From Lea T for Redken to Andreja Pejic for Make Up For Ever, beauty brands are turning to transgender models for major campaigns. We’re about to see even more representation thanks to Apple Model Management L.A., the first all-transgender modeling agency in the United States.
The Advocate reports that the agency is seeking transgender male and female models to add to its current roster of six transgender women. Traditional standards of beauty still apply; trans women must be over 5’8″ and trans men must be at least 6’0″ for the agency to even consider representation.
Agency director Cecilio Asuncion tells The Advocate, “Our strong commitment to developing them as successful models is never about quantifying or qualifying their gender. It’s never a question of if they are women or men, it’s about their passion and commitment to being the best possible models they can be.”
A transgender-exclusive agency is a major step, but it’s not the last one. As Andreja Pejic told Fashionista, the industry needs more diversity: “Obviously fashion is starting to reflect the world a lot more. I think the same point that you can make for racially diverse models is the same point you can make for transgender models. So although I would say we’re a little bit behind, I think there’s great potential now. I’m happy to be part of it.”
READ MORE: 4 Badass Trans Women Who Are Redefining the Beauty Industry
