Geena Rocero, Playboy's first trans Asian Pacific Islander Playmate, says it's a 'dream come true'
Geena Rocero is absolutely thrilled after she was named Playboy‘s August 2019 Playmate last month. According to the 35-year-old model, it’s “such a huge honor” for her as she has become the first transgender Asian Pacific Islander Playmate to appear in the magazine.
"As the first Trans Asian Pacific Islander Playmate, I feel that I’m making it possible for someone to reach for their biggest dreams just like the people who came before me," she said in a statement to People.
"I also hope that for anyone who’s been deemed ‘other’ to know that what makes you different, is your power, especially the unapologetic expression of your sexuality, gender and the value of your unique perspective."
Rocero said that it was a "dream come true" to be a part of the Playboy family because it has long stood for "freedom, individuality, and unapologetic expression of oneself."
She said that the response had been "amazing" and that she'd heard from people who had never even bought a Playboy magazine before. "Most importantly, people keep telling me that because of my story and the Playmate visibility, they themselves feel seen and validated."
Rocero-- who has been modeling since she was discovered by a fashion photographer in a restaurant in the Lower East Side of Manhattan when she was 21-- had first gone viral five years ago when she came out as transgender to a national audience during a TED Talk.
Since then, she has featured on the fifth anniversary cover of CANDY magazine, launched 'Gender Proud,' an advocacy and awareness campaign that is working to advance the rights of transgender individuals, become an executive producer for a digital series that spotlights young trans people, and featured in an episode of Caitlyn Jenner's 'I Am Cait.'
In 2016, she, along with Tracey Norman, became the first two openly transgender models to appear on the cover of an edition of Harper's Bazaar.
Speaking to People, she said she feels that there has been "great strides of progress" for transgender and GNC people in the fashion and entertainment industry.
"I think the progressive trans inclusion in film and TV that we’re seeing right now is because of the insistence of trans writers, directors, actors, casting director allies, activists, agents, that trans people deserve nuanced storytelling and representation because it can save our lives," she said.
She also spoke about her hopes for the future. "For the next decade, I hope that we’ve moved beyond the conversation where including a trans person in an adverting campaign will not be questioned or cause a headline," she said. "I hope it just becomes a norm. The same holds true for diverse body types and abilities."