The world’s first ever transgender Playboy model is here to grace the magazine cover and our eyebrows are raised, all for the right reasons. Her name: Ines Rau.
For all the apparent transphobic people in the world (we’re looking at you, Jenna Jameson), this is an absolute shocker as we witness history being made with the first ever transgender Playboy model (or a Playmate, as they’re called).
Ines Rau has been publicly declared as the November 2017 Playmate by the magazine.
The news comes as a breath of fresh air for the avid followers of the magazine after the death of the multi-millionaire founder of Playboy, Hugh Hefner.
In a time where the debate and discussion about gender fluidity, gender roles and their constant evolution among various demographics is reaching its desired pinnacle to spread awareness, this move comes as a bold statement for the same.
Cooper Hefner, who’s Hugh Hefner’s son spoke to The New York Times and said how this move to feature Ines Rau on the cover is very much in synchronization with the magazine’s philosophy at a time when gender roles are constantly evolving.
But hey, let’s talk about Ines, who’s the star of the moment:
Before being the first transgender Playboy model and cover star, Ines had worked with Balmain for its campaigns and has been featured in the American and Italian versions of Vogue magazine.
Ines has publicly admitted that she felt shy and afraid before coming out as a transgender model but then realized that it’s best to be and represent who one really is.
“It’s a salvation to speak the truth about yourself, whether it’s your gender, sexuality, whatever. The people who reject you aren’t worth it. It’s not about being loved by others; it’s about loving yourself.”
– Ines Rau
Though, there are history lessons which need to be set straight:
Ines isn’t the first transgender Playboy model to be featured in the magazine. She’s actually the first transgender cover star of the magazine. It was actually Caroline “Tula” Cossey who was the first transgender model to be featured in the magazine but not as the official cover star.
Where the move to make Ines as the cover star has been greeted as a bold statement to advocate equality among various sections of the society, it has had its fair share of detractors.
Celebrities like Jenna Jameson (as mentioned above) have been very critical and rather cynical about it, and Jenna criticized the step by claiming that men expect to see women in the magazine and not some man who identifies as a woman, further labeling transgender people “freaky freaks” in her mini-rant.
Well, I believe there are better ways to disagree.
Regardless of all that jazz and the inherent critical nature of the social sphere, we believe that this move is a breath of fresh air and when the brand name of Playboy gets associated with it, then the gravity of it becomes even more substantial.
All the luck to Ines Rau, who has reportedly just signed a book deal and a movie after becoming the first transgender Playboy model and cover star!
You go, girl!
More power to you.
Image Credits: Google Images
You’d Also Like To Read:
http://edtimes.in/2017/10/why-playboy-was-more-than-just-a-sex-magazine-things-you-didnt-know-about-it/
