Splitsvilla’s Gaurav Returns As Gauri On India’s Next Top Model After Sex Change Surgery

It takes some iron-clad courage to show who you truly are to the world. And doing it on national television? That is the mark of an exceptional individual.

Gender identities in our country are best described as rigid. In such scenarios then, being a transgender television personality can mean inviting all sorts of unsavoury comments from the masses.

Amidst all this, one individual has come forth and shown us that yes, everything we mentioned above is indeed possible.

Remember Gaurav Arora? The studly looking participant of MTV’s Splitsvilla 8 was etched in our memory for his gorgeous six-feet tall frame and eight-pack abs.

He was a fitness model from Delhi with several modelling assignments in his kitty.

Then, last year came the moment that changed his life and shocked his fan following. In an interview with Hindustan Times, he revealed that he had always identified with being a woman, ever since he was a little boy.

Gaurav, who is undergoing one of the biggest changes of his life, now identifies himself as ‘Gauri’ and is still an absolute stunner.

Her Instagram profile is full of gorgeous pictures of her newfound persona post the sex-change surgery, which Gauri is happy and proud to strut.

1. That’s one pretty woman!

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#diwali2017

A post shared by GAURI ARORA (@gauriarorafficial) on Oct 17, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

2. She looks amazing in this desi avatar, doesn’t she?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYnx4Xzgyym/

3. To look that fab, you gotta work out, right?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVaGh-9AWGx/?taken-by=gauriarorafficial

4. Killing it… with a smile!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BTCpvikg1Jw/?taken-by=gauriarorafficial

5. If you don’t post bathroom selfies, is your Instagram even legit?

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOpTZpVg12A/?taken-by=gauriarorafficial

And now, she has had another great bout of good news come her way. Gauri will become the first transgender participant in India’s Next Top Model!

Gauri will walk the ramp for the first time since her reconstruction surgery in a bikini. She spoke to Mumbai Mirror about her experience.

“I felt extremely beautiful. I was a tad apprehensive about the fact that I had to put on the bikini and walk down the ramp on India’s Next Top Model in front of seasoned judges like Milind Soman and Dabboo Ratnani. But that only boosted my zeal.”

This would technically be her national television debut as Gauri. But a debut on a platform as esteemed and popular as INTM can be quite intimidating. However, Gauri has major hopes from her stint on the runway.

“It takes a lot of courage for one to accept the reality and come out in public. A lot of people out there already know about my struggle. I hope my stint with India’s Next Top Model gives courage to a lot of people out there who have not been able to come out.”

We applaud you, Gauri, for your tremendous courage and hope you set the ramp afire!