History Is Made As “Next Top Model” Crowns First Transgender Winner
Loiza Lamers isn’t the first transgender “Next Top Model” contestant, but she’s the first winner. [Photo: Instagram/Loiza Lamers]
The “Next Top Model” competition is a highly successful television franchise, but despite its 12-year-long run in over 50 different countries a transgender model has never won – until now.
Loiza Lamers has been named the winner of the eighth season of “Holland’s Next Top Model”.
Lamers, a 20-year-old hairdresser and make-up artist, kept her gender identity a secret until she made it into the group of top 13 contestants. Dutch news outlet De Gelderlander reported that the aspiring model didn’t want it to affect her progress in the competition, but Lamers eventually revealed that she had undergone sex reassignment surgery.
The stunning blonde received a huge amount of support after revealing she had been through gender reassignment surgery. [Photo: Instagram/Loiza Lamers]
The response to her revelation, Lamers says, was overwhelmingly positive.
“I’m really at a point where I can say I am very proud to be transgender,” Lamers said to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. “For me [being on Holland’s Next Top Model] is a reward for my transition.”
Lamers is thrilled with her win. [Photo: Instagram/Loiza Lamers]
Lamers may be the first trans winner, but she’s not the first to take part in a “Next Top Model” cycle. Isis King was the first transgender contestant, starring in the 11th season of “America’s Next Top Model”.
Since appearing on the show, the 30-year-old model has risen to success by becoming American Apparel’s first openly-transgender model and designing her own fashion line.
King is now modelling for the likes of American Apparel, in addition to designing her own fashion collections. [Photo: Instagram/Isis King]
The model recently spoke to Teen Vogue about her journey from being homeless and living in an LGBT youth centre to breaking barriers on ANTM.
“Usually, being a novelty, I feel like I can get through more, especially when they see my walk; it’s my strong point,” she told the magazine.
“So, if I don’t book a casting it’s not because I’m trans, it’s because I’m short. Tyra [Banks] was ahead of the curve when I was on the show in 2009. She opened up doors [for trans models]. So many people opened doors for me, and then I opened doors for the next generation.”
“Back then, nobody [in the transgender community] was really speaking out. I’m just happy that there are so many more [trans] voices now. It’s not to say, ‘Oh, we have it easy.’ It’s more about saying, ‘I have a struggle too, and I got through it, and you can get through it also.’ And if you don’t have the support of your family, come out and let’s find that support for you.”
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