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Trans singer Kim Petras's Sports Illustrated cover for Swimsuit Edition faces monumental backlash

'It’s definitely a scary time to be transgender in America, but there’s also so much more representation,' Petras, 30, told Sports Illustrated

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pop star Kim Petras sparked quite the backlash after she became only the second transgender woman to feature on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 2023 swimsuit edition.

The publication announced on Monday, May 15, that Petras, 30, was one of four cover models for the edition, the others being actress Megan Fox, model Brooks Nader, and TV host and business owner Martha Stewart, who became the oldest SI swimsuit cover model in history at age 81. It's worth noting that model and actress Leyna Bloom was the first transgender model to grace the magazine cover in 2021.

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“It’s definitely a scary time to be transgender in America, but there’s also so much more representation than there’s ever been, and there’s so many things on the bright side,” Petras told Swimsuit Illustrated. “I do feel a pressure sometimes to represent the trans community with everything I do, because I feel very blessed that I am at this point where I have all these amazing opportunities that I’ve worked really hard for and feel so happy when I hear from trans people in general that they’re inspired by me.”

Petras also announced that her latest album titled 'Feed the Beast' will be released on June 23. “It's super exciting to have my Sports Illustrated cover and album announcement happening at the same time!” she told People. “[Photographer] Yu Tsai and the whole team at Sports Illustrated made me feel really comfortable and like I belonged there. I had the best time and, honestly, it was a huge confidence boost.”

“While she’s proud that the trans community is inspired by her work, she uses her platform to encourage others to reach for the stars, regardless of gender or sexuality,” Sports Illustrated noted. However, the cover feature did not sit well with many on social media, many of whom accused both Petras and the magazine of "taking from women."

"Guess there isn't [sic] enough surgeries in the world to fix that pelvis," one tweeted. "Yet she still can't have a period, give birth, or breastfeed a baby. But hey, she feels... something or other. Glad she's happy(assuming she is)," another wrote.

"Neutered my male Dog but vet still classified it as a male dog. Tried telling her it was a female dog now and she was a bigot," someone else quipped. 

"Sports Illustrated is now in the business of promoting the sterilization and mutilation of minors as long as it produces a result they find aesthetically pleasing. Great," a comment read.

"This should be protested as strongly as Bud Light & Dylan Mulvaney or you’ll see him on the cover next. So tired of these men taking from women," another insisted.

Petras grabbed headlines in February when she and nonbinary crooner Sam Smith won the Grammy for best pop duo or group performance, making her the first trans woman to win the accolade. “I just wanted to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” Petras said at the awards ceremony.

The swimsuit issue is expected to hit the newsstands on Thursday, May 18, per The Advocate.

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