She struggled to find a job despite a postgraduate degree and faced rejection as a transgender woman; now 36-year-old Riyana Suree helps others find sponsors, education and a place to stay in Tamil Nadu

A postgraduate degree, a talent for dance and the determination to build a career did not make things easier for Riyana Suree. When the transgender woman approached private companies looking for a job, her qualifications were not enough to protect her from rejection. Even people who initially showed interest in learning dance from her reportedly changed their minds after discovering that she was transgender.Today, at 36, Riyana is working to ensure that other transgender people do not have to face the same barriers alone. Through the Thiru Aval Trust, she helps transgender students find educational sponsors, offers accommodation to those who have nowhere to stay and supports people looking for employment and livelihood opportunities.Her journey from struggling to find acceptance and professional opportunities to creating them for others is a story of turning personal setbacks into a larger purpose.A postgraduate degree, but no job opportunitiesBorn in Dindigul in 1990 and raised in Tiruchy, Riyana began recognising herself as a girl when she was 12. According to The New Indian Express, her journey as a transgender woman formally began in 2006. Her father, D Soosai Sagayam, worked in the cooperative sector, while her mother, Insiya Mary, is a homemaker.Acceptance within the family took time. Initially, she was not allowed to dress as a woman during family functions. Her sister-in-law, Gayathri Lenin, played an important role in helping the family understand and accept her identity.Academically, Riyana completed her bachelor's degree in Physics from St Joseph's College in Tiruchy and went on to pursue postgraduate studies at Jamal Mohamed College. She was also passionate about dance and had won several competitions.However, when she approached two or three private companies, including firms in the IT sector, for employment in 2013, she encountered repeated rejections.The experience affected her confidence to approach other organisations. She subsequently joined the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) as an outreach worker under a government programme, earning Rs 8,000 a month. She continued in the role for more than eight years, supplementing her income through dance performances and teaching.But even her interest in dance came with its own challenges.“Many people initially showed interest in joining my dance classes. But once they came to know that I was a transgender woman, several backed out,” she recalled, as reported by The New Indian Express.Riyana also attempted the TNPSC Group IV and railway recruitment examinations but could not clear them.A chance encounter opened the doors to modellingAn unexpected opportunity came in 2018. A photographer came across Riyana's photographs on Facebook and approached her for a photoshoot. The pictures attracted attention and gradually opened doors to modelling assignments and beauty pageants.She participated in several competitions, including Miss Trichy, Miss Koovagam, Miss Trans Queen India and Miss South India Trans. In 2023, she won the Miss Universe Trans India title at a competition held in New Delhi.The recognition gave her a platform beyond modelling. She now mentors contestants and conducts interview sessions in her capacity as the national director.However, while her own career was finding direction, Riyana had also begun thinking about how she could make opportunities more accessible to other transgender people.From opening her home to finding sponsors for studentsRiyana started the Thiru Aval Trust in 2019, which was officially registered in 2022. During the Covid-19 pandemic, she and her associates distributed food to transgender people and others in need. Over time, the initiative expanded to include education, employment, livelihood and medical assistance. Around 30 transgender people are associated with the trust.One of its important initiatives involves connecting transgender students with sponsors who can support their education.S Sayeesha, 27, from Tiruchy, is among those who received help. With Riyana's assistance in finding a sponsor, Sayeesha completed her MSc, BEd and teacher training. However, despite attending several interviews, she has not yet been able to secure a job in a private school and is preparing for government recruitment examinations, including TNPSC.“Although my family has accepted me, coming from an orthodox Muslim background, society has not. I have completed my studies and teacher training, but finding a job remains difficult,” Sayeesha said.Riyana's support has also extended beyond financial assistance. When Joshka Jasmine, 30, from Thanjavur, came to study at Government Law College in Tiruchy but had no place to stay, Riyana offered her a home. She also helped her find sponsors for her education.Joshka, who initially aspired to become a model, eventually chose law because she wanted to work for the transgender community and improve access to justice. She has been practising for two years and affectionately calls Riyana her 'mummy'.In another significant development, Joshka and Sowmiya Shashu, 37, were recently honoured at the 2026 convocation after graduating in 2024. They were the first transgender graduates to receive the honour since the college was established in 1980, according to The New Indian Express.Joshka also highlighted the community's long-standing demand for equal opportunities in education and employment.“We have been demanding horizontal reservation for the past 15 years and urge the state government to implement it,” she said.Creating opportunities where she once struggled to find themThe trust has also experimented with livelihood initiatives. Between 2021 and 2023, it ran a restaurant that employed five transgender people. It continues to distribute surplus food from functions and provides medical assistance, including support for transgender people living with HIV.Riyana now hopes to bring more organisations into these efforts and create opportunities in creative industries. In association with Iravi Trust, she is planning an LGBTQ-themed fashion runway in Tiruchy to showcase transgender talent.For her, the motivation comes from remembering the opportunities she could not access when she was starting out.“When I did not get an opportunity, I wanted to create one for someone else. That is the thought behind our efforts through the Thiru Aval Trust to support education, employment and livelihood,” she said.And while modelling titles and pageant recognition have marked important milestones in her own journey, Riyana says the real reward lies elsewhere.“The greatest satisfaction comes from seeing someone facing challenges like mine complete their education, get a job and live with self-respect,” she said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ testGet the latest Lifestyle News and more. Download the TOI app.