Since it’s apparently Gay Day in the news today, it’s fitting that the AP would run a piece on Isis King, the transgender model in this season’s America’s Next Top Model. I haven’t been watching the season, but I found the profile fascinating.
In New York, King had also had run into obstacles. The $4,500 she had saved to move to the city had dried up, and she needed help getting back on her feet. She moved into an apartment provided by The Ali Forney Center, an organization that serves homeless gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth.
“Technically, I was homeless,” King said. “I just wasn’t living literally on the street.”
In late 2007, America’s Next Top Model filmed an episode in New York to raise awareness about homeless youth. The contestants modeled in street clothes and a handful of homeless youth donned couture, serving as extras in the shoot.
King was one of them.
When Banks later scrutinized models’ photos for judging, “she kept on noticing Isis,” executive producer Ken Mok said. “And she said, ‘Who is that girl?'”
King clearly knew how to pose, understood fashion and was passionate, he said.
Earlier this year, Top Model found King and invited her to audition for the new season.
The AP story also notes that transgender characters and actors have become slightly more prevalent on TV recently, citing Candis Cayne’s stint on Dirty Sexy Money and Alexandra Billings’ run on Grey’s Anatomy.
Very cool to see more acceptance for transgendered individuals, even if I do still kind of think the ANTM thing is a ratings ploy.
More video of Isis is after the jump.
okay, i’m probably way out of line here, but is it cliche to go ahead and ask this guy/girl to go fuck himself?
you go fuck yourself, censorthis!
Fucking idiot!
I can think of some wayyyy more attractive transgenders then Isis.
Like say, Johnny boy.
Isis is UGLY.
re; monica
relax. i actually love transgenders, unless they’re trying to nail the same chick at the local gaybar that i’m trying to nail. if you’re a transgender yourself, i apologize for the politically incorrect reply. now, show us all your mangina, bitch.
actually, i think isis is really beautiful…..not in a typical way, but she definitely has that high fashion look.
Monica, you spelled your name wrong.
Manica.
hee, hee…the hottie girls got my back! bring it on manica!
he/she should’ve went for paris’ new bff (or whatever it’s called) they could totally borrow each other’s shoes.
i’m really happy that isis king was able to enter. i mean even thought they knew she was a trans, they didn’t kick her out of ANTM. its just reallygreat! i believe that LGBT should all have equal rights as anybody. and isis is really beautiful! when i watched the 2 hr premier, at 1st, i didn’t even know she was a trans until it was mentioned. i hope she goes far!
I think she’s gorgeous! A beautiful young woman! Whatever happens, I hope she knows she’s a beautiful young girl. Not a beautiful trannny or whatever. Just a really beautiful young girl.
i think keightlynn is ugly
isis is hot
isis is pretty she just needs to find the right hair and jewelry and clothes that will make her more feminine.. and i like that she is brave about going through this obsticle
I think Patrick has a vagina.
lawlz
Hey…Unfortunately she was eliminated in the last eposode. Isis is a great person. I know her. I think its a great thhing they let her do the show. She is legenday in the ball room scene. Her runway is fierce. Let her be. She might not of won but i do see her getting work in the modeling field. She has that model look. Most of the models are skinny like her and have small breast. I hope she get signed to an agency and all you haters can just GAG…
i think isis has the potential to be huge in the model industry
Go girl. You are a champion. It is wrong to think of you as anything else but a girl with a great future ahead of her.
Isis you inspire me so much! I am a young girl who was born in the wrong body just like her and you haters should really be ashamed of yourselves.
keightlynn is just jealous because Isis is more of a woman then she will ever be.
Isis is beautiful inside and out, some people are just being too ignorant about her…. some people call her as a he which they don’t open their eyes and look and it tells them that she is living as a female…. so they shoudln’t be calling as a he… isis could made all the way through to the top 2 but it just that, that one epidsode that she got eliminated…. is because her face looks to worry….. so I believe in this world that Isis can be a true model as a trangender woman….
i just want to know why are u lesbian we isis”s are not LESBIAN we are girls and us isis”s are pretty not ugly and we did not used to be a BOY! we are always girls u shouldn”t deserve to be a isis
love:isis
why are some of you so rude? i respect people who are willing to face risks of being hate and ridicule just by being themselves. so what if isis is no cindy crawford or gisele – she has the gut to try! so what if she’s born male? let her be and instead of condemning her, why can’t we applaud and support her so she can be on her way to achieve her dream. everybody is special in anyway and i believe isis is special. i come from a country where being different sexually is frowned upon – my country is full of conservative-thinking people but that didn’t make me close-minded on certain things. isis, you have my blessing. u go, girl!
I was watching my girlfriends tapings of the show and came across the episode ATM with Isis. I was stunned once I found out that she was a girl. I went online and started doing research on her and how she got on the show. I think it’s great that she’s following her dreams and going for hers. Our society is changing, people are growing tired of close minded stereotypes. Even more so, racism and biast opinions on sexuality only lead hurtful feelings and the ignorance that has plagued this country for so long. I’d like to speak directly to Isis if she is reading this. I’m a screenwriter based out of LA, and I’m interested in your story. You can contact me at finaldraft25@gmail.com
she s brave!!! no matter what they said to her, isis look fantastic. so boys say not to drugs and yes to isis.
okay just stop hating on isis. shes so inspirational and shes amazing. i love isis and i hate it when people are so prejudiced. theres no reason to dislike a trans, gay, les, or bi person, unless they’re just a mean person. dont hate….cuz what if you were in their shoes? dont judge anyone you dont know. isis is beautiful and i appreciate all u guys who can see that.
I WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO SEE A TRANSGENDER ON ANTM….ITS ABOUT TIME THE WORLD PUT ASIDE THOSE NEGATIVE THINKING TOWARDS GAY PEOPLE AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE…ISIS UR A LEGEND….YOU HAD THE GUTS AND CONFIDENCE TO COME ON TV AS URSELF…..KIP BEING URSELF AND HOPE TO SEE YOU ONE DAY ON THE COVER OF A HIGH FASHION MAGAZINE…
LUV YAH
Some ugly comments here, some refreshing ones too. Isis is a beautiful woman, with a great couture look and beautiful facial bone structure. She is what alot of women just WISH they could come close to comparing to in the beauty AND brains stakes. She kept composed and didn’t lower herself to Clarke and whomever else’s closed minded behaviour and i applaud that. I’m not suggesting she should have won simply because of her history, indeed she got as far as fate allowed her to. But i just don’t understand why people have an issue with the TS community? They are humans just like us and the people who judge aren’t opening their minds to question how THEY would feel if the person THEY were at the very core of their being was judged and hated against. All they’d want is some compassion and to be treated like a regular person. Its not much to ask for is it…?
isis est une belle jeune fille! courageuse, adorable. très beaux yeux, jolie couleur de peau: café-crème. en avant diva! en somme une inspiration pour tous les braves gens.