Dolphin Ayan, born as Maheen Muhammad, is an educated transgender woman from Kohat, Pakistan, who gained public attention for her courage and resilience. Her story went viral after she appeared on a show hosted by journalist Yusuf Jan Atmanzai, where she shared her journey, challenges, and achievements as a transgender person in Pakistan.
Growing up, Dolphin Ayan excelled academically, attending Cantonment Board Public High School and later earning a civil engineering diploma from the Government College of Technology in Peshawar. Known for her strong academic record, she was awarded a laptop from the Higher Education Commission and even worked as a designer at Oxford University Press. However, despite receiving prestigious job offers, including one from the CPEC project, Ayan faced personal and societal challenges that prevented her from fully pursuing these opportunities.
Dolphin Ayan’s journey has been marked by ongoing discrimination. In school, she faced constant mockery and isolation, often targeted by teachers and classmates who dismissed her talents. Her involvement in extracurricular activities like dance and naat recitations (Islamic poetry) was frequently met with ridicule rather than encouragement.
After years of enduring these struggles, she eventually left home in 2018 and moved to Peshawar, where she found support within the transgender community. Embracing her identity as Dolphin Ayan, she continued to pursue her passions, using dance as a means of both expression and livelihood. Yet, even within this space, she faced exploitation and stigma.
In recent news, a disturbing video allegedly showing Dolphin Ayan being harassed and threatened has circulated online, highlighting the continued harassment she endures. For many, her story is a stark reminder of the challenges transgender individuals face daily in society and has sparked important conversations about respect, dignity, and equal treatment for all.
