

TitleYearPlacementCountrySource
Super Sireyna Worldwide2014WinnerPhilippines[20] [21]
Miss International Queen20111st Runner-upThailand[22] [23] [24]
Andrew Logan's Alternative Miss World2009United Kingdom[25]

Miss Sahhara has appeared on the covers of Time Out Magazine, transgender magazines Mask and TransLiving,[26] [27] and modeled for Ziad Ghanem on the London Fashion Week catwalk,[28] [29] [30] [31] as well as performing at Madame Jojo's Kitsch Cabaret in Soho before its 2014 closure.[32] [33] [34]

Charity and advocacy

Miss Sahhara has been a vocal critic of the 2014 Nigerian Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act, which imposes prison terms of up to 14 years on LGBT Nigerians.[35] [36]

In 2014, Miss Sahhara founded TransValid, a global awareness organization for the transgender community.[37] Her activities with TransValid have included a 2015 short film, The Deadly Price of Transphobia in Brazil,[38] and a 2016 campaign titled 'I am Trans and I have the Right to Life .[39] [40] [41]

Miss Sahhara has discussed transgender rights on Sky Living's "Lady Boys",[42] Eat Bulaga!'s "Super Sireyna Worldwide",[43] BBC's "In Her Shoes: #BBCIdentity", and a Tunay Na Buhay interview with Rhea Santos.[44]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Trans woman: 'I left Nigeria to save my life'. BBC News. 2017-11-03.
  2. Web site: Meet Nigerian Model Who Was Once Male . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160818054310/http://pulse.ng/gist/meet-nigerian-model-who-was-once-male-id2548075.html . 18 August 2016 . 5 May 2016 . pulse.ng.
  3. Web site: Big Dreams: Miss Sahhara To Represent Nigeria At World Transgender Pageant. Dachen. Isaac. pulse.ng. 9 July 2014. 6 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115225018/http://pulse.ng/gist/big-dreams-miss-sahhara-to-represent-nigeria-at-world-transgender-pageant-id2973072.html. 15 November 2017.
  4. Web site: Scars of prejudice underlie glamour of transgender pageant. The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 November 2011. 6 May 2016.
  5. Web site:
    1. 7 – The Story of Nigeria's First Transgender Woman
    . Africa.com. 5 May 2016. 11 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160611060244/http://www.africa.com/story-nigerias-first-transgender-woman/. dead.
  6. News: Why transgender Africans turned against a famous feminist. Mohan. Megha. 16 March 2017. BBC News. 2017-11-03. en-GB.
  7. Web site: Miss saHHara is a singer/songwriter, fashion model, beauty queen, and a human rights advocate. transvalid.org. 7 May 2016.
  8. Web site: News . G. M. A. . 2014-07-25 . Super Sireyna: More heart than beauty . 2024-03-29 . GMA News Online . en.
  9. Web site: 2014-08-03 . Nigerian Trans woman, Ms Sahhara, wins Ms Super Sireyna Worldwide: Eat your heart out Transphobic Nigeria! . 2024-03-29 . YEMMYnisting . en-US.
  10. Web site: News . G. M. A. . 2014-08-01 . Sahhara's journey . 2024-03-29 . GMA News Online . en.
  11. Book: Craggs . Charlie . To My Trans Sisters . 19 October 2017 . Jessica Kingsley . 9781784506681 . 43–49 . 4 May 2023.
  12. News: Mordi . Melissa . Trans women speak on Western influence and being transgender in Nigeria . 4 May 2023 . The Guardian . 27 March 2019.
  13. News: Norris . Sian . Young, trans Nigerians: 'people need to see that we exist' . 4 May 2023 . openDemocracy . 30 April 2018.
  14. Book: Camminga . B . Marnell . John . Queer and Trans African Mobilities: Migration, Asylum and Diaspora . 16 June 2022. Bloomsbury . 978-0755639014 . 153 . 4 May 2023.
  15. News: From attempting suicide in Nigeria to Miss Transsexual final . 4 May 2023 . AFP . Kuwait Times . 19 September 2016.
  16. Web site: Sahhara's journey. GMA News Online. August 2014 . 7 May 2016.
  17. Web site: Big Dreams: Miss Sahhara To Represent Nigeria At World Transgender Pageant. Dachen. Isaac. pulse.ng. 9 July 2014. 5 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20171115225018/http://pulse.ng/gist/big-dreams-miss-sahhara-to-represent-nigeria-at-world-transgender-pageant-id2973072.html. 15 November 2017.
  18. Web site: Nigerian Representative at Transgender Pageant in the Philippines. 9 July 2014. kenyabuzz.com. 7 May 2016.
  19. Web site: First Miss Trans Global is Pinay. Daily Tribune. 5 October 2021. 5 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211005071456/https://tribune.net.ph/index.php/2020/09/28/first-miss-trans-global-is-pinay/. dead.
  20. Web site: Eat Bulaga #SSWorldwide: Miss Nigeria Wins Super Sireyna Worldwide. TDSTV. 5 May 2016. 1 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160601034559/http://www.thedigitalspy.com/eat-bulaga-ssworldwide-miss-nigeria-wins-super-sireyna-worldwide/. dead.
  21. Web site: Ms. Nigeria, wagi bilang unang Super Sireyna Worldwide ng 'Eat Bulaga!'. GMA News Online. 19 July 2014 . 5 May 2016.
  22. Web site: 4 November 2011 . MIQ Official Website . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160618010000/http://missinternationalqueen.com/gallery/2011/winner/index.html . 18 June 2016 . 10 May 2016 . Miss International Queen.
  23. Web site: Stunning Miss "Sammy" Thai Ladyboy Wins Pattaya Miss International Queen 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20171116020144/http://pattayadailynews.com/stunning-miss-%e2%80%9csammy%e2%80%9d-thai-ladyboy-wins-pattaya-miss-international-queen-2011/ . 16 November 2017 . 10 May 2016 . Pattaya Daily News.
  24. News: Stars replace scars in pageant fit for queens. Pattaya. Lindsay Murdoch. 8 November 2011. The Age. 8 May 2016.
  25. Web site: 2009 . 5 May 2023 . Alternative Miss World.
  26. Web site: 20 October 2014 . Nigerian TransGender Miss Sahhara poses nude for Mask Magazine . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013191913/http://nashvibes.com/nigerian-transgender-miss-sahhara-poses-nude-for-mask-magazine/ . 13 October 2016 . 7 May 2016 . The NashVibes.
  27. Web site: Nigerian transgender Ms Sahhara covers new issue of Transliving. 20 December 2014.
    1. ANOTHERGIST
    . 10 May 2016. 8 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160808235222/http://anothergist.com.ng/nigerian-transgender-ms-sahhara-covers/. dead.
  28. Web site: London Fashion Week AW11 Fashion Designer Ziad Ghanem . retoxmagazine.com. 7 May 2016.
  29. Web site: Ziad Ghanem Autumn/Winter 2011–12 Ready-To-Wear . 7 May 2016 . Vogue UK. https://web.archive.org/web/20171107114018/https://www.vogue.co.uk/shows/autumn-winter-2011-ready-to-wear/ziad-ghanem. 7 November 2017 .
  30. Web site: Ziad Ghanem Autumn/Winter 2010–11 Ready-To-Wear. Vogue UK. 7 May 2016. 10 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610221225/http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/autumn-winter-2010/ready-to-wear/ziad-ghanem. dead.
  31. Web site: Ziad Ghanem Spring/Summer 2012 Ready-To-Wear. Vogue UK. 7 May 2016. 10 June 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160610225633/http://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/spring-summer-2012/ready-to-wear/ziad-ghanem. dead.
  32. Web site: Madame Jojo's Kitsch Cabaret The Drury Club London DesignMyNight. designmynight.com. 7 May 2016.
  33. Web site: Kitsch Cabaret, Madame Jojo's, 8–10 Brewer Street, London, W1F 0SE. Tel 020 7734 3040. – Theatre Event in London. London. The Kolberg Partnership. AllinLondon. 7 May 2016.
  34. Web site: Madame Jojo's, legendary Soho nightclub, forced to close. Ellis-Petersen. Hannah. 24 November 2014. The Guardian. 7 May 2016.
  35. Web site: "Nigerians are so Stupid" – Nigerian Transgender Iris Sahhara Henson reacts to Same Sex Bill. BellaNaija. 14 January 2014. 6 May 2016.
  36. Web site: 15 January 2014 . Anti-Gay Law: Nigerian Transgender Miss SaHHara Blasts Nigeria . https://web.archive.org/web/20171107023450/http://pulse.ng/gist/anti-gay-law-nigerian-transgender-miss-sahhara-blasts-nigeria-id2620206.html . 7 November 2017 . 5 May 2016 . pulse.ng.
  37. Web site: Mission. transvalid.org. 5 May 2016.
  38. Web site: Ong londrina faz documentário sobre transfobia no Brasil. emneon.com.br. 7 May 2016.
  39. Web site: CAMPAIGN: 'I AM TRANS AND I HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIFE'. transvalid.org. 7 May 2016.
  40. Web site: 31 March 2016 . Nigerian transgender, Ms Sahhara releases photos to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160406105855/http://citypeopleng.com/nigerian-transgender-miss-sahhara-releases-photos-to-celebrate-trans-day-of-visibility/ . 6 April 2016 . 7 May 2016 . CityPeople Magazine Nigeria.
  41. Web site: Nigerian Transgender, Ms Sahhara, Shares New Sexy Photos To Celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160611202210/http://www.informationng.com/2016/03/nigerian-transgender-ms-sahhara-shares-new-sexy-photos-to-celebrate-transgender-day-of-visibility.html . 11 June 2016 . 7 May 2016 . INFORMATION NIGERIA.
  42. Web site: LADYBOYS. The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 May 2016. 9 January 2013.
  43. Web site: Super Sireyna: More heart than beauty. GMA News Online. 25 July 2014 . 5 May 2016.
  44. Web site: 28 July 2014 . Tragic life of Super Sireyna winner Miss Sahhara depicted on Tunay na Buhay . 8 May 2016 . pep.ph.

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