Pop musician Kim Petras is one of the four cover models for Sports Illustrated swimsuit editions, making her the second openly transgender model to appear on the cover.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Petras explains that she felt pressure to represent the trans community due to the climate the U.S. is currently in when it comes to the trans issue.
She said she was excited to get the call from SI to appear in the magazine’s swimsuit edition, calling it a big dream come true.
This is the second time an openly transgender model has appeared on the cover of SI’s annual swimsuit edition, following model and actress Leyna Bloom who appeared in the magazine's 2021 swimsuit edition.
It has been a big year for Petras. The 30-year-old singer recently became the first openly transgender woman to win a Grammy Award earlier this year in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category for her and fellow singer Sam Smith’s performance in “Unholy.”
Talking to the magazine about the transgender issue, Kim said it is a scary time to be transgender in the USA. She expressed her excitement about getting good opportunities and how happy she feels to be able to inspire other trans people to achieve their dreams. #Trans Rights