Leyna Bloom Makes history As 1st Black, Asian Transgender Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Model!
Leyna Bloom is out here making history! This week, the model, became the first transgender woman of color to grace the pages of the “Sports Illustrated” Swimsuit Issue.
RELATED: Valentina Sampaio Makes History as Sports Illustrated’s First Transgender Model!
Bloom was snapped in 12 different one-piece suits for the groundbreaking shoot, calling the experience “bigger than my wildest infinite dreams” in an Instagram post: “This is what it looks like to be in full bloom,” the model, actress, dancer and activist wrote on Instagram, along with a photo of herself from the issue. “My spirit has reached new levels. This moment is bigger than my wildest infinite dreams. In this moment, I am a representation of all the communities I grew from, and all the communities I’m planting seeds in.” In her post, she also thanked Sports Illustrated for this amazing opportunity, “Your kindness has given me so much hope in the humanity of entertainment industry. I thank you for that.”
While speaking with The New York Times, Bloom, who is Black and Filipino, shared what this moment represents: “I’m promoting something that has been missing in the world: trans beauty in all shapes and all sizes. I’m representing Filipina, I’m representing Black, I am representing people who have been immigrants. For them, I’m a vessel of change.”
This special moment follows Valentina Sampaio’s big accomplishment with SI, as she became the first transgender model photographed for the publication in 2020.
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