Transgender Model Lea T and the LGBT Revolution Within the Fashion Industry

Courtesy of Women Management

“Yves Saint Laurent said it best, that ‘fashion is the reflection of our time,’” the transgender model Lea T told Yahoo Style about her recent appointment as the new brand ambassador for the beauty company Redken. Yes, it was Yves Saint Laurent that empowered women with his famous Le Smoking tuxedo suit in 1966. So perhaps this is what Redken is trying to do by hiring Lea T?

“At this point in my modeling career, I feel strong enough to represent Redken and was excited for the opportunity to spread my message to the world,” says Lea T, who before this was best known as being the Givenchy’s Riccardo Tisci’s longtime muse. “It’s a big responsibility being a brand ambassador. I am so happy it has given me an opportunity to speak out against bullying and discrimination.”

It makes sense that the beauty world would start to embrace the LGBT community. The fashion world has been an avid supporter for the last few seasons, particularly younger designers and emerging brands targeting a new generation. Take J.W. Anderson, who has been known to display forms of androgynous feminism in his menswear shows. And Hood By Air’s recent presentation of its spring/summer collection, designer Shayne Oliver featured Mykki Blanco (the gay male rapper and female alter ego of Michael Quattlebaum Jr.), Boychild (trans-body performance artist), and transgender model, Hari Nef.

“Our culture is so visual. It’s so amazing that the next generation of LGBT youth can see themselves represented in the lineups of shows like Hood By Air as well as advertising. That is a powerful social message of inclusion.”

Sure, fashion is inclusive—to an extent—drawing in references from popular culture. So, it’s no surprise that in a time when typically unseen gender roles appear in series like, “Orange is the New Black” or “Transparent,” that we see the fashion industry following suit. “It’s great that transgender actors are given the opportunity to perform, act, and speak,” Lea indicates, “especially when they have a beautiful message, like Laverne Cox.”

What Lea T attempts to communicate is a message of tolerance and understanding. “I would like to see fashion recognize models for their character within, not just surface beauty. That would be an evolution.”