Sumaya Dalmar facts for kids

Sumaya Dalmar, also known as Sumaya YSL, was a Somali-Canadian activist and model. She worked to support and represent the transgender community.

Early Life and Journey

Sumaya Dalmar was born in Somalia. When she was three years old, she left Somalia because of the Somali Civil War. She later moved to Canada.

In 2011, Sumaya shared with her family that she was a transgender woman. She lived in Toronto, Canada, and was a member of the Muslim faith. Sumaya Dalmar passed away on February 22, 2015, when she was 26 years old.

Her Work and Legacy

Sumaya Dalmar was a very active person. In 2013, she was the main actor in a play and a documentary. These projects explored what it meant to be a Somali transgender woman. The project was called "An Intimate Portrait of Somalian Trans-Woman" by Abdi Osman.

By 2014, Sumaya was featured in an art exhibition. She also became a qualified speech therapist, helping people with their speech. Sumaya, whose middle name was Dasia, was also planning to work at The 519, an LGBT community center.

Many people admired Sumaya for helping the transgender community be seen and understood. To honor her life and work, friends and community members created the Sumaya Dalmar Award in 2018. This award helps transgender students of color.