Being a model is hard enough as is, and that journey is ten times more difficult when you’re a transgender person. Still, many trans trailblazers have fought against the odds and adversity to make for a more inclusive and LGBTQ-friendly fashion industry for future generations. The industry is nowhere close to where it needs to be when it comes to equality and representation, but these 11 models are proof that one day, we can hopefully get there.
1. Valentina Sampaio
This strong-browed beauty is Victoria’s Secret first ever transgender model. She’s also the first trans model to make an appearance in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She’s graced multiple Vogue covers, and has crossed many groundbreaking boundaries.
2. Hunter Schafer
You might not know Hunter as a model — rather, you’ll probably recognize her as one of the main characters in the controversial teen show Euphoria. What you don’t know is that she got that role from her modeling gigs. At 18, she was signed to Elite Model Management, and walked the runway for everyone from Dior to Helmut Lang.
3. Leyna Bloom
Although Valentina Sampaio was the first ever trans woman to grace the cover of SI. Leyna Bloom was the first trans woman of color to be featured in the steamy issue, making her own beautiful milestone of representation, inspiring other women of color in the process. After one Candy magazine cover, it was history for Leyna, who has walked for NYFW and also brought a lens to African American and Filipino models.
4. Nathan Westling
So many of the trans models that are in the press are male to female transitions, but Nathan Westling is one of the most-high profile male models that’s transitioned from female to male. Before transitioning, Westling was a top model for women’s lines, working with high profile brands like Chanel, Versace, and Prada. Regarding pre-transition life, Nathan said that it felt like he was “wearing a mask my whole life.”
5. Andreja Pejic
Formerly known as Andrej Pejic, this Australian-Bosnian blond bombshell first was known as an androgynous model. Then, she came out as transgender in 2014. After receiving gender reassignment surgery, Pejic wrote on FB that she wanted to depict a life after transitioning that’s fully of happiness and success. She was the first trans model to book a major cosmetic campaign.
6. Lea T
Lea T was the face of Givenchy, and with a gorgeous mug like that, it’s no wonder. In 2014, this Brazilian was the face of Redken, a massive global beauty brand. Obviously, it was a big deal, especially back in 2014 before people were “as woke” as they are today.
7. Hari Nef
Hari, just like Hunter, is another TV actor and model. After finishing up at college, Nef signed with IMG Worldwide, and her modeling career launched when she started sharing her transition process. She told Vogue back in 2015 that she easily could have hidden at home during her transition and gotten gender reassignment surgery after wraps, but that she didn’t want to wait and considered it more of a political move than a job.
8. Chella Man
Chella isn’t just the one of the very rare trans men that made it into coveted modeling agency IMG. He is the first simultaneously deaf and trans person to do so. In 2017, Chella got famous from sharing personal stories about being a part of the deaf and trans communities. In an interview with Teen Vogue, Man said, “Growing up in narrow-minded Central Pennsylvania, I did not consider myself beautiful. ow, I realize the conservative culture and lack of representation clouded my perceptions of beauty as well as my struggles with identity and gender dysphoria.”
9. Mimi Tao
You might recognize MiMi Tao from Project Runway, when the trans activist was the first transgender model to ever feature on the show. Mimi grew up in Thailand and was training to be a Buddhist monk when she started experimenting with gender blurring and putting on makeup.
10. Laith Ashley
One thing is for sure: Laith Ashley is absolutely gorgeous. You may have seen this trans model in Calvin Klein underwear, which is one of the jobs he’s most famous for. He’s also worked with clothing brand Diesel, and featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race and Pose.
11. Teddy Quinlivan
This model, discovered by Louis Vuitton’s creative director in 2015, worked on some of fashion’s most famous runways for a whopping 2 years before telling anyone that she was trans. After presenting for so long as cisgender, she claims that she felt lucky that she “won the genetic lottery” and was able to pass, but she is now open and proud of her identity.
