Before Kai Schreiber: A brief timeline of trans models making runway history

These trans models were groundbreakers in the fashion world!

In December, Alex Consani made history as the first trans model to win Model of the Year at the British Fashion Council's annual Fashion Awards.

In her speech, she thanked trans modelswho came before her, "specifically the Black trans women who really fought for the space I'm in today – Dominique Jackson, Connie Fleming, Aaron Rose Philip, and countless more who fought for the space that allowed me to flourish today."

Consani is far from the first trans model to make fashion history, and she's not going to be the last.

Going back to the 60's, trans models have always been involved in fashion, often inspiring designers and artists and starring in their campaigns.

While modeling as a trans person hasn't always been easy, today, models don't have to face being blacklisted like they used to be when they were outed in the past.

Now, there are more trans models than ever before, and they're walking for more and more major brands and designers.

These trans models have walked runways from Paris, to New York Fashion Week, to Milan, and just about every other major fashion city in the world, and continue to make both trans and fashion history.

April Ashley

Ashley was a performer at Le Carrousel, a famous nightclub in Paris in the 1950s when she began modeling. She worked for many brands, and was in British Vogue before she was outed in the tabloids. She also made history in England for her marriage to aristocrat Arthur Corbett, which led to a court case that banned trans people from marrying in the U.K. for decades.

Tracey "Africa" Norman

Norman worked as a model starting in the 1970s, working for Essence, Vogue Italia, Harper's Bazaar India, and walking runways. She signed with Clairol in the mid 70's, and became the face for "Born Beautiful" hair color No. 512, Dark Auburn. She made her return to modeling in the 2010s.

Teri Toye

American-born model Teri Toye served as the muse for and opened the Steven Sprouse show in 1984, and then walked for Mugler, Chanel, and Jean Paul Gultier during her career.

Roberta Close

Brazilian model and activist Roberta Close worked as a model in the 1980s and 1990s, walking for houses like Thierry Mugler, Guy Laroche, and Jean Paul Gaultier. Close also appeared on the cover of Brazilian Playboy in 1984 and 1989.

Connie Fleming

Also known as "Connie Girl," this model walked for Mugler in 1992, in a red rhinestone cowgirl outfit that Beyoncé has paid tribute to.

Isis King

King appeared on America's Next Top Model in 2008 and was the first out trans contestant on the show. Since then, she's consistently worked as a model and actress.

Valentijn de Hingh

This Dutch model has walked for Barneys, Tom Ford, Comme des Garcons, and Maison Martin Margiela going as far back as 2008.

Lea T

In 2014, she booked a job with Redken hair, the first major beauty campaign for an out trans model, four years after she made her debut as the face of Givenchy.

Carol Marra

In 2010, Marra became the first out trans woman to walk in Brazil's Fashion Rio.

Andreja Pejic

Pejic started her modeling career as an androgynous model before coming out as trans in 2014, and becoming the first trans model profiled in American Vogue. She walked in many shows including for Jean Paul Gaultier.

Ines Rau

French Model Ines Rau first appeared in Playboy in 2014, and was the first out trans Playboy Playmate in 2017. She worked as a model for Nicole Miller, Alexis Bittar, and Barneys New York.

Geena Rocero

Rocero began her career in beauty pageants in Manila before starting a successful modeling career. She came out as trans in a TED Talk in 2014. She's also an author, actor and producer, and in 2019, was a Playboy Playmate.

Hari Nef

Nef made her New York Fashion Week runway debut in 2014, and in 2015, was signed to worldwide representation through IMG. She also worked with Hood by Air, Eckhaus, Latta, and Adam Selman. She's also an actress, and starred as one of the Barbies in the 2023 film Barbie.

Nathan Westling

Westing was a successful model, working for brands like Louis Vuitton, Saint Laurent, Versace, and Prada in women's fashion before he came out as trans in 2019. He continued to work as a model after coming out.

Torraine Futurum

Futurum is a musician and model who appeared in Carly Rae Jepsen's iconic "Boy Problems" music video. She's modeled for H&M, Alexander McQueen, Proenza Schouler, Adidas, Mac, and more.

Teddy Quinlivan

Quinlivan was working as a successful model for two years when she came out as trans in 2017. At the time, she was ranked in the top 20 for runway on models.com and had walked runways for Dior, Maison Margiela, Giambattista Valli, Valentino, Gucci, and more. By 2019, she was working with Louis Vuitton, Redkin, and Coach, and became the first trans model to work with Chanel

Leyna Bloom

Filipina-American model Leyna Bloom walked in shows for Married to the Mob, Chromat, and Tommy Hilfiger at Paris Fashion Week. She was the first Black and Asian-American trans Sports Illustrated swimsuit model in 2021.

Chella Man

Chella Man is Asian, Jewish, and Deaf, and in 2021, he became the first trans masculine face of YSL Beauty. He signed to IMG.

Aariana Rose Philip

Philip is a total groundbreaker in the modeling scene, walking runways as a Black trans woman in a wheelchair. Signed to Elite Model Management, Philip did her first runway show for Willie Norris, and has continued to work since.

Mimi Tao

Thai model Mimi Tao made history in 2019 as the first trans model on Project Runway and has also worked with Christian Siriano.

Munroe Bergdorf

British model and activist Bergdorf made history in 2022 as Cosmopolitan UK's first trans cover star, after previously making the cover of British Vogue. She made her runway debut in 2018with Gypsy Sport during New York Fashion Week.

Laith Ashley

Ashley also works as an actor and a Pit Crew member on RuPaul's Drag Race, but made his name in modeling. In 2022, he was named one of People's Sexist Men Alive.

Indya Moore

Moore had their big breakout playing trans model Angel on FX's Pose, but also works as a model in real life. She's walked many runways, including for Jason Wu and Savage X Fenty, and has been on the cover of Vogue Italia and Vogue India.

Dominique Jackson

Jackson is an icon in the ballroom community and starred in the show Pose, but also has walked for many companies, like Gypsy Sport, The Blonds, for Mugler in 2021, alongside Hunter Schafer and as a part of Marco Marco's all-trans show in 2018.

Jari Jones

Both an actress and model, Jones has worked with Calvin Klein, Dove, and The Real Catwalk in New York City.

Valentina Sampaio

A native of Brazil, Sampaio, along with Alex Consani, made history in 2024 when they were the first out trans models to walk in a Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. She was on the cover of Out Magazine in 2020. She's walked in places like New York, Brazil, and Milan, and in 2017, became the first trans model to cover an issue of Vogue when she was on the cover of Vogue Paris. She also was on the cover of Vogue Brazil in 2019.

Manahou Mackay

Mackay is a Maori trans woman who has walked in shows for designers like Christopher Esber, Romance Was Born, Michael Lo Sordo and made the news after she walked in New Zealand Fashion Week and then walked Australian Fashion Week 2021.

Stav Strashko

Strashko is an Israeli actress and model who has starred in campaigns for designers like Proenza Schouler

Hunter Schafer

Schafer, also an actor known for roles in Euphoria and Cuckoo, started modeling in 2017 and has worked with Dior, Marc Jacobs, Converse, Gucci, Helmut Lang, Miu Miu, Mugler and House of Holland.

Alex Consani

Consani, along with Valentina Sampaio, became the first trans models to walk the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in 2024. In December of the same year, she became the first trans model in history to be named Model of the Year.

Kai Schreiber

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber's 16-year-old daughter Kai is the latest trans model to walk the runway after she made her modeling debut for Valentino at 2025's Paris Fashion Week.