clothing for high-profile designers such as Jean-Paul Gaultier and Marc Jacobs. She has built an impressive career despite not falling into the gender binary. According to an interview with People, Pejic was grateful to have the opportunities provided to her as an androgynous model, even modeling a wedding gown while still considered by the press and public to be an androgynous male. Pejic, however, made the definitive leap to declare a female gendered identity in 2014. Isis King is a fashion designer and model, but many may recognize her as a former contestant on "America’s Next Top Model." King was the first 224 | THREAD
transgender woman to compete on the show and is also American Apparel’s first openly transgender model. Before finding fame and recognition, King was homeless and lived in a shelter. Unfortunately, homelessness is a sad reality for part of the transgender community. One in five transgender individuals are homeless as the result of family rejection and societal discrimination, according to transequality.org. Some transgender individuals are using their personal success to bring attention to the lacking transgender presence, and various companies are taking notice. For example, American