Jai faces 31-mile catwalk hell in heels for charity

Jai Dara Latto of Walkerburn hands a cheque for Â£200 to representatives of Scottish Borders LGBT Equality.

Last year, Borderer Jai Dara Latto completed the difficult journey from living as a male to winning the Miss Transgender UK competition 2015.

And at the end of April, she plans to embark on another journey – walking 31 miles from her home town of Walkerburn to Edinburgh – in four-inch heels and wearing three different Victoria’s Secret-style catwalk outfits.

In doing so, she hopes to raise £20,000 for her three chosen charities – Thai Transgender Alliance (Thai TGA), The Humsafar trust (HST) and Scottish Borders LGBT Equality – as well as helping to fund her trip to Thailand in November, where she will support her charity and contest the global title of Miss International Queen.

She is also looking forward to volunteering time in Thailand and India.

Miss Transgender UK Ja iDara Latto of Walkerburn.

Jai said: “The distance is to show the time and length that many trans people have to go through to become their true identity.

“The high heels are to show the difficulties that there are while going through this process and also the pain that many trans women have when they try and fit into a female sterotype.

“And the Victoria secret style outfit is to show that trans people should be proud of their bodies, no matter what stage of the transition that they are on.

“We are all beautiful and should be seen as that.

“I’m hoping to work with the fashion design students at Borders College so I can wear their designs on the walk.

“Ideally, I’ll be looking for three styles – Scottish, Indian and Thai.”

Jai has already donated £200 to Scottish Borders LGBT Equality.

She said: “I want to make it easier for poor trans people in rural areas of these countries to have the same benefits and support that I have in Scotland. I would also like to be able to give financial aid to trans women and men, to help them with becoming their true self.

“This could be, for example, new makeup, doing up their home environment to make them feel more comfortable, or even supporting them with HRT hormone replacement treatment. basically any way I can help in making their life more comfortable and happy.”

If you wish to donate to Jai’s cause, visit her GoFundMe account at gofund.me/jais30milecatwalk.