Fashion designer Marco Morante has made history by casting 34 trans models for his show at New York Fashion Week.
While Morante's underwear brand Marco Marco has long championed diverse bodies, the designer said it was important for him to give trans models a moment in the spotlight.
“Although I have always had trans and non binary people in my shows, it became apparent to me that their presence was often overshadowed by cis gay men or cis gay men in drag,” the designer .
“I wanted to create a space to celebrate trans bodies. This was an opportunity for their presence to be undeniable and reinforce that trans is beautiful.”
The models included stars of TV series Pose, Dominique Jackson and Angelica Ross, as well as Trace Lysette from Transparent.
Some other well-known names featuring in the show included YouTube star Gigi Gorgeousand model Laith Ashley.
“Marco has always had a diverse runway, and to have an all trans show, with individuals of all different ages, sizes, backgrounds, colors and identities within the trans umbrella was spectacular,” said Ashley following the runway.
Lysette praised Marco for not just celebrating trans bodies, but embracing different body shapes and sizes.
“I’m too thick for industry standards and not thick enough for plus size," she said.
She continued: "It was nice to be on a runway where none of that mattered and I could let my hourglass be what it is and be confident that the fashion industry is waking up to the many different body types, shades and experiences of this thing we call beauty."
