LGBTQ+

Who is Laith Ashley and how did he rise to fame? Laith is a transgender model who has been featured in fashion ads, TV ads, and digital campaigns for a variety of leading fashion brands. His jaw-dropping physique has captured the attention of brands worldwide. Without knowing his full story, you wouldn’t know how he become one of the top models representing the LGBTQ+ community.

Of course, there’s much more to Laith than his you see on the surface. Keep reading to learn 10 fascinating facts about Laith Ashley.

1. He Grew Up in the Fashion Capital

Despite calling the City of Angels home today, Ashley grew up in Harlem, New York City.

As a child, he had no idea he was living in the Mecca of fashion. The runways he would one day walk were housed in the very city he played baseball in.

Ashley’s family identified as Pentecostal Christian, a subset of Protestant Christianity. His religion affected him substantially, especially in his teen years when he grappled with accepting his queerness.

2. He Has Always Been Athletic

Laith’s defined muscles didn’t just show up once he transitioned. Ashley has always been athletic and into fitness, even as a child.

Growing up “female”, he was competitive and strong. He was talented at sports, especially boxing. Ashley even played on the boys’ team, which irritated the fathers of the other children.

Into adolescence and early adulthood, fitness continued to be a big part of his life. Today, he works out every day of the week, with his workouts varying from cardio to weightlifting.

3. He Knew He Was Different

Ashley recalls knowing there was something different about him at the age of four.

At that age, there was no vocabulary for explaining how he felt. He pushed his feelings away and remembers often praying for resolution. “Praying the gay away” is a common experience many LGBTQ+ people have when they grow up in religious households.

At 17, he came out as lesbian when he started dating a girl online. The label never felt right to him, and it wasn’t until he was 19 that he learned about trans people.

4. Gay, Trans, or Both?

Ashley never felt right identifying as lesbian or gay. Learning about the trans community on YouTube, he saw himself in the stories of others. He finally felt understood.

Some trans individuals choose pronouns like he/his or she/her. Others prefer they/them pronouns, or even ze/zir. Ashley felt most comfortable identifying as he/his.

As he transitioned to from female to male, Ashley continued to date women. Today, he identifies as a straight, trans man.

5. He’s Always Been a Role Model

Prior to modeling, Ashley was a role model in his community. He worked as a social worker at an LGBTQ+ community center for youth.

His job was to provide guidance and support to youth struggling with their identities.

As a major name in the fashion industry today, he still maintains his role model position. Queer youth all over the world look up to him for inspiration and reassurance. He continues work as a trans activist in addition to fashion modeling.

 

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A post shared by Laith Ashley [De La Cruz]🇩🇴 (@laith_ashley) on May 27, 2018 at 4:19pm PDT

6. His Transition Was Life-Changing

Choosing to transition is never easy. Although you badly desire the outcome, the process can be scary and stressful.

Ashley began the process at 19 years old with hormone therapy. His voice depended and he quickly grew a beard. Nine months later, he had a double mastectomy.

The relief and inner-acceptance he felt after the initial transition was life-changing. But, he says that the transition is never really over. He’ll continue to make the decision to be a man every day for the rest of his life.

7. He Experiences Discrimination

Today, Ashley experiences a different type of racial discrimination than he did growing up. The Ashley family is of Latino decent, but he considers himself a New York native.

As a teenager, Ashley dressed like a tomboy, bucking gender expectations. He received some snide looks and comments then, but nothing like after transitioning.

The biggest difference now is that he gets stopped and searched by police. As a man of color, he’s all too frequently perceived as a threat. It has, unfortunately, made him accustomed to the discrimination that comes along with it.

8. He’s a Runway Pro

You can’t discuss Ashley’s amazing achievements without acknowledging his speedy rise to fame. Growing up, he never dreamed of becoming a fashion model.

It all started with a photoshoot in his Calvin’s and then an ad campaign for Barneys New York.

His photos landed him in every major fashion magazine and on the catwalks of New York Fashion Week. Notably, for the LGBTQ+ community, he was the first trans model to join the Pit Crew on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

9. He Can’t Please Everyone

Ashley recalls always being a people-pleaser. The fear of disappointing others was a strong emotion growing up.

Today, the fear still exists but has changed.

Many fans applaud him for representing female-to-male trans people and Latino trans men. But, some resent his representation since he’s straight and now enjoys the privileges associated with a straight male identity.

It goes to show you can’t please everyone. And, you can’t represent each person on such a wide, colorful, and overlapping spectrum.

10. He Has Famous Followers

One tiny fact about him you may not know is he has over 240 thousand Instagram followers. He uses the platform to promote his new singing career and his trans activism.

Some of his followers have a strong following of their own. The most notable of his followers are Laverne Cox, Alyssa Edwards, Adore Delano, and Buck Angel.

Laith Ashley on Instagram

Enjoy some of Laith’s best posts from Instagram below:

 

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A post shared by Laith Ashley [De La Cruz]🇩🇴 (@laith_ashley) on Mar 3, 2019 at 2:29pm PST

 

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A post shared by Laith Ashley [De La Cruz]🇩🇴 (@laith_ashley) on Jan 29, 2019 at 4:56pm PST

 

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Honing in… 📸 @thetomess #dominicanrepublic #latino #music #rnb #pop #hiphop #tan #was #serious #paralosgustossehicieronloscolores

A post shared by Laith Ashley [De La Cruz]🇩🇴 (@laith_ashley) on Feb 5, 2018 at 4:53pm PST

 

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A post shared by Laith Ashley [De La Cruz]🇩🇴 (@laith_ashley) on Apr 17, 2019 at 4:38pm PDT

Want to Know More Laith Ashley and Other Trans Models?

The fashion industry today is much different than it was decades ago. The presence of trans models, like Laith Ashley, has allowed for more inclusion and representation in mainstream media.

Laith Ashley isn’t the only trans model making waves. Check out the rest of the blog to learn about the other LGBTQ+ superstars paving the way.

Are we connected yet on Instagram? If not, let’s make it happen so I can share in your world too!

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