Front magazine, one of the original lads’ mags, has unveiled its list of ‘world’s hot transgenders’. It includes the likes of Australian catwalk queen Andreja Pejic, who was famous for her androgynous look before undergoing gender reassignment surgery in 2014.
Isis King is an American model who made history as the first transgender contestant on America’s Next Top Model. She now stars as Gittel in the Amazon series Transparent.
Ines-Loan Rau
Ines-Loan Rau is a French model who became Playboy magazine’s first openly transgender Playmate. The November 2017 issue of the men’s magazine featured the gorgeous model in a spread and on the centerfold. Rau is well-known among fashion enthusiasts for appearing in Balmain campaigns and on runways. She also has a huge following on Instagram and has appeared on the TF1 news program Sept a Huit.
Assigned male at birth, Rau underwent sex reassignment surgery at age 16. She then began living as a woman and was inspired by the life of English transgender model Caroline Cossey.
Ines is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights. She has a large following on social media and has participated in several charity events. She has also modeled for the lingerie brand Chantelle and is close to DJ David Guetta.
Parinya Charoenphol
Thailand has a vibrant kathoey culture, and it’s hard to miss them: They work in hair salons and massage parlors, they’re a common sight on the city streets and on the buses and trains, and they’re everywhere in cabaret shows. Several kathoey people have even undergone sex-reassignment surgery, and they often look so much like cisgender women that it’s impossible to tell them apart.
Parinya Charoenphol’s self-reliance and confidence make them a force to be reckoned with. They’re born peacemakers, driven to settle conflicts and create harmony. Their empathy and wisdom make them healers and visionaries. They’re natural leaders and are always looking for new challenges.
Lea T
Lea T, who formerly went by the name Leandro Cerezo, is only 28, but she has already made a big impact in fashion. The Brazilian model, who calls Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci her muse, has appeared on the cover of mainstream ladies magazine Elle Brazil and posed fully nude for Vogue Paris, among other things.
The highlight of the Rio Olympics opening ceremony wasn’t Stella McCartney-outfitted British athletes or Gisele strutting across the Maracana stadium, it was Lea T pedaling on a bike with the home team. She has since walked the runways for compatriot designer Alexandre Herchcovitch and Blue Man and featured in a campaign for Givenchy shot by Terry Richardson.
Hari Nef
Last night’s Golden Globes saw a number of boundary-breaking beauty moves, including the debut of a L’Oreal Paris commercial that celebrates diversity. But the real breakout was the inclusion of transgender model Hari Nef.
Nef, who graduated from Columbia with a degree in theater, has quickly made her mark in the fashion world since her transition. She was snapped up by super-agency IMG on graduation, becoming the first transgender model signed to the company (which handles the likes of Gisele Bundchen and Gigi Hadid).
She’s also making a name for herself on the TV screen as Tante Gittel in Amazon’s Emmy-winning series Transparent.
Valentijn de Hingh
Valentijn de Hingh is a Dutch transgender model who became famous after she was followed by filmmakers from the age of eight until she was 17. That documentary, titled “Valentijn,” aired on Dutch television in 2007. After that she had gender reassignment surgery and began modeling. Currently, she’s walking the runway for Maison Martin Margiela and Comme des Garcons. She also works as a columnist for Spunk and studies literature in Amsterdam. She’s been photographed by Patrick Demarchelier and recently did an editorial for Love magazine. She’s signed to IMG models. Check out more of her pics on her Instagram account.
Arise Wanzer
Arisce Wanzer represents a new generation of transgender people. She’s a fashion model (you can see her on Oxygen’s Strut) who’s not shy about her beauty. She’ll tell you she’s beautiful without sounding like a Kardashian.
Born in Woodbridge, Virginia, as a male, she realized that she was a woman at the age of 14. Arise was inspired by the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show to pursue modeling. She moved to Miami, which she describes as “trans Mecca,” to attend the Art Institute of Miami and kickstart her career.
She’s walked for Topshop and Kenneth Cole, and has been featured in Purple Magazine. Her and Ex on the Beach co-star Mike Mulderrig have faced their fair share of transphobic hate from fans, but they don’t let it bother them.
