Paris Lees makes history as first transgender model to star in British Vogue
Paris Lees has made history after becoming the first transgender model to feature in British Vogue.
The journalist and campaigner stars in Edward Enninful‘s third issue which commemorates 100 years since women won the right to vote in the UK.
Look how far we’ve come. It’s insane that I could be in Vogue. A trans kid from a council estate. People at school told me I’d never be a girl, would never be pretty enough, would never be accepted WELL HERE I AM BEING CELEBRATED AS A WOMAN – IN VOGUE FFS!https://t.co/Wsd84E84bI
— Paris Lees (@parislees) January 4, 2018
In 2014, American Vogue featured transgender model Andreja Pejic in its pages before French Vogue chose a transgender model for its cover for the first time last year. And finally, it seems the UK has followed suit.
Lees took to Twitter to thank the editor-in-chief for the ‘special moment’.
The model wrote: “Thank you Edward Enninful for including me in British Vogue, and this special moment, with these strong, smart and inspiring women. As we celebrate 100 years since women have been able to vote in the UK, let’s make sure we’re fighting for ALL women. Our diversity is our strength.”
In the spread, the journalist is photographed alongside other powerful women including artist Gillian Wearing, MP Stella Creasy and writer Reni Eddo-Lodge.
Thank you @Edward_Enninful for including me in @BritishVogue, and this special moment, with these strong, smart and inspiring women. As we celebrate 100 years since women have been able to vote in the UK, let’s make sure we’re fighting for ALL women. Our diversity is our strength pic.twitter.com/ve8M9wzfDw
— Paris Lees (@parislees) January 4, 2018
And in celebration of the history-making feature, Lees took to Twitter to call for the social media platform’s chief executive Jack Dorsey to take anti-trans hate crime more seriously.
The model wrote: “I don’t let these people get to me and I’d have crumbled a long time ago if I did but I do encourage anyone who sees people making these discriminatory, hateful, hurtful comments on here to report it to Twitter. It’s about time Jack started taking anti trans hate crime seriously.”
I don’t let these people get to me and I’d have crumbled a long time ago if I did but I do encourage anyone who sees people making these discriminatory, hateful, hurtful comments on here to report it to Twitter. It’s about time @jack started taking anti trans hate crime seriously
— Paris Lees (@parislees) January 4, 2018
Although there is still a long way to go for gender equality, Enninful is making waves in the fashion industry through the boundary-pushing pages of British Vogue.
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