Aryan Pasha, an Indian transgender man, made history this weekend when he came in second at the Musclemania bodybuilding competition held in Delhi.
Musclemania is one of the world’s largest natural bodybuilding organizations with several categories (fitness, sports model, physique and natural bodybuilding)
After training for a year, Pasha competed in the Men’s Physique (Short) category.
Pasha, who transitioned at 18-years-old, tells Gaylaxy Mag that he’s had an interest in bodybuilding since a young age. And when he discovered a bodybuilding competition for transgender men held in the United States, he began training for it.
But he was unfortunately denied a visa to travel to the U.S.
Undeterred, he decided to enter the Musclemania event in India in the men’s category.
Fingure cross for results #musclemania #musclemaniaindia #menphysique
A post shared by Aryan Pasha (@aryanpasha) on
Buoyed by the full support of his family and members of his gym, Pasha competed this past Saturday in a field of 125 contestants.
“It was my dream to participate in Men’s category,” Pasha told Gaylaxy. “Till now I have won medals in female category but this is what I actually wanted in my life – to complete with other men.”
“I enjoyed every second when I was on stage because this is what I dreamt of,” he added. “I was not nervous at all and just wanted to complete poses like a champion.”
Pasha, who works as a lawyer, says he will next take part in the the International Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation (IBFF) event to be held in February.
That competition, which features categories for “men” and “transmen.” Pasha intends on competing in both categories.
He says his ultimate goal is to compete at the world level.
