The fashion world has always been a place where queer people could thrive. And while some of the most successful designers in the industry have been gay, bi, or trans – the world of modelling has been a bit slow to include gender non-conforming and androgynous fashion models. Thankfully, all that changed over the last couple of years, where we’ve seen a steady rise in diversity and representation of queer and nonbinary models.
In 2019, we saw the first Louis Vuitton Spring Summer fashion show that primarily featured transgender and androgynous models like Jay Espinosa and Miriam Sanchez. We also saw Maison Margiela’s co-ed show that was opened by transgender model Finn Barrett.
So, whether you just want to follow more beautiful people online, or you want to learn more about what it means to be a queer/androgynous model, here are the top nine androgynous models in the industry.
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What Does ‘Androgynous’ Mean?
Before we dive into our list of famous androgynous models, let’s define the word “androgynous” first.
An androgynous person is someone whose outward appearance is a combination of male and female traits. Androgynous-looking people are often defined as “ambiguous”, meaning it’s often difficult to tell if they identify as men or women.
Some androgynous people identify as both or neither gender. When this is the case, they often consider themselves as gender non-conforming, gender nonbinary, genderqueer, or agender.
There are also a lot of androgynous-looking models who identify as transgender. One of the most famous androgynous male models in the world, Andrej Pejic, came out as a transgender woman at the height of her career in 2014. But it should be noted that not all trans models are androgynous. Take, for example, Victoria’s Secret’s first transgender model, Valentina Sampaio.
Our Top 9 Androgynous Models
9. Alex Crush
Alex Crush is one of the few black androgynous models making waves in the industry right now. Signed under New York Model Management, Alex has walked in shows for Hood By Air and Philipp Plein and has appeared in magazines like Glamour, Nylon, Paper, and Fader.
8. Ruby Rose
Ruby Rose is an Aussie model, DJ, TV show host, and actress. She’s starred in series like Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black and the upcoming Batwoman series. She’s also been in several films, including John Wick: Chapter 2 and Pitch Perfect 3.
If you’re just about to hit the follow button on Casey’s IG, don’t expect a lot of activity just yet. She’s currently on a “digital cleanse” to spend some time with her family.
6. Tamy Glauser
Tamy Glauser is a Swiss model who has worked with big names in fashion like Jean Paul Gaultier, Louis Vuitton, Vivienne Westwood, and Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy. She and her partner, former Miss Switzerland Dominique Rinderknecht, have been called “the most well-known lesbian couple in Switzerland” and are known in their country for being outspoken activists for LGBTQ+ rights, climate change, and animal welfare.
5. David Chiang
David Chiang is an Asian model signed under Major Model Management. The Taiwan-born Canadian model has walked in shows for Armani, David Hart, Dior, and Alexander McQueen, and has been in editorials for Vogue China and Nylon Spain.
4. Lemuel Huffman
Indian model Lemuel Huffman first gained fame after appearing on the Indian version of America’s Next Top Model. This flamboyant model is a “self-confessed drag queen” who serves as an inspiration to other androgynous and genderqueer Indians.
3. Elliot Sailors
Model Elliott Sailors shocked everyone when she went from a hot femme model to an androgynous menswear model. She credits Andreja Pejic as an inspiration for her shift into menswear. She’s also open about her queer identity and her relationships. On top of that, she’s also an activist, helming the #BeYouBeTrue diversity campaign and the gender-neutral clothing line called Tom Is Not A Boy, which donates 10 percent of profits to human rights NGOs.
2. Rain Dove
Rain Dove is one of the most outspoken androgynous models in the industry. Dove is famous for modelling as both a male and female model and appearing in shows for menswear and womenswear. She often calls herself a “gender capitalist”, which means she takes advantage of her androgynous look for monetary opportunities.
“You can identify with whatever you want. It’s just that you recognise how society sees gender and you capitalise on it”, she told The Guardian in an interview.
1. Erika Linder
Swedish model and actress Erika Linder is one of the most well-known androgynous models in the world. Linder has walked in both men’s and women’s shows for Louis Vuitton and Tom Ford, she’s appeared in music videos for artists like Katy Perry and Of Monsters and Men and has even starred in a hugely popular erotic drama film called Below Her Mouth.
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