Neethu Vanajakshi (born 25 February 1993) is a trans woman from Karnataka. She was a contestant at the Big Boss Kannada season 10.[1][2][3][4] She was eliminated from the show after seven weeks.[5][6][7][8]

Early life

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Vanajakshi hails from Gadag district, Karnataka.[9] She was born as Manjunath.[10][11][12] She did her schooling at Model High School. She used to make and sell flower garlands to add to the income of the family. In 2007, she moved to Bengaluru[13] to join a college and to explore her identity. She studied art at the Ken School of Art, Bengaluru after competing her BBA degree and also did a diploma in animation.[13] She is an amateur semi-classical Kathak dancer, a yoga practitioner and a tattoo artist.[1] She used to run a hotel that served traditional North Karnataka food.[9]

Identity

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She took counselling and hormonal therapy[14] in preparation for her transition to a trans woman and underwent surgery and medical treatment. In 2019, she won Miss Transqueen title[15] and earned the chance to represent India. She revealed her identity in 2016 to her sister, who was in shocked and in tears to hear her sister's story.[13] In 2020, she represented India at the Miss International Queen 2020.[1] In Big Boss, she shared her feelings[16] and how she had to keep her identity a secret before she came out.[17]

Career

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Vanajakshi began as flowerseller in her village to support her family before becoming a full-fledged entrepreneur, dancer, tattoo artist and actor.[1][18] After leaving her home town Gadag, she started a restaurant, Gama Gama,[18][19] for her mother and a beauty parlour for her sister, to fulfill her 'responsibility towards her family'.[13] After becoming popular through the reality show 'Super Queens',[19] she made her debut in acting in the film UI directed by well-known director Upendra,[18] In the reality show Big Boss Kannada 10, she achieved two milestones, the captaincy of the house and 'Kicchana Chappale', the appreciation of Actor Kicha Sudeep, who is the host.[6] She is also a Tedx speaker.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Bigg Boss Kannada 10 Neethu Vanajakshi: Here's everything about the Trans Queen". The Times of India. 2023-10-09. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  2. ^ "Bigg Boss Kannada 10: ಕೈ ಹಿಡಿಯದ ಅದೃಷ್ಟ, ಕ್ಯಾಪ್ಟನ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಔಟ್!". Kannadaprabha (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  3. ^ "Bigg Boss: 'ಗೆಲ್ಲೋ ಕುದುರೆ' ವಿನಯ್ ಎಂದ ನೀತುಗೆ ಮೈಕಲ್ ಠಕ್ಕರ್". Public TV - Latest Kannada News, Public TV Kannada Live, Public TV News. 2023-11-07. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  4. ^ "Bigg Boss Kannada 10 launch highlights: Michael Ajay, Neethu Vaanjaksshi enter Sudeep's show". The Indian Express. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  5. ^ "'ಮಂಗಳಮುಖಿಯರು ದೇಹವನ್ನು ತಂಪು ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲು ನಿತ್ಯ ಎಳೆನೀರು ಕುಡಿಯಬೇಕು'- ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸಂದರ್ಶನ". Vijay Karnataka (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. ^ a b M, CHAITHRA CHIDANANDA. "Bigg Boss Kannada 10 evicted contestants Neethu Vanajakshi: As a trans, we crave for love and not sympathy, Bigg Boss has given me that". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  7. ^ ಡೆಸ್ಕ್‌, ಪ್ರಜಾವಾಣಿ ವೆಬ್‌. "ಬಿಗ್ ಬಾಸ್ ಮನೆಯಿಂದ ಹೊರಬಿದ್ದ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ!". Prajavani (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  8. ^ "ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ". Zee News Kannada (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-24.
  9. ^ a b C, Manjunatha (2023-10-09). "ಸಮಾಜದ ಸವಾಲುಗಳ ಎದುರಿಸಿ ಗೆದ್ದಿರುವ ಮಂಗಳಮುಖಿ ನೀತು ಬಿಗ್ ಬಾಸ್ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಗೆಲ್ಲುತ್ತಾರಾ?". www.TV9Kannada.com (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  10. ^ Neethu Vanajakshi | ನನ್ನ ಮಗ 24 ವರ್ಷ ಮಗನಾಗಿದ್ದ ನಂತರ ಅವನು ನೀತು ಆಗಿ ಬದಲಾದ | Biggboss Kannada10, retrieved 2024-01-10
  11. ^ "ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾಗ ಬಿಗ್ ಬಾಸ್ ಸ್ಪರ್ಧಿ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಹೇಗಿದ್ರು ಗೊತ್ತಾ?". Zee News Kannada (in Kannada). 2023-10-18. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  12. ^ Kannada, TV9 (2023-10-18). "ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ ಆಗಿದ್ದಾಗ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಹೇಗಿದ್ರು ನೋಡಿ.. ಇಲ್ಲಿವೆ ಫೋಟೋಸ್". TV9 Kannada (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ a b c d "A 'dream come true' for the transwoman winner; recognition for the entire trans community". The Indian Express. 2019-10-04. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  14. ^ vaishnavi. "ಬಿಗ್ ಬಾಸ್ ಮನೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಹಾರ್ಮೋನ್ ಇಂಜೆಕ್ಷನ್; ಮಂಗಳಮುಖಿಯರ ಪರಿಸ್ಥಿತಿ ಬಿಚ್ಚಿಟ್ಟ ನೀತು". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  15. ^ "Bigg Boss Kannada 10 contestants with photos". News9Live. 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  16. ^ Suddijala, Vijayavani (2023-12-01). "ವರ್ತೂರು ಸಂತೋಷ್ ಮದುವೆ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ ಹೇಳಿದ್ದೇನು?". www.vijayavani.net. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  17. ^ "Bigg Boss Kannada 10: ಅಕ್ಕನ ಬಟ್ಟೆ ಹಾಕ್ತಿದ್ದೆ, ಕಾಜಲ್‌ ಹಚ್ಚಿಕೊಳ್ತಿದ್ದೆ; ಬಾಲ್ಯದ ದಿನಗಳನ್ನು ನೆನೆದು ಕಣ್ಣೀರಿಟ್ಟ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ". Kannada Hindustan Times (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  18. ^ a b c "'ಯುಐ' ಸಿನಿಮಾದಲ್ಲಿ ಉಪೇಂದ್ರ ಜೊತೆ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ". Public TV - Latest Kannada News, Public TV Kannada Live, Public TV News. 2023-02-11. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  19. ^ a b bhavaanibhat. "Transgender Neethu: ಸೂಪರ್ ಕ್ವೀನ್ ಆಗೋ ಹಾದಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ". Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd (in Kannada). Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  20. ^ "Tedx SAC - Inspiring talks that create harmony of new ideas with people, held". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 2024-01-10.