Pride Month 2025 EXCLUSIVE! Ella D’Verma Reveals Moment Of Acceptance In Her Home: My Parents' Heart Was In...

Pride Month 2025 Ella D'Verma Interview: 'A complex piece of simplicity'- her Instagram bio captured my attention. For the world, she is a content creator, model and LGBTQ+ advocate, for her friends and family, she is the lovable Ella, who continues to inspire people around her.

You might have been amazed by her Instagram posts and reels, but Ella D'Verma's journey was not easy. Her remarkable journey was a roller-coaster ride, but she never gave up. At Filmibeat, we love interacting with artists who have been a beacon of hope for others. Her transformation story resonated with millions, who wished to break barriers even when society tried to 'shush them down'.

In an exclusive interview with Filmibeat, Ella D'Verma spoke about embracing her true identity, her parents' support, and providing a truly inclusive environment for the members of the LGBTQI community.

The constant smile on her face never faded as we interacted with her.

Here are excerpts from the interview-

-Ella, your journey of embracing your true identity in a conservative society has inspired so many. What does Pride Month personally mean to you today?

For me, Pride Month is about honouring the struggles of the people who came before us while also taking up space and making sure that our stories are heard because we belong to a community that has been long suppressed and erased from many parts of history. Representation is a tool to take back that power and I think that is what pride is exactly about!

-Your father has been a constant support-what was that moment of acceptance like in your home, and how did it shape your confidence today?

The truth of the matter is I always knew that my parents' heart was in the right place, and that they were only confused and misled initially. It definitely wasn't a moment, but more so a gradual transition which was only complete, not just by them accepting me, but also me accepting the humanity in them. I feel like we often put our parents on such a godly pedestal, but we forget that at the end of the day, they are just people figuring out life like the rest of us. So it was a beautiful process for us, accepting each other, and these difficult conversations and times definitely made the foundation of my family much stronger, which in turn makes me much more confident today.

-From Zivame to Miss Transqueen to viral reels-your canvas is ever-evolving. What part of you is expressed through content that words can't capture?

I think as an artist I am visual by nature, and sometimes there is a vision in your head that is best communicated through a picture or a video. So I use my platform to express my vision in any way possible.

-You're now a powerful voice on social media. How do you balance advocacy with personal storytelling in your content?

I think, with having a public persona or being on social media, there is an unsaid responsibility that is put on you to be a spokesperson or a representative of any community that you belong to. However, my stance has been very clear from the beginning that it is not about being the representative or the face of any community, but just being a young person documenting their journey, in hope that this can make someone feel more comfortable and less alone if they are lost and looking for somebody like them.

-What are the biggest systemic challenges facing the transgender community in India today, and how can allies step up meaningfully?

For me, when I was in the process of changing my documents, it was really frustrating because on paper, we had every rule and every law in amendment to back up the changing of somebody's gender on the national or legal documents, but there was a lack of sensitisation on the ground level. I think as a country, we have created a lot of spaces and opportunities for transgender people, but we are failing to make it possible for them to access these opportunities. To put it into simpler words, I think opening doors to transgender people is not enough, the people who are in the room before us also need to be sensitised about our realities.

-If you could send one message to every young person questioning their gender or sexual identity this Pride, what would it be?

This is something that I wish somebody had told me when I was young and questioning my gender when you're in that phase- it can be so consuming and feel like the most important thing in life, but trust me at some point you're gonna grow up and realise that your gender or your sexuality are some of the least important parts of your existence and life is so much more than what's between your legs. I would say focus on your education, focus on fostering great relationships and building character and a life that does not revolve around your gender or your sexuality.

-What does a truly inclusive and safe Pride celebration look like in your ideal vision for India?

I think when you don't have to leave your home or your neighbourhood and change into what you're going to wear to the celebration then be able to celebrate or go on a march without the fear of being seen and finally not having to worry about changing back into your regular clothes or wiping off your make up perfectly so that nobody knows where you were, that is my vision of an inclusive and safe Pride celebration.

-Before Ella became "Ella" for the world, who were you to yourself? What was that private evolution like?

I always used to think it was about becoming Ella or changing into somebody else, but over time, I've come to the realisation that it was never about becoming Ella. It was only about losing the shame and about being her from the beginning! Truly, what has changed is not who I am and what I believe in, but only how I navigate the world and how I feel about myself, which in my opinion are two of the most valuable skills that anyone can acquire in life. To be able to set healthy boundaries when it comes to dealing with everyone else in your life and having compassion for yourself is what I have learnt through my journey.