We’re already counting down the days until NYFW in September — and, nope, not *just* for the fashion. It’s because this year’s runways are guaranteed to be filled with more diverse/normal models than ever before thanks to the changing tide in widespread representation in the modeling world. The latest to join our must-watch model list is IMG’s just-announced model Hari Nef, who happens to be trans. From Andreja Pejic to Tess Holliday to now Hari, the runways and magazine covers are finally starting to look like the real world.
Hari Nef, an actress, writer and model is the latest to make headlines for all the right reasons. The recent grad (as in, last week recent grad) of Columbia University is only the second transgender model to sign with IMG, one of the top modeling agencies in the world. Joining the agency’s women’s talent roster, she has already been making impressive strides in the fashion world pre-pen to paper according to Fashionista. Her current resume includes walking for designers Adam Selman, Hood by Air and Eckhaus Latta, starring in a campaign for Selfridges and popping up on Dazed‘s 2015 100 List + Paper’s 2015 Beautiful People issue. Looks like we’ve got a new addition to our trans stars to know list <3
Not only is Hari joining one of the top modeling agencies in the world — with famous faces like Gigi Hadid — but IMG has one of the most diverse rosters as well. That lineup includes women in their 70s + 80s like Lauren Hutton and China Machado, along with Sports Illustrated‘s first featured plus-size model (and all-around babe) Ashley Graham. Let’s hope this is *just* the beginning.
Who do YOU want to see next on the catwalk or in the pages of a magazine?
(h/t Fashionista, photos via Michael Loccisano/Getty + @harinef)