A young woman, born male, just won the TV competition, "Holland's Next Top Model." During auditions, she didn't reveal her transgender past because she didn't want it to become a distraction. Her story is now being reported widely (Cosmo and HuffPo).
What do you think of this? What does it say to you?
I am very glad that this lovely woman won, AND IS ABLE today to be the PERSON she chooses. However, I feel badly that she could not state this prior to the contest,
ReplyDeletewe have come far, with more steps ahead..
x, Elle
http://www.mydailycostume.com
It would be interesting to see what the outcome would have been should she have told them up front that she was transgender ... I am delighted that she won as she is absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome - the win, I mean. I'm not for lying, but by the same token, think we each have the right to privacy and that she was in the right to keep her gender path to herself.
ReplyDelete♥ Jessica
This is actually great news!
ReplyDeleteI admire her for not telling everyone, since transgender is now "in", they'd surely make her a news star because of it, which is probably not something positive for her. But because she won and then on her terms decided to tell everyone, then go her!
I agree that it really a personal issue and not everyone needs to know about it. I'm glad she won on her own merits.
ReplyDeletebisous
Suzanne
I think she has the right to her own story - to share it or to keep it private. Brava to her!
ReplyDeleteShe was in a modelling contest, she won, for me that's just fine.
ReplyDelete.She looks beautiful. I think everyone has to tell their own story their way. And that's what it seems she did. Wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteKia / KTS
www.houseofkts.com
I think she looks like a lovely young woman and she's following her dreams
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and if she can share her story to make a difference for others thats even better!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone above. She is a stunning young woman.
ReplyDeleteI'm pleased she won, so beautiful and glad she's able to do what makes her happy. I would never have known.
ReplyDeleteCould she have competed if she had told prior to or while she was appearing on the show? I'm wondering if a transgender model has any kind of advantage over her non-transgender counterparts in this sort of competition. For example, Lamers is over 6 feet tall, which is quite rare for women. Her height is probably explained by her gender at birth. Tallness is, obviously, usually rewarded in the modeling industry. Could this, then, be an unfair advantage? I know there is a lot of debate similar to this about transgender athletes. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with this line of thinking, just bringing it up and wondering if there is anything in the Next Top Model "rulebook" about this... - A
ReplyDeleteGood question. I have no idea. But the point you raise was vigorously debated in the 1970s when Renee Richards wanted to compete in professional women's tennis after sex-change surgery. Many (including the league) felt she had an unfair advantage with male muscles. She was ruled ineligible but went to court and won the right to compete against women.
DeleteI think it is so wonderful that this is becoming something more and more people can accept, understand and support. It breaks my heart to know that so many people cannot safely be themselves in this world, but every little step forward helps. Congratulations to her and her success. I wish her all the best and she sure is stunning.
ReplyDeleteWe had a previous girl too who is a transgender: Valentijn de Hingh. They even made a documentary of her life from when she was 8 years old.
ReplyDeleteThe most famous one years ago was Kelly.
As proven, they not only feel like a girl, they are a girl, just born in the wrong body.
Greetje