GENDER BENDER



Looking from the outside in - people, place and practice

Showing posts with label Lea T. transindividuals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lea T. transindividuals. Show all posts

Saturday, April 9, 2011

The Love Magazine


Here are some beautiful pics featured in LOVE Magazine, a British publication that always tries to push the boundaries of that which is usually perceived as fixed (like gender). 





This cover of LOVE, featuring Kate Moss kissing trans supermodel Lea T., got a lot of attention. I love how they gender bend here and really question what we see (two women kissing), whilst making the point that it really doesn't matter how we were born (since Lea T. was in actual fact born 'male') or how we make gender more fluid...



For more visit: http://www.thelovemagazine.co.uk/

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Lea T: Walking tall for transindividuals


Over the last two years, there has been much controversy surrounding model Lea T. Why? Because she is a transsexual individual. She strutted her stuff at this year's Paris Fashion Week, where she modelled for Riccardo Tisci's Givenchy autumn/winter 2011 show in a decked-out blouse, sheer skirt and a pair of specs. I can already see what is going to happen here, 'female' models are going to start complaining that there are 'men' taking up much coveted modelling spots. The issues sparked here, are very similar to the controversy that surrounded Caster Semenya. Of course Semenya is technically 'female', whereas Lea was born with 'male' genitalia. But for something such as modelling, where it only comes down to appearance, I think Lea has a better chance of being accepted.


I guess in any competative environment, the issue of someone like Lea T. is going to rub some people the wrong way. However, the only thing that can actually be said is that she has the look that designers want...and that's that.

Here is an interview she did with Oprah: