6 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TEDDY

1. SHE WANTED TO PROVE SHE WAS A GOOD MODEL FIRST

‘I always knew [being transgender] could get me jobs, but I wanted to prove I was a good model. I was aware people would look at me differently – they wouldn’t see a beautiful girl; they would see a beautiful girl who was born with a penis. I had to put ego aside; I knew coming out would change my life.’

2. SHE’S NOT AFRAID TO GO THERE…

‘I don’t know a lot of famous trans women who have come out and openly said they’ve not had bottom surgery. I’ve said that. I think people need to know that – I walked the women’s Prada show, and I did it with a dick.’

3. …AND BARE IT ALL (OR NOT)

‘You’re changing in front of everyone while wearing a tiny G-string – I have to perform wizardry! I still don’t have a private changing area. I’m the one transgender girl, and now the others are just like, “OK girl, you do you!”’

4. BEING TRANSGENDER MAKES DATING COMPLICATED

‘When I came out I was so worried I would be completely undesirable to men. I thought no one would want to kiss me or talk to me anymore. I thought I’d have to prepare myself for loneliness.’

5. NOW IS HER TIME

‘The difference between my generation and the one before mine is, back then, it was just accepted that straight, white men ran the world. But if you are smart and have something to say, now is the time to stand up and say it. I think that’s going to liberate so many minorities – people who thought, “I could never do it because I’m transgender or black” are now going to say, “Fuck it, I can do it.”’

6. FASHION NEEDS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

‘This industry decides what beauty is. So do its customers. Change happens when people say, “I’m not standing for this. I’m not going to put my dollar in your pocket because you only promote washed-out, skinny white girls.” That said, I am a washed-out, skinny white girl. I just have a twist.’ Teddy Quinlivan features on the 2O18 ELLE List, produced in association with theoutnet.com