Trans* Success

Isis King is an American fashion model and a fashion designer. King is originally from Prince Georges County, Maryland, and currently resides in New York City. She has stated that people might refer to her as “transgender” or “transsexual”, but she prefers the phrase “born in the wrong body”. While in high school, she came out as “gay”. However, she felt that it was still not the accurate label for her orientation. Isis has an associate degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. While in college her designs won her a 2005 award for Best Woman’s Evening Wear. In 2007, King appeared in an MSNBC special titled Born in the Wrong Body, which documented the lives of transgender teens from across the United States. King began hormone replacement therapy in the summer of 2007, as part of her transitioning process. She hoped to have sex reassignment surgery as soon as possible.

Her modeling experience included competing in the underground ball culture scene. Her post-show runway credits include the Amore Fashion Show, Howard University Fashion Show, Colors Fall/Winter 2009–10 Line, Secret Society, and Images Fashion Show. Isis has worked as a receptionist at a hair salon, and as a program assistant for a nonprofit organization. She was living at the Ali Forney Transitional Living Program when she learned about an upcoming photo shoot for the tenth cycle of America’s Next Top Model. She was a contestant on both the eleventh cycle and the seventeenth cycle of the reality television show America’s Next Top Model.

King became one of fourteen finalists for the eleventh cycle of the show. She placed tenth overall. She was the first trans woman to compete on the show, and became one of the most visible transgender people on television. Since then she has appeared on The Tyra Banks Show twice. Isis underwent surgery on February 27, 2009. She also appeared on Larry King Live on July 25 that same year.  She appeared in Us Weekly (September 2008), was in Seventeen magazine (December 2008/January 2009), Out magazine, Mallard International magazine, and the cover of the Spring 2010 Swerv magazine.