A year after she put it out in the universe, model Aaron Philip has signed her first modeling contract.
The 17-year-old is the first disabled transgender model signed to Elite Model Management, reports Teen Vogue.
Philip shared the news on her Twitter page.
i’m signed to @elitenyc! thank you so much for supporting me thru my journey to make the fashion world more inclusive. this hasn’t been easy, but we did it! i’m so excited & grateful to work hard and share this new chapter of my life with you all ❤️???? pic.twitter.com/X7d05rS379
— aaron (@aaronphilipxo) September 1, 2018
The teen, who has cerebral palsy and identifies as a “gender-nonconforming trans woman,” also penned an essay for Them to reflect on her accomplishment.
“As excited as I am, this is all new to me. I know that because of my appearance, my disability and my identities, I may be boxed into a position where I’m either seen as unique and fascinating or straight up not what a casting director or designer may be looking for,” Philip wrote.
“More than anything, I can only pray for success and happiness within my career and the goals I intend to achieve. I don’t want signings like mine to be a trend or a fad. I want careers for black, disabled and trans models to be attainable and sustainable.”
Philip went viral last year when she tweeted her modeling aspirations:
honestly when i get scouted/discovered by a modeling agency it's OVER for y'all! by y'all i mean the WORLD! it's real inclusivity/diversity hours folks, get into it! pic.twitter.com/58VOSafAm6
— aaron (@aaronphilipxo) November 24, 2017
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