French model Ines Rau will make history as Playboy magazine’s first transgender Playmate in its 64-year history this November, according to its website.
“Being a woman is just being a woman.” Meet November 2017 Playmate Ines Rau, the first transgender Playmate. https://t.co/w28vfilSP9 pic.twitter.com/iVAqOgB0TK
— Playboy (@Playboy) October 18, 2017
“I lived a long time without saying I was transgender,” the 26-year-old French model, who identifies as female, told the magazine in an interview. “I dated a lot and almost forgot. I was scared of never finding a boyfriend and being seen as weird. Then I was like, You know, you should just be who you are. It’s a salvation to speak the truth about yourself, whether it’s your gender, sexuality, whatever. The people who reject you aren’t worth it. It’s not about being loved by others; it’s about loving yourself.”
This actually isn’t the first time Rau has appeared in the magazine. Featured in a May 2014 issue by photographer Ryan McGinley, Rau has since modeled for top designers including Balmain, as well as appearing in Vogue Italia and W magazine. But Rau says that being the first transgender Playmate soars above her other accomplishments.
“When I was doing this shoot, I was thinking of all those hard days in my childhood,” Rau told Playboy. “And now everything happening gives me so much joy and happiness. I thought, Am I really going to be a Playmate—me? It’s the most beautiful compliment I’ve ever received. It’s like getting a giant bouquet of roses.”
On Wednesday, Cooper Hefner, the son of the late founder and the magazine’s current editor in chief, tweeted out a message of acceptance.
We should collectively be fighting for a more open world, not one that promotes hatred and a lack of acceptance.
— Cooper Hefner (@cooperhefner) October 19, 2017
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