Model, actress and activist Leyna Bloom is once again inspiring young trans girls around the world. Today (July 19), Bloom celebrates being the first ever openly trans woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue.
“This moment heals a lot of pain in the world. We deserve this moment; we have waited millions of years to show up as survivors and be seen as full humans filled with wonder,” Bloom writes in on Instagram.
She concludes her thank you message by dedicating her cover to “all ballroom femme queens past, present and future.” As the true inspector she is, she notes that she hopes her cover will empower those who feel unseen, unheard and underrepresented.
Gaye previously reported Bloom’s first announcement being on the Sports Illustrated cover in March, in which she describes how her father was very instrumental throughout her transition, remaining a support system with unconditional love.