Jenner

Model, actress, and designer Isis King may have been born biologically male, but ever since childhood she knew she was woman. Establishing a transgender identity does not come easy though, and at 23, Isis was homeless, living at a New York City LGBT shelter. After finding work as a background model for an America’s Next Top Model photo shoot, host Tyra Banks took an interest in her, and asked Isis be a part of the show’s next season. Within months, Isis was in the national spotlight as the first transgender contestant on Top Model, and she has used her platform to follow her dreams ever since – expanding her modeling and acting career, designing her own clothing line, and serving as an activist for transgender people everywhere.

Is the attention on Caitlyn Jenner good or bad from the transgender community?

“Definitely” says Isis. “Any time you can bring more awareness to the struggle and reality of so many people, it’s helpful.” Isis emphasizes the importance of showing more trans stories in media, hoping that it will lend a “normality” to the trans experience.

However, she acknowledges that there is still work to be done. The murder rate of trans people of color has gone up, and many appearances of transgender people in the media still feature rampant misgendering – that is, labelling people by their birth gender instead of how they actually identify. This process “invalidates the way audiences view people who have transitioned,” and is hurtful and damaging, especially when the misgendered person is a victim in the news. Caitlyn has certainly helped the visibility, but Isis stresses the need for more “normal” transgender people in the media to really improve mainstream awareness and acceptance.

Watch the rest of the interview with Isis King here

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