Transgender models are becoming almost as popular as bikinis in Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue.
German pop star Kim Petraswho underwent gender reassignment surgery at the age of 16, was one of four celebrities selected to appear on the rotating covers of the 2023 swimwear edition, but the singer is not the first male celebrity to do so.
That title goes to Leyna Bloom, who appeared on the cover of the annual beach festival in 2021.
The other three cover models are actress Megan Fox, model Brooks Nader and 81-year-old lifestyle guru Martha Stewart, who made history by becoming the oldest model in the swimsuit issue’s history.
“It’s definitely a scary time to be transgender in America, but there’s also so much more representation than ever before, and there’s so much positive stuff,” Ms. Petras said the magazine, which released its covers on Monday.
“I sometimes feel pressure to represent the trans community in everything that I do because I feel so lucky to be at this point where I have all these incredible opportunities that I’ve worked so hard for and I’m so happy when I hear from trans people in general that they’re inspired by me,” the singer said.
Not everyone was thrilled by the specter of another distinction once reserved for women going to a man born male.
“The cover model for the 2023 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue is a biological male with fake boobs. I really hope men are done with Sports Illustrated,” tweeted Wisconsin conservative activist Scarlett Johnson.
Rebel News editor Ezra Levant tweeted: “Sports Illustrated goes trans for their swimsuit issue. Guess the Bud Light ad wizards must have landed somewhere.”
Indeed, there have been many comparisons to Bud Light, whose sales plummeted after it released a commemorative can featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
“Well, I’m sure Sports Illustrated will benefit from adopting the all-trans-Wokee format just as much as Anheuser Busch,” another commenter said.
.@SI_Swimsuit obviously expects men to tick one of two boxes:
▫️I like to watch #trans men in bikini
▫️I don’t care if real women are slowly and systematically being erased from existence #KimPetrasIsAMan #SportsIllustrated Swimsuit #SportsIllustrated Swimsuit Cover pic.twitter.com/wCSq9QdGCL
— Sammy Jo – Cooks 4U????‍???? (@sammyjoms66) May 15, 2023
Mrs. Aged 30. Petras was billed as the “world’s youngest transsexual” after giving a 2006 television interview in Germany describing her gender transition, which included starting hormone therapy at age 12, according to Heavy.com.
The pop star “made history by becoming the first transgender woman to win a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance,” according to SI, referring to the 2023 award for the song “Unholy” with nonbinary singer Sam Smith.
“The Grammy-winning pop star, an inspirational role model for the LGBTQ+ community, has carved her own path to stardom, but it’s not a straight line,” said SI editor-in-chief MJ Day.
