Isis King America’s Next Top Model

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Maria Lorenz
Maria Lorenzhttps://ifitandhealthy.com
Join me on my "I Fit and Healthy" journey! Maria is an Upstate New Yorker interested in all things healthy-living related! She started the "I Fit and Healthy" Blog to document life and her pursuit of healthy living. By day she work in digital media and advertising. By night she’s a first-rate wife and mom of two crazy little girls! She is self-proclaimed addicted to her iPhone/iPad and always on the hunt for the latest health tools and fitness gadgets.

Have you seen Isis King on America’s Next Top Model? Wasn’t she awesome? I think so. But how much do you really know about Isis King from America’s Next Top Model? Probably not much. So here is a recent interview with Isis King, which reveals a lot of interesting details about her.

How did you go from homeless to Top Model? I wasn’t on the street; I was in an assisted-living program and heard they needed models. I basically gave my all. […] I was skeptical, but I decided to see what could happen.

When did you first realize you were “born in the wrong body”? From as young as I can remember, I’ve always felt like I was different. I visually looked like a boy, but I never felt like one on the inside. I played with Barbies and did double Dutch with the girls. In high school, I came out as a gay male; even though I felt like that’s not who I was, it started to change things for me. I was voted Most Outgoing, Most Unique. I was the artist, the fashion designer.

Did you date? At 15, I had a boyfriend for a few months. When I was younger, I had girlfriends, but most of them were an image of who I am today or kind of like my mother. I was intrigued by them because I couldn’t be who I really am. Now I’m heterosexual – I’m only interested in men.

Did you make the change gradually or all at once? I used to take my mother’s shoes. I’ve been practicing catwalk for years! I didn’t start trying on her clothes until middle school. After college [King earned an associate s degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia], I knew I was going to start transitioning. I went out with my best friend, and we got my shoes.

How did your family react? My mother was very anti-everything at first. Then I did a documentary called Born in the Wrong Body last year. Now she is very supportive. My baby brother, who is 7, is happy for me. But I have a rocky relationship with my 18-year-old brother.

How are you completing the transition? I started hormones last summer. [They facilitate development of feminine characteristics, such as breasts.] When I first started taking them, I got sick a bit, and that’s normal. My body is filling out nicely. I’m skinny – I think if I were a little thicker, I would have seen more dramatic changes. I go through electrolysis every week and a half, two weeks.

Also, I used to wear silicone [breast enhancers] for shoots, but it’s too hot with all that extra stuff. Most models don’t have breasts anyway! I would also tape [my penis] at first, but since then I’ve found new ways to make everything smooth. What I use is like a thong. I made it myself with a piece of denim.

Do you plan to have a sex-change operation? If I could have had it years ago, I would have. Finances were the only thing holding me back. My goal is by my 25th birthday.

What’s your mind-set? Happy. With confidence comes happiness. I have the gift to draw, sew, paint, model. I consider myself spiritual, and I pray. When I have my surgery, I will be completely happy. [via]

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