Lea T. Talks Posing Nude & Her First Ad Campaign (VIDEO)

If you've got ten minutes now or later, we highly recommend you watch Model.com's interview with transsexual model Lea T. The site covers all of the bases with fashion's much-talked-about star, from what it's like to be pointed at to how Oprah heard her story (Lea's set to sit down with the talk show diva soon).

She dished on the Givenchy campaign that started it all, which she thought would just mean "some money for me and maybe a nice picture," explaining, after two days, the brand's Creative Director Riccardo Tisci called her to ask what he should tell the press about the images. Lea responded, "The first thing I want you to say is that I am a transsexual. That's the most important thing."

She also talked about stripping down for French Vogue. Former Editor-in-Chief Carine Roitfeld told her, "Why not be naked like the other girls? You have a penis, but that's what you are. For me, you are beautiful like the other girls. Without makeup. Without retouching. Because that's you and you have to be you."

(Via Styleite)

WATCH:

Lea T models.com interview from models.com on Vimeo.

Comments

[The King Elroy]

05:23 PM on 02/09/2011

She looks like Steve Nash - Go Suns Go! does she shoot hoops?

[HerrMonk]

03:25 PM on 02/09/2011

Totally unappealing.

[devinkay]

04:04 PM on 02/09/2011

Totally unnecessary.

[WestOfTheMoon]

01:42 AM on 02/09/2011

I am a same-sex loving man that will probably never understand transsexuals or their unique set of identity issues, but I like stories like this. I want to see them in the media, I want to bury the taboo and keep rolling. I'm glad that HP is giving people like Lea T. a voice, letting her story be heard. It stretches our paradigm here in the west, especially the U.S., and expanding consciousness is always a good thing.

[levresamant]

11:18 AM on 02/09/2011

Nice of you to say.

[CHMB]

03:06 PM on 02/08/2011

I think she's so gorgeous.

[peowlemeow]

02:37 PM on 02/08/2011

I think transexuals should get "T"s on their drivers licenses and id.They really are different and from males and females and so much fun to know and love.

[Dav]

06:31 AM on 02/09/2011

That driver's license letter is a legal status. It isn't meant to reflect in what ways we are or are not alike to cispeople. A "T" is an invitation to be harassed by anyone that can see our IDs. Bartenders, nosy friends, cops, you name it. It takes disclosure out of the hands of the individual, and that risks our lives and our livelihoods. It's a terrible idea.

[peowlemeow]

09:34 PM on 02/09/2011

Disclosure is certainly your business.Snoops are going to be snoops no matter what.I think states that let transexuals put a T on their license gives both the transexual and whoever has to do business with the transexual on the license no questions about voice or appearance to answer or ask.I know if my girlfriends name on her license is called out in public places she gets pissed.Her insurance company almost canceled her policy because of a letter on her license.The company thought she was trying to sneak another driver onto her policy and she had to disclose to more people instead of less.I' m sorry you think it's a terrible idea.I suggested it because there are so many hours lost to confusion and anger trying to explain patiently or avoid being publicly ashamed because some people don't get hip to who their talking to and use discretion or they revel in discovering a difference in appearance between an "M" and an "F" and do their small minded best to let everyone know about their discovery.I think that stuff gets painful and predictably routine.If the state acknowledged the difference they might get some sensitivity training or at least a memo.

[devinkay]

04:02 PM on 02/09/2011

Transsexual is not a gender but a name for a condition. I'm not a condition; I'm a woman that was born with male physical traits that have since been corrected.

I'm curious how you think I really am different from any other woman that I should be labelled for it. Any criterion you select that disqualifies me as I am today will disqualify millions of cis-women as well. That isn't to say that those like me who transition later don't enjoy a certain privileged insight into both genders, but that hardly merits marking on a license, and doesn't even really apply to those who transition early enough.

[tjgg]

08:23 PM on 02/09/2011

Learning moment for me...I see both of you refer to "cispeople" or "cis-women" but I haven't heard that term before. Does it just refer to people who aren't transgender, who identify with the gender they were born with?

I think Lea is lovely and I'm thrilled to see her being celebrated for who she is.

[peowlemeow]

09:16 PM on 02/09/2011

i think a T would be helpful for my girlfriend.she gets pissed when people ask to speak to the person on her drivers license.something that could be just an "Oh" reaction by whoever looks at the license turns into an explanation .She gets to be embarassed at the dmv,dentist office,insurance agents.

[martyfrancom]

02:31 PM on 02/08/2011

Uh, no thank you.

[Dav]

06:32 AM on 02/09/2011

What, did you think she was actually interested in YOU?

[levresamant]

11:19 AM on 02/09/2011

Ha.

[cmugs]

01:13 PM on 02/08/2011

i would love to listen to the interview but i am having hella difficulty hearing it.