India Plans First Transgender Pageant

India will hold the nation's first beauty pageant for eunuchs, a term used for cross-dressers as well as pre- and post-operative transsexuals, beyond its traditional meaning.

Bollywood star and former Miss India Celina Jaitley (pictured) has been named as one of the judges for the contest.

"It would be my privilege to judge a beauty pageant, which knows no bounds in terms of caste, creed, and gender," said Jaitley, reports Thaindian News.

Jaitley, who represented India at the 2001 Miss Universe pageant, also pledged to bestow 50,000 rupees (approximately $1,070) on the winner.

Organized by eunuch performer Lakshmi Narayan Tripathi, the event, titled Indian Super Queen, is designed to raise awareness of the marginalized population.

Commonly referred to as the third gender, eunuchs celebrated a national victory in November when the option of "O," for "other," was added to voter forms requesting gender identity.