Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

I love Vanessa Lima's profile: A transsexual Persian/Mexican mix model!

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl" of the Day

Our feature cover today is China's transsexual model Liu Shihan

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

Our feature cover today is transsexual model Vanessa Lima

Cyrsti's Condo "Woman of the Day"

Amelia Maltepe
a transsexual model from Toronto by way of Bangladesh and a strict Muslim family.

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

Kamolrose Thunphirom  a transsexual model from Thailand stops by the "Condo".

Cyrsti's Condo "Cover Girl of the Day"

In honor of the "Victoria Secret" Fashion Show, here are a couple of future possibilities of the first transgender women models:
First,   Amelia Maltepe, a transsexual model from Toronto by way of Bangladesh.


And of course, Carmen Carrera, who is reportedly already set for an audition next year.

Nicole Gibson

Transsexual model Nicole Gibson from the UK:

April Ashley

More than likely April Ashley, the 1960's transsexual icon, would have never dreamed her life's journey would have taken her to this place.

The 78 year old April is the focus for a new exhibition which opens on September 27 at the Museum of Liverpool. Her "Portrait's of a Lady"  will explore the story of the woman who was one of the first people in the world to undergo pioneering gender reassignment surgery.

To be sure, April Ashley's story is as current today as it was in the past: Born George Jamieson, the former model's remarkable journey went from suicide attempts and people spitting in her face to Buckingham Palace.

April in Liverpool

If you do not recall her story, April Ashley was outed as a transsexual in 1961 and her career was destroyed  and essentially she never worked again.

Through all of that though April refused to be bitter and got on with her life.  Eventually she was awarded the MBE for services to transgender equality: given to her by Prince Charles (left) who said it was a long time coming. She was also instrumental in bringing about changes like the Gender Recognition Act in 2004 which allowed her and others in her position to have her gender reflected on her birth certificate.

Of course there is much more to the April Ashley saga, go here to read more.

Carol Marra

From Frank: 

"Twenty-five-year-old Carol Marra (left) worked in fashion production for a long time before a co-worker asked her to pose for a few photos. Perhaps this photographer had the foresight to see Marra on the cover of Trip magazine, Brazil’s sexiest publication, but Marra herself couldn’t imagine becoming one of the most in-demand models in the world.

 With a degree in journalism and an intelligence that goes far beyond her beautiful and elegant persona, Marra aims to gain respect from those who undermine transsexual status in society, and ultimately find a man who will help empower her to be a good wife and mother. For now Marra is working hard, embracing a fashion trend that started in 2010, when Riccardo Tisci handpicked Brazilian transsexual model Lea T to feature in a Givenchy ad campaign. This event opened up innumerous runways to a more diverse group of models."


Go here for more!

Jenna Returns!

From the Hollywood Reporter:

" TORONTO – E! Canada has ordered a reality series about the Canadian transgender beauty queen Jenna Talackova. The Toronto-based model -- born as Walter before a sex change -- failed in her bid to compete in the Miss Universe Canada pageant.  But Talackova has secured from Canadian broadcaster Bell Media and producer Peacock Alley Entertainment an eight-episode order for a series, Brave New Girl, about her headline-grabbing effort to work as a model. Joining her for the journey are friends, including a documentary filmmaker, and an outspoken model and student."

I will have to start checking for availability in the United States when it's completed!

Kim Lya Transsexual Model

Like many other boys growing up, Kim Lya felt increasingly uneasy in his own skin. He just could not understand why he felt trapped in his own body. At first, Kim thought he might be gay. But this was not the answer. One day he read an article about transsexuality and from there on, knew why he had felt so unhappy.

Putting a Voice to the Face

Transsexual model Lea T:
From YouTube of course:

Roberta Close

Back in the day, (1980's) Brazilian Transsexual model Roberta Close's career started to take-off at the age of 17 and she increasingly became a media darling - appearing in magazines, periodicals and advertising. At age 18 she was called up for compulsory military service. She reported to the interview office wearing a white dress and looking as feminine as possible in appearance, she recalls that the affect was unintentionally but provocatively enhanced by the dress becoming wet from rain! Upon her arrival, a very confused guard asked her to tell her brother to report the next day.

She went on to win the Miss Gay Brazil contest and during a subsequent guest appearance at the Miss Brazil contest embarrassingly over shadowed many of the contestants in looks and beauty. She also became the first transsexual to appear nude in a Brazilian Playboy. In 1984 the periodical Weekly Word News had a front page headline declaring that "The world's most beautiful model is really a man" Good call!!!!