Neethu Vanajakshi (ನೀತು ವನಜಾಕ್ಷಿ), also known as Neethu RS, was born Manjunath on 25 February 1993 in Gadag-Betigeri, Gadag district, Karnataka, into a conservative Hindu Brahmin family. Her father's name is M.R. Subbarao and her mother is A. Nagalakshmi Mirle; she has a sister. She completed her schooling at Model High School, Gadag-Betigeri, then earned a BBA degree and a Diploma in Animation from Ken School of Art, Bengaluru. She understood her gender identity as a third gender at the age of 11, but kept it hidden from her family for many years. When she moved to Bengaluru in 2007 for higher education, she connected with the city's transgender community. In November 2014, she confided in her sister, who eventually accepted and supported her. She then underwent medical transition, changing her name from Manjunath to Neethu Vanajakshi. True to her personal philosophy - that talent transcends gender - she forged an entirely self-driven career: she worked as a part-time tattoo artist and event organiser while still studying, and founded Tit for Tattoo studio in 2016, becoming India's first transgender professional tattoo artist. She also opened a restaurant (Gama Gama, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru) for her mother and a beauty salon for her sister. She won the Miss Trans Diamond pageant (2017), and was crowned Miss Trans Queen India on 3 October 2019 at Dilli Haat, New Delhi. She represented India at Miss International Queen 2020. She has served as a jury member for Mr & Miss Bangalore 2018, Miss & Mrs Gracious Karnataka 2021, and Miss Karnataka Icon 2021. A self-trained dancer in semi-classical, Kathak, and belly dance styles, she appeared in the Kannada short film Niguda Mouna (2020) and the Disney+ Hotstar Kannada web series Jhansi (Seasons 1 & 2, 2022-23, as Ameesha). She had a significant role in director Upendra's much-anticipated film UI (2024). She also participated in the reality show Super Queen (Zee Kannada, 2023). In October 2023, she entered Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10 - becoming one of its most celebrated personalities - achieving house captaincy and earning host Kiccha Sudeep's special 'Kicchana Chappale' (appreciation applause). She was eliminated in Week 7 (Day 48), finishing fourteenth overall.

Being India's first transgender tattoo artist; founding Tit for Tattoo tattoo studio (2016) in Bengaluru; winning Miss Trans Queen India 2019 (at Dilli Haat, New Delhi); representing India at Miss International Queen 2020; role of Ameesha in Disney+ Hotstar Kannada web series Jhansi (Seasons 1 & 2, 2022-23); acting debut in Upendra's film UI (2024); appearing in the Kannada reality show Super Queen (Zee Kannada, 2023); finishing fourteenth on Bigg Boss Kannada Season 10 (2024).

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