Lea T (born in 1981 and identified as
Leandro Medeiros Cerezo),
is a native of Brazil, and one of the world's current favorites in the
fashion modeling industry. She is most known as having been the Muse of Givenchy
. She is also a pop culture icon of Transgender Advocacy in the LGBTQQIA Community.
Lea T., who went under the knife to make the dramatic change in 2011, was discovered by the Givenchy designer Riccardo Tisci.
The daughter of former
footballer Toninho Cerezo, she first appeared on the cover of Love magazine, a biannual published by
Conde Nast, locking lips with Kate Moss - an image that propelled her to
fame.
Speaking to Oprah in February 2011, Lea broke down as she talked about the challenges
she faced when she began the gender reassignment process in 2008.
She told Oprah: 'I was hoping I was gay. I was like, OK, I'm gay, because for my family
it's less painful.
'I wish I could accept my body as a man. I would
be a straight guy, having a girlfriend and a family, daughters, married,
a normal life, but it's something in your brain.'
But she needn't have any regrets as her mannish look is proving popular in the industry.
40 Graus Models
modeling agency director Sergio Mattos told - "we are in the 21st century and there is just more tolerance in the air.
Here in Brazil we now have gay mayors, gay lawmakers," "So why not
trans-models? The world has evolved and now discrimination is,
thankfully, becoming a thing of the past."
Transgender supermodel Lea T is one of the fabulous “Faces of Color” featured in the United Colors of Benetton's spring/summer 2013
via womenofgrace.com,thatgirlfashionblog.blogspot,dailymail.co.uk,.ibtimes.com,
thefrisky.com,samisoni.blogspot,
www.huffingtonpost.com,styleite.com ,living.msn.com,tumblr
