Riccardo Tisci’s Fall 2010 Givenchy ad campaign served up a significant amount of water cooler discussion among the fashion industry. And it wasn’t because the clothes were particularly racy. Rather, it was Tisci’s model casting that was cause for discussion. Alongside Mariacarla Boscono, Malgosia Bela and Joan Smalls stood Lea T, the designer’s transgendered former assistant.
Contrary to those who believed the casting of a transgendered model was a gimmick, Lea T. has become a veritable fixture in the fashion world, walking in Givenchy’s haute couture show and posing in last month’s Italian Vanity Fair.
Now, French Vogue has decided to feature Lea T., completely nude, with only her hand barely covering her genitals. We could talk about the cultural impact the shoot has, what people’s reactions may be to seeing a transgendered woman in a largely circulated magazine… but instead, we’ll leave it short and sweet:
Lea T. looks absolutely stunning in the French Vogue shoot, her hair cascading delicately, her face appearing strong, yet vulnerable, staring directly at the camera. Her lips rival Esther Canadas‘ and her eyebrows remind us of Natalia Vodianova’s — which we think equates the perfect facial structure for a top model in the making.
For more photos of Lea, click here.
