JK Rowling has criticised Glamour UK after the magazine included nine trans women in its latest “Women of the Year” list.
The cover of the issue features the group posing in T-shirts and crop tops emblazoned with the slogan “Protect the Dolls” — a phrase used within the trans community to refer to trans women.
Rowling, 60, author of the Harry Potter series and a prominent women’s rights campaigner, took aim at the decision on X (formerly Twitter).
She wrote: “I grew up in an era when mainstream women’s magazines told girls they needed to be thinner and prettier. Now mainstream women’s magazines tell girls that men are better women than they are.”
Responding to her criticism, Glamour posted: “Better luck next year, Jo x.”
Nine biological men being declared ‘Women of the Year’ by Glamour magazine is beyond parody even by ludicrous woke virtue-signalling standards… and, I suspect, the beginning of the end for Glamour magazine. pic.twitter.com/1w2ZZ64dbn
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) October 30, 2025
The magazine said it had chosen to honour nine of the trans community’s “most ground-breaking voices” at a time when “trans rights face increasing threat in the UK”.
“From fashion and music to charity and activism work, these trailblazers work tirelessly to empower, uplift and celebrate trans voices,” the publication said.
At the magazine’s London awards ceremony on Thursday, model and activist Munroe Bergdorf — one of the honourees — addressed the controversy directly in a speech condemning “the demonisation of trans people”.
“It can no longer be said that we’re descending into fascism — fascism is here, and it’s up to all of us to keep each other safe,” she said. “Protection will always be a two-way street.
“Segregating trans women from cis women, and the trans community from public life, serves to segregate society from humanity. Discrimination and exclusion can never be acceptable for anyone, regardless of your gender, identity, race, faith, class, ability, nationality or sexuality.”
Bergdorf also accused the UK government of failing trans people “at almost every turn”.
Appointed as UN Women’s first UK Champion in 2023, Bergdorf has previously modelled for L’Oréal and is known for her activism around gender equality.
Fellow award recipient Dani St James, a model and campaigner, used her acceptance speech to call for greater inclusion and visibility for trans people in culture.
“Pay the dolls. Employ the dolls. Take the dolls off that mood board and put us in front of and behind the camera,” she said. “Love the dolls out loud and speak up for the dolls in the face of adversity, whether we’re in the room with you or not.”
The honourees also included actress Bel Priestley, models Munya, Ceval Omar and Taira, content creator Maxine Heron, and musician Mya Mehmi.
Glamour’s accompanying feature criticised “anti-trans pressure groups and right-wing politicians” for pushing “exclusionary policy” on issues such as access to toilets, public amenities and support services.
In April, the Supreme Court ruled that the terms “woman” and “sex” in the Equality Act 2010 “refer to a biological woman and biological sex”. Lord Hodge, delivering the ruling, said trans people still had protections under the law but could not claim those reserved for women.
The ruling was described as “a genuine crisis for the rights, dignity and inclusion of trans people in the UK” in an open letter to Sir Keir Starmer signed by Stonewall and 13 other LGBT organisations.
Glamour UK said the trans community was facing “rising hate crime and increasingly poor healthcare access for trans adults”.
Priestley, 22, told the magazine: “I think people just don’t respect you as much when you’re a trans woman in the media. I think people assume a lot about you. Transphobia is really accepted.
“You see people, other celebrities, other media personalities, other people in the public eye make comments about trans people all the time and no one really calls them out on it.”
The “Protect the Dolls” shirt was designed by American fashion designer Conner Ives and debuted at London Fashion Week in February. It has since been worn by celebrities including Pedro Pascal and Tilda Swinton, with proceeds from sales going to the charity Trans Lifeline.
