On International Transgender Day of Visibility, L'OFFICIEL celebrates the trans models and designers driving fashion forward.

Fashion is constantly evolving, and in recent years, that's meant becoming a more inclusive space. While transgender figures like <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-24271931">April Ashley</a> and <a href="https://www.thecut.com/2015/12/tracey-africa-transgender-model-c-v-r.html">Tracey "Africa" Norman</a> paved the way in the 20th century, now a number of trans models, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/nicolas-lecourt-mansion-french-trans-designer-interview-lady-gaga-kendall-jenner">designers</a>, and activists are making waves in the fashion industry. In honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, L'OFFICIEL looks at 10 of today's most influential trans fashion figures.

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LA-based Pierre Davis was the first Black trans designer to ever <a href="https://www.elle.com/uk/fashion/a26151490/pierre-davis-transgender-designer-new-york-fashion-week/">debut</a> a collection at New York Fashion Week. With a well-deserved title, Davis made headlines for her inclusive brand <a href="https://nosesso.la/">No Sesso</a>, which translates to <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/queer-fashion-brands-to-shop-now">&ldquo;no sex/no gender.&rdquo;</a> With her avant-garde designs and creative vision, Davis focuses on celebrating the Black community and building&nbsp;an all-inclusive&nbsp;environment through fashion.

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After being discovered by <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/louis-vuitton-fall-2020-runway-show">Louis Vuitton</a> designer&nbsp;Nicolas Ghesqui&egrave;re, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/teddy-quinlivan-chanel-beauty-2019">Teddy Quinlivan</a> became a high-profile model and advocate. After coming out in 2017, she became&nbsp;one of the influential models speaking out for trans advocacy and the #MeToo movement. A true trailblazer, Quinlivan became the first trans model to front a <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/teddy-quinlivan-chanel-beauty-2019">Chanel campaign</a>.

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You may recognize Hunter Schafer from the runways of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/marc-jacobs-runway-show-spring-2020">Marc Jacobs</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/hunter-schafer-prada-spring-2022-campaign" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Prada</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/pop%20culture/miu-miu-venice-film-festival-womens-tales">Miu Miu</a>, or, most notably, from&nbsp;HBO's&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/euphoria-season-2-zendaya-news-release-date-cast">Euphoria</a>. Before the 24-year-old became a model and actress, however, Schafer was always a trans activist. As a high schooler, Schafer protested for trans rights, even suing North Carolina over the <a href="https://www.wmagazine.com/story/hunter-schafer-model-bathroom-bill/">bathroom bill</a>,&nbsp;which requires people to use public restrooms according to the gender they were assigned at birth.

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Bronx-native Indya Moore was named one of Time's&nbsp;<a href="https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people-2019/">most influential people</a> in 2019, and for good reason. The nonbinary actor is outspoken about trans and gender-nonconforming representation and has made an impact in fashion and Hollywood. Before their role as Angel Evangelista on&nbsp;Pose, Moore modeled for Christian Dior and Gucci as a teenager, and opened <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/indya-moore-jason-wu-spring-2021-collection">Jason Wu's socially-distanced Spring/Summer 2021 show</a>.

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Chella Man is a prominent voice for both the deaf and LGBTQ+ communities. The 21-year-old is an activist and artist, who has shared his journey on social media, making YouTube videos about his life as a&nbsp;trans, deaf, genderqueer, and Chinese and Jewish person of color.&nbsp;As a model, he&#39;s been featured in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/christian-cowan-spring-nyfw-2019">Christian Cowan&rsquo;s</a> Spring/Summer 2021 collection and worked on campaigns for&nbsp;Calvin Klein and Gap.

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One of the most notable male trans models today, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/laith_ashley/">Laith Ashley</a> has a long list of high-profile modeling gigs, including a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/calvin-klein-underwear-launches-andy-warhol-capsule-collection">Calvin Klein underwear</a> campaign. Before becoming a model, he worked as a social worker at an LGBTQ+ community health center. With a heart of gold, the model continues to be an inspiration for the trans community.

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Despite training as a Buddhist monk, Mimi Tao always knew that lifestyle wasn&rsquo;t for her. Training under former Thai model Rojjana &ldquo;Yui&rdquo; Phetkanha, Tao had her sights on becoming a supermodel in New York City. After debuting as&nbsp;Project Runway&rsquo;s first trans model, Tao continues to walk fashion week runways and star in editorials.

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Brooklyn resident and designer <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/gogo-graham-designer-self-portrait-series-collection">Gogo Graham</a> handmakes clothes for the trans community. Before creating her own <a href="https://www.depop.com/gogograham/">Depop shop</a>, Graham designed for J-Pop bands and LGBT&nbsp;icon <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/ru-paul-new-book-guru-makeup-mally-beauty">RuPaul</a>. Now, she&nbsp;creates garments&nbsp;for trans women that are made with different body types in mind, and donates proceeds from specific pieces&nbsp;from her shop to organizations like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/forthegworls/?hl=en">For the Gworls</a>, which supports Black trans communities.

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<a href="https://www.cnn.com/style/article/nathan-westling-transgender-model/index.html">Nathan Westling</a> is no stranger to the runway. He made his debut for Marc Jacobs in 2013 and starred in campaigns for houses including <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/celebrating-over-a-century-of-chanel-s-parisian-chic">Chanel</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/versace-fall-2020-runway-show">Versace</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/prada-spring-2020">Prada</a>, and Christian Dior. Since transitioning in 2019, Westling left New York for the sunny streets of <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/best-beauty-stores-los-angeles">Los Angeles</a> as Nathan and went on pause from modeling, but has <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/46816/1/nathan-westling-model-interview">expressed</a> that he'll likely return to fashion.

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Competing on America&rsquo;s Next Top Model&nbsp;in 2008, <a href="https://deadline.com/2019/08/when-they-see-us-isis-king-interview-lgbtq-trans-diversity-inclusion-ava-duvernay-netflix-1202666053/">Isis King</a> was one of the few trans women to appear on TV. She first&nbsp;gained modeling experience in the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/film-tv/jameela-jamil-dashaun-wesley-discuss-ballroom-culture-why-representation-matters">ballroom</a> scene. After&nbsp;ANTM,&nbsp;she pursued acting and went on to be cast in&nbsp;Ava DuVernay&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80200549">When They See Us</a>.&nbsp;King continues to work in fashion, modeling for <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/megan-thee-stallion-sexy-savage-x-fenty-holiday">Rihanna's Savage X Fenty</a>, Christian Cowan, and other cutting-edge designers.

10 Transgender Figures Making Fashion History

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