FASHION: Petitioners attempt to convince Victoria’s Secret to incorporate transgender models into runway shows.
By Ruthie Farrell, Staff Writer
Any woman’s road to success in the world of glitz and glamour is a tough one to trudge. Her figure must be flawless and, of course, she must have an adequate amount of sass. 28-year-old Carmen Carrera is no exception to this accepted truth. She came out as a transgender woman in 2012 while competing in RuPaul’s “Drag Race.” Carrera continues to set higher and higher standards for herself. Though she did not quite meet the requirements to become Victoria’s Secret’s first transgender angel this year, she plans to never stop chasing her dreams.
Her fame ignited when a petition was made on Change.org to convince Victoria’s Secret to accept her onto their “staff.” The petition suggests that this kind of move would “show the entire community that they embrace trans patrons.” Now the petition has over 35,000 signatures, possibly showing the readiness of our society to embrace transgender lingerie models.
Carrera and her fans credit Victoria’s Secret and acknowledge that her sexuality is not the only aspect under consideration. In a Daily Beast interview, Carrera stated: “Let’s keep it real […] I understand it is difficult to get into a show like this, but at the same time I definitely feel that I meet all the requirements.” Carrera is the first transgender model to make it this far and to gain so much popularity. Even though her supporters think that the petition is a social step in the right direction, some have the concern that modeling agencies should not be forced to hire transgender models. Isis King was the first transgender woman to compete on “America’s Next Top Model.” She did not win the entire competition, but she does not automatically credit this to her sexuality. She trusts that the judges made their decisions solely on their talent-based criteria. “I don’t want any special treatment because I’m trans. I want my legacy to be that I was hard-working and good at what I did,” King said. Nevertheless, King believes that Carrera is beautiful and if any transgender woman should make it as a Victoria’s Secret angel, it should be her.
Although Carrera seems confident as can be, she admits that she struggles in face to face combat with “ignorance and stupidity,” as some people do not agree with her “lifestyle.” She wants everyone to know that she takes on the role of any productive woman in society. As for her modeling career, she won’t stop ‘til she reaches the top.
Photo courtesy of forums.thefashionspot.com