Paris Lees named one of Britain’s most influential women
Paris Lees, the writer, broadcaster, model and campaigner, has been named as one of Britain’s most influential women by Vogue magazine.
Lees is the first openly trans woman in Britain to be profiled by the fashion title. She features in Meet the New Suffragettes, which will appear in the February issue of British Vogue. The piece celebrates 100 years since women have had the right to vote in the UK.
Lees is joined by writer Reni Eddo-Lodge, leader of the Women’s Equality Party Sophie Walker, artist Gillian Wearing, Labour MP Stella Creasy, fashion blogger Dina Tokio and founder of Gal-Dem magazine, Liv Little. Swedish fashion photographer Julia Hetta took the women’s portrait.
Of the news, Lees said: “Thank you to Edward Enniful and British Vogue for including me in this moment with these strong, smart and inspiring women.
“In 2018, as we celebrate 100 years since women have been able to vote in the UK, let's make sure we're fighting for ALL women. Our diversity is our strength.
“When I was growing up, you rarely saw trans people in public life and only then as objects of ridicule, pity or disgust. Thank God that’s changing. We've still got a long way to go before we reach equality and it's important we fight for all women.”
Thanks for all the support today I'm sorry if I've not had a chance to reply to everyone or favourite your kind words yet. I knew doing this would leave me open to all the hate the internet has to offer and I'm just grateful it's been drowned out with love https://t.co/aLpIHb4eox
— Paris Lees (@parislees) 4 January 2018
Lees is also the first out trans person to appear on BBC Question Time. She was called the “voice of a generation” by i-D magazine and “the fearless, vital voice we need” by Dazed for her work to champion equality and combat bullying.
The February edition of Vogue is the third by Edward Enniful, who promised to celebrate diversity when he became the magazine’s first black editor last year.
April Ashley, one of the first Britons to undergo genital reconstruction surgery, modelled for Vogue in the 1950s, but kept her trans status secret to avoid stigma. When she was outed as trans by tabloids in the 1960s, her career was ruined. Model and actress Caroline Cossey suffered the same treatment in the 1980s.
In recent years however, trans women have become increasingly prominent in the fashion world – with transgender model Andreja Pejic fronting campaigns for Make Up Forever, Hari Nef modelling for brands including Gucci, and Munroe Bergdorf for British beauty brand Illamasqua.
Only reading DIVA online? You're missing out. For more news, reviews and commentary, check out the latest issue. It's pretty badass, if we do say so ourselves.
divadigital.co.uk // divadirect.co.uk