After recording many firsts, Leyna Bloom is no stranger to the spotlight. Born to a Filipina mother from Southern Mindanao’s Blaan tribe and an African-American father, the international star has broken barriers as a prominent trans and biracial figure in the modeling, dancing, and acting scene.
Touted as one of the first Filipinas to walk the L'Oréal Le Défilé runway back in 2021, Leyna continues to make strides for the representation of her community. Ahead, get to know the model and her historical milestones with these 10 facts below.
Who Is Leyna Bloom? Facts About the Filipina-American Model
1. Leyna comes from Filipino and African-American descent.
Leyna Bloom is of Indigenous Filipino and African-American descent, a background she embraces and celebrates. The model grew up with her father since she was two years old, after her mother was faced with deportation. As an adult, she met her mother again in the Philippines and was even able to model in her “homeland.”
2. She told her story as a trans woman to a magazine.
Leyna first told her story publicly as a trans woman when she appeared on the cover of the Luis Venegas-published Candy magazine alongside 13 other trans women, including notable figures like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock. At the time, Leyna was working in the fashion industry as a cis-gendered woman and had not yet come out as trans.
3. Her father was supportive of her transition.
Leyna’s father has been her greatest supporter throughout her life. Describing him as her “superhero” in an interview with Byrdie, Leyna recalls how he stood by her side through every major milestone. From attending her auditions and performances to supporting her during her transition and surgeries, her father was always there. He even accompanied her to Thailand for her gender confirmation surgery, holding her hand when she woke up.
4. She dropped out of school when they didn’t acknowledge her gender identity.
Leyna earned a scholarship to the Chicago Academy for the Arts, and began transitioning while at school. In an attempt to keep her scholarship for a male dancer, she shaved her hair and presented as male again, according to News24. But this didn’t feel right to her, as she wasn’t living as her authentic self. When the school refused to allow her to dance as a female, Leyna made the difficult decision to drop out.
5. She used to be homeless at 17.
At 17, Leyna left her school in Chicago and headed to New York City with no money, possessions, or clear plan. She slept in the subway and survived on a daily meal of a $1 pizza slice and soda. “That’s how I survived. On dollar pizzas and a dream,” she shared in an interview with Mic. Despite the harsh conditions, Leyna viewed this period of homelessness as necessary for her journey, explaining that her dream kept her going even when her body was starving.
6. Leyna is the first trans woman to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue.
In 2021, Leyna made her-story by becoming the first transgender woman of color to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. This monumental achievement was a significant step forward for trans representation in mainstream media and solidified her as a trailblazer in the modeling industry.
7. She’s a prolific dancer.
According to her interview with Chromat, Leyna comes from a long line of dancers, and she trained in ballet, tap, modern, hip hop, and lyrical, and danced for the Joffrey Ballet’s summer intensive program in Chicago. She even performed in Swan Lake at the Lyric Opera House alongside the American Ballet Theater. Leyna also immersed herself in the ballroom scene as a teenager, where she became the mother of the House of Miyake Mugler in New York, finding community and expression within the LGBTQ+ world of competitive ballroom.
8. She’s known as the first trans woman of color to have a lead role in a film at Cannes.
In 2019, Leyna made a mark in film by becoming the first trans woman of color to have a lead role in a film featured at the Cannes Film Festival. She starred in Port Authority, a film that explores themes of love and identity. Her performance garnered praise and highlighted her talents beyond the modeling world.
9. She’s an activist.
Leyna is a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and the inclusion of transgender people, particularly women of color, in the entertainment industry. She uses her platform to raise awareness about the unique challenges faced by the transgender community and is dedicated to creating more opportunities for underrepresented groups.
10. You can follow her on Instagram.
Get updated on all things Leyna by tapping “follow” on her Instagram.
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