'When I look in the mirror, I am satisfied': Hunky transgender man finds success as a male model just two years after he started taking testosterone.
- Laith Ashley, 26, says he knew there was a 'misalignment' between his body and mind when he was a five-year-old girl
- He came out as gay to his parents at 17 but didn't realize he was trans until many years later.
- He walked the runway at New York Fashion Week in February and also appeared in a Barney's New York campaign.
- Whoopi Goldberg and Laverne Cox are fans of the New Yorker,
A hunky New York model who's racked up tens of thousands of Instagram followers is known for his piercing eyes, broad shoulders, and sexy six-pack — and, if you know his backstory, the fact that he used to be a woman.
Laith Ashley, 26, has been finding success in the modeling world since he started transitioning two years ago, walking in shows for Adrian Alicea and Gypsy Sport during New York Fashion Week this February and even posing for a Barney's New York campaign with legendary fashion photographer Bruce Weber.
'Being a model now is definitely exciting. I'm always shocked when I'm walking to the gym or going to the store and people recognize me. It makes me feel good, but it can be a bit of shock.'
Laith had a great time taking to the runway, thought it wasn't exactly where he thought he'd end up.
'New York Fashion Week was fun — it's funny as I never intended to get into modelling,' he said. 'It just happened... [but] everything happens for a reason and I'm really excited to see where it goes from here.'
The muscular New Yorker was just five when he noticed the 'misalignment' with his body and gender identity, he said. When he was a 17-year-old girl, still not quite sure of who he was, he came out as gay to his parents.
'At the time I didn't know what transgender was, so I just told them I had a girlfriend,' he explained. 'But I never felt right with the idea of being a lesbian woman.'
Finally, a year before he medically transitioned, he broke the news to his mom.
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and his family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud this weekend to play for the Happy Hippie Foundation, a charity founded by Miley Cyrus to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations. - See more at: http://www.thegailygrind.com/2016/08/28/steve-harvey-to-parents-who-reject-their-lgbt-kids-i-will-never-stop-loving-my-kid/#sthash.edlHCniI.dpuf
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and his family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud this weekend to play for the Happy Hippie Foundation, a charity founded by Miley Cyrus to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations. - See more at: http://www.thegailygrind.com/2016/08/28/steve-harvey-to-parents-who-reject-their-lgbt-kids-i-will-never-stop-loving-my-kid/#sthash.edlHCniI.dpuf
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and his family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud this weekend to play for the Happy Hippie Foundation, a charity founded by Miley Cyrus to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations. - See more at: http://www.thegailygrind.com/2016/08/28/steve-harvey-to-parents-who-reject-their-lgbt-kids-i-will-never-stop-loving-my-kid/#sthash.edlHCniI.dpuf
Olympic skier Gus Kenworthy and his family appeared on Celebrity Family Feud this weekend to play for the Happy Hippie Foundation, a charity founded by Miley Cyrus to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations. - See more at: http://www.thegailygrind.com/2016/08/28/steve-harvey-to-parents-who-reject-their-lgbt-kids-i-will-never-stop-loving-my-kid/#sthash.edlHCniI.dpufModel Laith Ashley covers the June issue of Attitude magazine, along with out champion canoeist Matt Lister.
Ashley first came to our collective attention in Barneys New York's groundbreaking Brother, Sisters, Sons & Daughters campaign, shot by Bruce Weber and featuring other models who happened to be trans. However, as he tells trans activist Paris Lees, the spotlight had a darker side.
“People were really nasty and for about three weeks I just couldn’t stop reading the comments," Ashley said of the Instagram trolls. "I knew I shouldn’t have, but I kept reading and the more I read, the worse the comments got.
"I’ve learned that you can’t please everyone.”
Ashley first came to our collective attention in Barneys New York's groundbreaking Brother, Sisters, Sons & Daughters campaign, shot by Bruce Weber and featuring other models who happened to be trans. However, as he tells trans activist Paris Lees, the spotlight had a darker side.
“People were really nasty and for about three weeks I just couldn’t stop reading the comments," Ashley said of the Instagram trolls. "I knew I shouldn’t have, but I kept reading and the more I read, the worse the comments got.
"I’ve learned that you can’t please everyone.”