Transgender model says she’s ‘honored and humbled’ to be Sports Illustrated’s first trans cover star

Transgender model Leyna Bloom has made history as Sport Illustrated’s first trans cover star.

Bloom, who is Black and Filipino, is also the first trans woman of colour to feature in the American sports magazine.

She follows after transgender model Valentino Sampaio, who featured in the magazine last July.

In a post on her Instagram, Bloom said the milestone “heals a lot of pain in the world.”

“We deserve this moment; we have waited millions of years to show up as survivors and be seen as full humans filled with wonder,” she said.

“I’m am so happy, honored, and humbled to share that I’m the 1st trans woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated!”

Bloom went on to thank Sports Illustrated for “recognizing the importance of representation” and said that “this is all of our responsibility.”

The activist dedicated the cover to “all ballroom femme queens past, present and future.”

“This historical moment is important to #girlslikeus because it allows us to live and be seen. Many girls like us don’t have the chance to live our dreams, or to live long at all. I hope my cover empowers those, who are struggling to be seen, feel valued. Let me be a messenger guiding us to a future of respect and appreciation for all women in all forms and from all walks of life.”

People have left Bloom some lovely messages on Twitter sharing their support for her historic cover.

The latest cover is one of many firsts for Bloom.

In 2017, she was the first trans woman of colour to appear in Vogue India. In 2019, she became the first trans woman of colour to be given a leading role in a feature at a major film festival with her feature film debut in Port Authority, directed by Danielle Lessovitz, at the Cannes Film Festival.

Along with Bloom, tennis star Naomi Osaka and musician Megan Thee Stallion also feature as cover stars with their own separate issues.