Transgender model Theodora ‘Teddy’ Quinlivan may be the face of Chanel Beauty's latest campaign.
The 25-year-old model, who publicly revealed she was transgender at New York Fashion Week in 2022, is the first openly transgender model to dedicate yourself in france they fashion house.
Sharing images from the new 'Summer Look' campaign on Instagram, Teddy said she was deeply humbled and proud to represent the trans community
“I had walked two shows for Chanel as i was residing in stealth (stealth meaning I hadn't made my trans identity public yet) so when I arrived on the scene I knew I'd stop working with some brands,” she said.
“I thought I'd never work with the iconic house of Chanel again. But the actual in Chanel Beauty Advertising.”
Teddy also says her appointment would be a major triumph in her own life which has been fraught with major difficulties.
“My whole life has been a fight,” she said.
“From being bullied at school consistently, kids threatening to kill me and going into graphic detail how they would get it done, my own father beating me and calling us a faggot, to receiving industry blowback after speaking publicly about being sexually assaulted on the job…
“This [the Chanel campaign] was a victory that made all that shit worth it- Thanks to everyone who made this dream a reality!”
Teddy, who transitioned at 16 years old, was discovered by Lv creative director Nicolas Ghesquièrein 2022.
Since then she has represented numerous fashion brands including Moschino, Valentino, Versace, and Dior Haute Couture.
During Ny Fashion Week in September 2022, she arrived on the scene as transgender in a series of videos posted to Instagram:
‘My name is Teddy. I’m transgender. I remember living my very existence as male, but feeling like I had been playing a part,’ she said.
“I always knew I had been female like just in my soul, in my heart within my brain. I kind of knew I had to make believe you be male to appease like everyone else.
