Neerja Punia, an Indian model, gained significant attention in 2023 when she participated as a contestant on MTV Roadies Karm Ya Kaand (Season 19).
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born in 2001, Neerja Punia is originally from Gurugram, Haryana. Her father’s name is Ajeet Punia. Neerja Punia is a transwoman and bravely shared her transformation journey during the personal interview round of MTV Roadies Karm Ya Kaand (Season 19). She spoke about the challenges she faced, particularly in her relationship with her father, who initially struggled to accept her identity.
Despite her father’s initial reluctance to accompany her through the Legal Gender Recognition (LGR) process, Neerja Punia noted a significant shift in his attitude when she was selected for the personal interview round of MTV Roadies Karm Ya Kaand (Season 19). She mentioned that he even took her to the airport when she left for the auditions, indicating a potential reconciliation in their relationship.
CAREER
Neerja Punia works as a print and runway model. In 2023, she had the honor of representing India in the show “Slay Model Search Asia,” which was the first international modeling contest organized by Slay Model Management. Slay Model Management is a pioneering agency based in Los Angeles, exclusively dedicated to transgender talent. It was founded, owned, and operated by Filipino-American director Cecilio Asuncion.
In addition to her achievements in the modeling industry, Neerja Punia made history by becoming the first transwoman to participate in the youth-based Indian reality show MTV Roadies Karm Ya Kaand (Season 19) in 2023. Her participation marked an important milestone in representation and inclusivity on the show.
