Transgender model Leyna Bloom is speaking her goals into existence. On Monday, the model tweeted that she wants to become the first trans model of color – of any race, really – to walk a Victoria's Secret fashion show. Her fans on social media have showered her with support.
Bloom's tweet campaigning to become the first Victoria's Secret trans model has been liked nearly 60,000 times since it was posted. Many have tweeted their support for Bloom, calling her "inspirational."
In an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle, Bloom said working for the renowned lingerie company has always been a "dream" of hers.
"It’s always been a dream for me, like so many others, not just trans — POC, all women, and some men even,” she said. “This is a platform that glorifies femininity. I always felt in my most natural state I am heavenly. For my trans sisters, regardless of color, this will be a moment for us all.”
According to Yahoo, Bloom has been modeling since 2014. She became the first out transgender model of color to be featured in Vogue India in 2017.
#TransIsBeautiful | #LeynaBloom ???? pic.twitter.com/H0RotJwWYP
— Leyna Bloom (@leynabloom) April 8, 2018
Bloom has also been outspoken in advocating for transgender women of color. Last November, she called out Victoria's Secret for its lack of diversity in its fashion show on Twitter.
"All these women of color in the VS fashion show that's amazing right," she said. "But they still have way more white girls. It's like every time they added a woman of color they added another white girl. Next year they need to cast trans and curve models all colors not just Caucasians."
In an interview with Galore earlier this year, Bloom said that she gets her passion for advocacy from her father.
"My passion for standing up for myself comes from my father," she said. "I watched him, being a black man working hard in America, survive as a single parent. He was 26 when I was born. He raised me, a transgender kid, in a time when society had zero conversation about and zero options for a someone like me."
In 2013, transgender model Carmen Carrera also talked about the possibility of becoming the first transgender model to become a Victoria's Secret angel. A change.org petition was created that November calling for Carrera to become the brand's first transgender model.
Many continue to call for inclusion and diversity from the Victoria's Secret brand.
— Quaro Ojong???? (@mee_quaro) April 10, 2018
You go slay them girlllll???? pic.twitter.com/E5ET8ZclRp
— عهد. (@AS97x) April 10, 2018