Leyna Bloom poses during the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Cover Reveal at Jack Studios on July 13, 2021 in New York City
(Picture: Getty Images for Sports Illustra)Transgender model Leyna Bloom has made history as Sport Illustrated’s first trans cover star.
Bloom, who is Black and Filipino, is also the first trans woman of colour to feature in the American sports magazine.
She follows after transgender model Valentino Sampaio, who featured in the magazine last July.
In a post on her Instagram, Bloom said the milestone “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,” she said.
“I’m am so happy, honored, and humbled to share that I’m the 1st trans woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated!”
Bloom went on to thank Sports Illustrated for “recognizing the importance of representation” and said that “this is all of our responsibility.”
The activist dedicated the cover to “all ballroom femme queens past, present and future.”
“This historical moment is important to #girlslikeus because it allows us to live and be seen. Many girls like us don’t have the chance to live our dreams, or to live long at all. I hope my cover empowers those, who are struggling to be seen, feel valued. Let me be a messenger guiding us to a future of respect and appreciation for all women in all forms and from all walks of life.”
People have left Bloom some lovely messages on Twitter sharing their support for her historic cover.
We are celebrating this momentous and historic moment with @leynabloom, who is the first trans model to be featured on the cover of @SInow! This is the true visibility and representation our community deserves. Congrats! 🏳️⚧️🎉https://t.co/VC7Orbk6TR
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) July 19, 2021
We are so ecstatic for you and the entire trans community! #SI2021 #blackTRANSlivesmatter https://t.co/k7JXsQuUoI
— MAMA GLORIA (@mamagloriafilm) July 20, 2021
Let's go @leynabloom! Congratulations out here repping and making history! 🇵🇭🇺🇸 https://t.co/F4LKdeU0eb
— Nino Llanera (@NinoLlanera) July 20, 2021
An amazing moment https://t.co/7KbsIegI1X
— Aditi Loveridge (she/her/hers)🏳️🌈 (@aditiloveridge) July 20, 2021
Every time we break boundaries for our community we bring the whole world forward into a new era of Trans acceptance. @leynabloom’s historic first on the cover of @SI_Swimsuit is a win for all of us. Rising tides babes. And you got the perfect suit for it! Congrats sis! 🌊👙 https://t.co/vsGLbBMxw8
— Shakina (@Shakeenz) July 20, 2021
Y’all are not talking about this enough for me. A BLACK TRANS WOMAN COVERING SPORTS ILLUSTRATED!!!! https://t.co/kHFQsuieXi
— JERM🦠 (@byDonJerm) July 19, 2021
The latest cover is one of many firsts for Bloom.
In 2017, she was the first trans woman of colour to appear in Vogue India. In 2019, she became the first trans woman of colour to be given a leading role in a feature at a major film festival with her feature film debut in Port Authority, directed by Danielle Lessovitz, at the Cannes Film Festival.
Along with Bloom, tennis star Naomi Osaka and musician Megan Thee Stallion also feature as cover stars with their own separate issues.
