“It’s like a crown of femininity on your head”.
The latest issue of Playboy will feature a transgender playmate, which will mark the first transgender person to be on the magazine’s cover in their 64-year history. “And they were like, ‘What’s happened?’ You know, feeling so handsome and embracing who I am feels so important right now. And I’m still super exited and emotional”.
“Every woman’s beauty deserves to be celebrated”, Rau, 26, told the Reuters in her first interview to the media about the feature.
And while the Playmate title is new this isn’t Rau’s first time being photographed for the revered men’s magazine.
This isn’t Ines’ first modeling gig: She’s appeared in Vogue Italia and fronted a campaign for Balmain.
Whether you love Playboy as a publication, or hate it, you can’t deny it’s newsworthy. I’m not the classical juicy playmate.
Outside modeling, she told the magazine her dream is to become an action film star (she trains in “boxing, kickboxing, Thai boxing, full contact, all of it”) and remains passionate about environmental conservation. I remember being invited to the Mansion to meet Hugh Hefner.
“I always knew from within, when I was a little kid in my room in the ghetto, that a attractive destiny was waiting for me”, Rau said. It’s the most attractive compliment I’ve ever received. That man was not alone, but Rau seems to take it all in stride, saying, “there will always be trolls, but if I can help others to love themselves then it’s worth it”.
“I dated a lot and nearly forgot. They’re writing nice messages”, Rau said. Those comments honestly make me even more happy and proud to be in Playboy. Good for you Playboy. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to say it, but I really feel sexy all the time”.
Clearly Playboy’s fanbase still has something to learn.
This is coincidentally the first issue to hit the newsstands since Hefner’s death in September.
However, fashion isn’t the only thing she’s going after.
“Trans women are women. I’m the happiest girl in the world, just being what I wanted to be”. “I could hide it, but I don’t, because I respect people“.