Playboy has a transgender playmate.
Ines Rau is the first transgender playmate in the 64-year history of the magazine. According to Cooper Hefner, a top executive at the magazine, the decision aligns with the magazine’s founding mission of embracing changing attitudes about sex.
Ines Rau first appeared in Playboy’s May 2014 issue in a special edition, that explored gender identities. She could not hide her excitement on the selection:
“It was a compliment like I’ve never had,” she said. “I’ve had a lot of beautiful compliments from gentlemen before, but this one really made me feel very special, beautiful and feminine. I was speechless.”
Many have gone on Twitter to congratulate her.
Bravo👏 #InesRau on becoming the 1st trans #Playboy #playmate❤️What took so long since I paved the way all those years ago..?#CarolineCossey pic.twitter.com/x8GG7gcgG6
— Caroline Cossey (@Caroline_Cossey) October 20, 2017
Nothing makes me more proud than to see my community succeeding on all four corners. #TransIsBeautiful #inesrau 🙌🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/Wd5sCYQvU9
— loirin lancaster (@LoirinLancaster) October 20, 2017
So proud of @Playboy and Ines Rau, who just became the first transgender woman ever featured as a Playmate. https://t.co/h3MCCTegPa
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) October 20, 2017
A big congrats to Ines Rau for being the 1st playboy playmate! This is so MAJOR! #girlslikeus https://t.co/FpG2IpFaFQ
— Gia Gunn (@GiaGunn) October 19, 2017
Congrats #InesRau on your history making moment #playmate https://t.co/qaDBAXL8kq
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) October 23, 2017
Regardless of what you think about porn or Playboy, this is important and a landmark moment for LGBT rights: https://t.co/i5qkGE4NJG
— Ej Dickson (@ejdickson) October 19, 2017
Rau who is of North-African descent appears in the centerfold of the November issue; the first since the death of the founder, Hugh Hefner. She has appeared in Vogue Italia and W magazine, and has walked the runway for top designers like Balmain.
