Tommy Playboy, whose real name was Thomas Blackwell, was a pillar among the LGBTQ+ and fashion communities. The transgender model knew the importance of showing up authentically and pushed the envelope regarding the binary.
Shortly before midnight on April 1, the New York City Police Department answered a call for a person needing medical assistance around Seventh Avenue and West 42nd Street, WWD reported.
“Upon arrival, officers observed an unconscious adult male on the northbound [2 line] subway tracks,” an NYPD spokesman said. “EMS responded to the location and pronounced him dead at the scene.”
The NYPD is still investigating the cause of death. Mark Desire, the New York City office of the chief medical examiner’s assistant director of forensic biology, said the case is pending, according to WWD.
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A Philadelphia native, Blackwell moved to New York City a few years ago to pursue a career in fashion modeling. They were living in the Bronx with a little sister and nephew, whom they were the guardian of, according to Patch.
As a model, Blackwell walked runways at New York Fashion Week and worked with brands such as Telfar, No Sesso and Jane Wade. They told Noctis their ultimate goal was to get signed and model across Paris and Europe.
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Blackwell described their style as “Y2K Afro-Futurism mixed with a little bit of hoestetics” — a blend of streetwear and high fashion. This is immediately apparent on Instagram, where Blackwell curated an inherently personal mood board via a mix of professional campaigns, flash photography and eclectic style.
The 23-year-old model had recently decided to become a free agent to protect their individuality.
“I was tired of being told I needed to appear more masculine, and that wasn’t how I identified, so I really wanted to walk in my truth this year as a proud nonbinary talent,” they told Noctis.
We are so hurt to hear the creative icon, a true trailblazing queen, Tommy Playboy has passed away. She cleared the runway at our Galentines show and her energy will truly be missed. We send our deepest condolences and love to her family and friends 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/626jWXGOPz
— MEFeater Magazine (@mefeater) April 4, 2023
Outside work, Blackwell liked creating TikTok videos, staying hydrated and listening to artists such as Doja Cat, Kehlani and SZA. In addition, they loved living in New York City for its people.
“You learn, and you hustle. You build yourself independently a lot faster than most,” Blackwell said. “I’m super grateful for all of my fashion family and friends. Without them, I wouldn’t know what style even means. They expose me to new layers of myself every time we work, so I’m thankful for the journey.”
