When 21-year-old news anchor Marvia Malik recently made her on air debut for private channel Kohenoor in Lahore, Pakistan, she caused a sensation. /CFP Photo

The former model has become the first transgender news anchor in the deeply conservative Islamic South Asian country. /CFP Photo

According to AFP, she has received "unprecedented love and support" from her audience and is inspiring the marginalized community to fight for equal rights. /CFP Photo

At least 500,000 people are estimated to be transgender among Pakistan's population of 197 million, and it was one of the first countries in the world to legally recognize a third sex in 2009. /CFP Photo