Chanel Beauty has announced that transgender model Teddy Quinlivan has been picked as the company’s new face.
“I find I don’t cry anymore when things are sad,” Teddy Quinlivan said in a statement on Instagram, “but isn’t it interesting when we shed tears in moments of triumph?”
“This was one of those triumphant cry moments for me,” Quinlivan continued. “My whole life has been a fight. From being bullied at school consistently, kids threatening to kill me and going into graphic detail how they were going to do it, my own father beating me and calling me a f–got, to receiving industry blowback after speaking publicly about being sexually assaulted on the job. This was a victory that made all of that s–t worth it.”
Quinlivan has worked as a model since 2017 after coming out as transgender and has worked for brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Milk Makeup, Redken, Maison Margiela Fragrances, and Chanel. The new transgender spokesperson has also walked the Fashion Week runways and appeared on the cover of magazines such as Porter Magazine, and L’Officiel.
The model recently spoke about working “undercover” for Chanel.
“I had walked 2 shows for Chanel while I was living in stealth (stealth meaning I hadn’t made my trans identity public yet) and when I came out I knew I’d stop working with some brands, I thought I’d never work with the iconic house of Chanel ever again,” Quinlivan wrote. “But here I am in Chanel Beauty Advertising. I am the first openly trans person to work for the house of Chanel, and I am deeply humbled and proud to represent my community.”
Quinlivan is not the first trans model to front for a fashion or beauty giant. Only a few weeks ago, lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret announced that it had hired a transgender model for its runways, as well. And in 2016, women’s magazine Marie Claire became the first major fashion magazine to feature a transgender model on a cover.
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