Born a man, Tenzin Mariko, 20, always felt that he was a woman trapped in a man's body.
At the age of nine, Tenzin Mariko's father enrolled him in a monastery to become a monk.
Mariko ended up studying Buddhist philosophy for almost five years.
But later, at the age of 14, when he went to a monastery in Nepal, Mariko decided to abandon the course mid-way.
In 2015, after hiding his 'true self' from the world, he participated in the Miss Tibet pageant.
It was around that time that Mariko decided to ditch the robes of a monk and live as a girl -- he is probably the first transgender to come out in the Tibetan community.
Take a look at this performer, dancer and make up artist's stunning pics on social media photo-sharing site, Instagram.
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko1.jpg?w=670&h=900)
Born in Bir, a small town in Himachal Pradesh, Mariko was nine when he went to Darjeeling to learn the basic Buddhist philosophy in a monastery.
All photographs: Kind courtesy Mariko/Instagram
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko2.jpg?w=670&h=900)
Daring to come out in itself is a huge achievement for Mariko, whose mother is supportive, but father is still uncomfortable with her identity.
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko3.jpg?w=670&h=900)
Mariko loves to put on make up and dress up.
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko4.jpg?w=670&h=900)
During the Miss Tibet pageant in 2015, she came out as a woman, which was not well-received by people in the community.
According to Mariko, 'To be yourself is not wrong. People don't give you credit to live your life.'
![mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko5.jpg?w=670&h=900)
Sharing the story of the time she decided to come out, Mariko said in an interview: 'The first day I went to a teaching at the temple, wearing my robe. Everything was normal. Everyone at the temple nodded their heads at me and showed respect.
'The second day however, I put on pants and went to the temple. People were shocked. After the teaching everyone was looking at me, saying, 'Look at her!''
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko6.jpg?w=670&h=900)
'Be comfortable with who you are and what you wear. You don't need a second opinion from people about how you are looking. Be honest with yourself.'
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko7.jpg?w=670&h=900)
In Japanese, Mariko means 'the truth'.
Often confronted by people who say stupid things, Mariko says the trick is to 'hear it from one ear and let it out from another.'
![Mariko](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/01mariko8.jpg?w=670&h=900)
Mariko wishes to live her life with honesty and be a compassionate person.
'Be true to yourself and never harm other,' she adds.
![](//im.rediff.com/getahead/2017/aug/02mariko-lead.jpg?w=670&h=900)