Looking back through her video archive, YouTube star Gigi Lazzarato can track how her style has transformed as she transitioned into her true self.
Better known as Gigi Gorgeous, the Canadian online personality and model says when she came out as transgender in a journey that was closely followed by millions of viewers, she gravitated towards ultra-feminine attire B次元官网网址� skin-tight dresses and bright colours B次元官网网址� because she thought that was the B次元官网网址渟uitB次元官网网址� that made you a woman.
Now, Lazzarato fashions herself a B次元官网网址渃hameleon,B次元官网网址� and said her shifting style will be on full display in a photo series launching at Toronto Fashion Week.
Produced by culture-focused content platform XPosed, B次元官网网址淚con in the MakingB次元官网网址� transports the modern-day influencer to the 1960s in a series shot by noted Toronto fashion photographer Chris Nicholls under the creative direction of George Antonopoulos and Glenna Weddle.
Lazzarato, who grew up just west of Toronto in Mississauga, Ont., said she can barely recognize herself in the shots, and she canB次元官网网址檛 wait for them to be revealed to her friends and family at a Yorkville exhibit on Wednesday. The photos will also be featured in XPosed and Fashion magazineB次元官网网址檚 October issues.
The L.A.-based 27-year-old spoke to The Canadian Press by phone last week about how the fashion shoot fits into her personal and public transformation.
CP: Why is this series called B次元官网网址淚con in the MakingB次元官网网址�?
Lazzarato: We were referencing a lot of photos of like Bridget Bardot and Sophia Loren, and all of the iconic poses and women back then. So I think itB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址業con in the MakingB次元官网网址� because IB次元官网网址檓 still alive doing my career, embodying them from back then.
CP: The series is billed as being inspired by your personal journey. How is that?
Lazzarato: I think if weB次元官网网址檙e talking transition and transforming into something that youB次元官网网址檙e not comfortable with, or that youB次元官网网址檙e really experimenting with, it definitely was a transformational day for me, because itB次元官网网址檚 looks that IB次元官网网址檝e never done before.
CP: What was it like transitioning in the public eye?
Lazzarato: At the beginning, a lot of my friends and a lot of my family knew I was transgender and that I was going to take steps to become the woman that I felt I was and that I felt inside. But the reason that I made it so public was because of all the comments and stories IB次元官网网址檇 heard prior. I was online for years before that, and when I came out I was just like, you know what, I know these people have my back.
The hard side of it all is when you feel pressure like you have to share when youB次元官网网址檙e not necessarily ready B次元官网网址� ThereB次元官网网址檚 just certain aspects where I donB次元官网网址檛 want to talk about my family or my friends, because they didnB次元官网网址檛 really sign up for this. But itB次元官网网址檚 like sometimes you have to.
CP: As a very visible transwoman who comes from a fair bit of financial privilege, do you feel that influences your role in the LGBTQ community?
Lazzarato: I think the financial (aspect) really has nothing to do with it. Because growing up, I was always striving and I was always making work for myself, whether that was when I was 15 working at McDonaldB次元官网网址檚 or volunteering B次元官网网址� I was never showered in gifts or like hereB次元官网网址檚 cash, hereB次元官网网址檚 money.
The only thing that I feel like IB次元官网网址檝e been really, really, really, really, really blessed with when it comes to my family is their unconditional love. Because for me, IB次元官网网址檝e seen so many horror stories of people being disowned or parents just not getting it.
CP: The photo series is set in the past. Do you think youB次元官网网址檙e changing the future?
Lazzarato: I can only hope so. I think that thatB次元官网网址檚 like one of my biggest things, that IB次元官网网址檝e been put on this earth and I want to leave it with a bang, and I want to leave this planet a better place than (when) I entered it.
B次元官网网址� This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press
Like us on and follow us on .
