There's a new generation of trans models who are keeping the tradition of the long stylish line of trans models going into the 21st century. The best part about this current generation of trans models for me is that I not only am pleased and proud to call some of them my friends, I'm happy to note that the fashion industry is embracing them.
More importantly, the fashion industry is giving trans models unprecedented opportunities to work and have a successful modeling career.
More evidence of this occurred during the recently concluded 2018 New York Fashion Week.
On September 9 a groundbreaking fashion show took place during this year's New York Fashion Week sponsored by LA based designer Marco Morante.
His Marco Marco brand of clothing has always catered to the TBLGQ community, and this time he took it a step further by casting all 34 spots in his New York Fashion Week show with trans people.
While it is not uncommon to have out and non disclosed trans people strutting the catwalks during the New York Fashion Week major runway shows, they tend to be in those instances cast in shows that are overwhelmingly comprised of cis models.
The Marco Marco Collection Seven show was the first time in New York Fashion Week history that a major show was cast in which all the participating models were transgender.
“Although I have always had trans and non binary people in my shows, it became apparent to me that their presence was often overshadowed by cis gay men or cis gay men in drag,” designer Marco Morante said in an interview when asked about the casting. “I wanted to create a space to celebrate trans bodies. This was an opportunity for their presence to be undeniable and reinforce that trans is beautiful.”
Morante is one of the small cadre of designers that openly prioritizes hiring trans models for their runway shows.
One of the participants in this historic show was my BTAC homie Dezjorn Gauthier, who rocked the runway along with models Laith Ashley, Geena Rocero, Carmen Carrera, Pose actresses Angelica Ross and Dominique Jackson, Transparent actress Trace Lysette, Gigi Gorgeous, Aydian Dowling, Gisele Xtravaganza, Claudia Charriez and Arisce Wanzer just to name a few of the trans peeps walking in the historic Collection Seven show that was attended by Laverne Cox.
Speaking of my BTAC homeboy, Gauthier had this to say about his participation in this historic show.
“It’s groundbreaking. Marco is breaking the glass ceiling for transgender models especially transmen. This was more than experience for me, it was an act of resilience”
Gauthier mentioned he will continue to use modeling as a form of advocacy to spread inspiration and empowerment worldwide.
“It’s about creating equal opportunity for those after me and continuing the work of those before me”
"As a transgender person of color, as an immigrant who grew up poor in a tiny little alley in the Philippines, and here I am in New York City doing the biggest fashion show... for a young trans person to see that, it changes that person's life.. To finally see that it's possible for a young trans person to pursue his or her dream to be the person whoever that you want to be." --Geena Rocero
Even if that dream is to strut a catwalk during New York Fashion Week
We had a few trans models representing our community during the recently concluded New York Fashion Week, and I couldn't be prouder of all of them that did so and worked hard during that September 12-17 period. And even better, I'm proud to call some of those amazing people my friends.
It was cool to see Isis King, Geena Rocero, Ines-Loan Rau, Arisce Wanzer and others strutting catwalks in the various shows during NYFW while others were in the audience cheering them on. They are heirs to an incredible legacy of trans women from around the world who have been walking fashion runways since April Ashley did so in the early 60's. And with Apple Model Management opening up and specifically being focused on trans models, it is a major step forward in ensuring that trans models aren't just the latest fashion trend or flavor of the season, but an accepted part of the fashion world.
That long stylish line of trans models continues into the 21st century, and some have become advocates and leaders in our community when they aren't doing their day job.
By doing so, they are also doing their part to expand the horizons, serving as possibility models, and slaying stereotypes in addition to continuing the long and proud legacy of trans models.
I've talked about it a few times, and one of the things we girls like us can be proud of is that we do have a long and stylish history of walking the fashion runways of the world.
Now we can add trailblazing leaders to that description for our trans feminine modeling sisters as well.
New York Fashion Week started Thursday and will run until September 17. It's when the major international fashion houses show off their collections to buyers. the media and the general public, and the New York fashion week is considered one of the Big 4 Shows along with the ones in Paris, London and Milan.
That means there will be hundreds of models also in town working those shows, and some of them will be our trans sisters like Geena Rocero, Andreja Pejic, Arisce Wanzer, Lea T, Isis King, Carmen Carrera,.and Ines Rau just to name a few of them.
There may be a few trans models who hopefully get an opportunity to strut their stuff during a few shows and become household names during this week.
If you are walking the NYC catwalks during Fashion Week, just wanted to send some love your way.
Congrats ladies, and hope you have a wonderful and successful time walking the runways during this busy and amazing weeks in which fashion takes center stage in the Big Apple..
TransGriot Note: Photos are of Geena Rocero, Ines Rau and Isis King.
It's Fashion Week in New York. It's the twice yearly time when for a week tents pop up in Bryant Park to host the fashion shows in which designers show off their fall collections (during the spring shows) and Spring 2015 collections.
Models in the runup to those shows are visiting casting directors with the goal of working to rip the runways for the hottest designers, and fashion magazine editors and the cable channels dishing on fashion news seek to capture it all.
The same thing is repeated in the other major fashion capitals of London, Paris and Milan. There are also shows in regional fashion capitals like Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro as well.
We've had Geena Rocero, Ines Rau and supermodel Andreja Pejic coming out as trans. Carmen Carrera is getting attention for her stated goal of wanting to become the first transgender Victoria's Secret Angel. Our girl Isis King is still in the game, has designed and shown a collection and will be walking a few shows herself.
Designer Ari South we were introduced to courtesy of the Project Runway reality TV show and Arisce Wanzer is another girl like us model starting to get attention .
Tim Gunn can hate on trans models all he wants, but it has been wonderful to witness in the fashion world something that used to be considered the kiss of death for your modeling career if your trans feminine status was revealed now seeming to be a career booster.
So for all our trans models and transpeeps handling their business during Fashion Week, best of luck to you. Keep strutting down the path your trans modeling elders blazed for you, and keep representing yourselves and our community to the best of your ability.
What many people don't realize about my multi-talented sis Isis is that she is a fashion designer who creates many of the dresses she wears when she's on the red carpet of some of our community events.
The people in attendance at 'The Goldest Winter Ever' included Laverne Cox and Janet Mock. The models walking the runway included some of her castmates from America's Next Top Model wearing her clothing designs that were a hit with the crowd and reporters covering it.
Isis was appreciative of the love and support she received from peers, friends, family members and fans. "I am still in shock and overwhelmed," she said in an interview. "Great turnout, great press, everything looked amazing on the girls. My stylist Hayden pulled amazing pumps for the girls to wear. Their faces were gold like I wanted. The world gets to see my imagination come to life."
Yep, but I said as much back in 2008, so it really shouldn't have been a big surprise
Sis, you have the look, the intelligence and the talent to go all the way. I have no doubts that you will succeed at whatever you choose to do. You also have something else going for you that many people don't have who are trying to enter the fashion industry- a worldwide community of people who love you and wish you nothing but success.
And those people who love you and wish you nothing but success include a certain Texas based blogger. Congrats on a fabulous show and hope you have many more like it to come at future Fashion Weeks..
Y'all know I'm so bursting at the seams proud of my fashion designing little sis.
Nice segue into what this post is about. For you peeps in the New York metro area it's Fall Fashion Week 2013.
Isis' main job when she's not lecturing or taking part in discussions on trans issues is as a fashion designer. Many of the clothes you see her wearing when she's on the runways or taking photos at community events are of her own design.
With the international fashion world descending on New York for Fashion Week, Isis will be doing a premiere and presentation of her Fashion Collection.
She's entitled it 'The Goldest Winter Ever" and it will be taking place at the Wix Lounge from 6-7:30 PM EST.
Location of the presentation event is the Wix Lounge at 10 West 18th Street in New York, NY between 5th and 6th Streets. It will be on the second floor level of the club.
Best of luck sis and hope it's one overwhelmingly successful event.
Interesting documentary that focused on Rio's 2011 edition of International Fashion Week. It's one of the few that has no problem using trans models, and that tradition goes back to Roberta Close in the 1980's
This one mentioned trans model Carol Marra, who parlayed this Fashion Week 2011 appearance into a Brazilian TV reporting job..
