5 Trans Models on Their Journey to Style and Confidence

Olly Eley is an Australian model known for being the first non-binary person to appear on the cover of Elle UK in 2021. They’ve also worked with 10 Magazine, and walked shows for Feng Chen Wang and Studio ALCH. 

“My personal journey has been chaotic. I didn’t realise I was trans until I was 22 while in Australia, where I grew up. I realised I had to leave and start afresh. I learned about queer culture in Sydney and I knew I wanted to immerse myself properly, to find my people. 

New York had that culture, so I begged my step mum to lend me money to get a chest reduction, changed my name and pronouns, and was off within two weeks of surgery to Canada (where it was easier to get a visa), and I did bar work, using my tips to fly to NYC or LA each month. I started understanding myself in North America. I wanted create awareness, so that people could realise they were trans earlier in life and save themselves the kind of traumatic childhood I almost didn’t survive. I’m passionate about normalising myself, partly for myself but mostly for the kids to come. I want to de-gender as many things as possible. People get so caught up with binary genders, even within queer and trans culture, and it’s toxic, not helpful.

I got model scouted and realised I could make an impact through the visibility of modelling. I’ve always worked with an activist lens, rather than going where the cash is. I’ve turned down big money opportunities, where I would’ve had to sacrifice my integrity, as I promised myself I’d never do that. My highlights have been my cover of Elle UK and being in CR Fashion Book shooting with photographer Steven Klein. 

My style evolves every day. Once I realised I get euphoria from the right clothing, it all became a lot more masculine. One drawback is that stuff is rarely tailored for trans-masc people, so it’s hard for me to find things that fit, and when I do I hold on to them for dear life. My wardrobe’s pretty small and I repeat things. I wear trouser suits and jackets a lot which are fab as they are big and boxy. Sometimes I’ll not wear a binder and I love wearing wearing tight tanks which can feel like a bizarre or an unexpected direction for me. I just feel things out and try not to push myself too hard while I’m learning to love my body again. De-gendering my body is very important, I just wish I was rich so I could have everything perfectly tailored! 

My everyday outfit is soccer shorts, boxers, binder, loose T-shirt or tight tank, long socks, Nikes, watch, chain and rings. My ultimate dream outfit would be something from a men’s runway—a lot of that is unreal. I love simplistic but extremely classy styles with a bit of detail—not basic and boring… Another look I admire, if my body and dysphoria allow—is jeans, tucked-in white and tight tee, a good belt, chains, hair slicked back, probably Doc Martens, a leather jacket… a greaser basically. 

The hardest thing about modelling is being handled by and spoken to by a million people who don’t know anything about trans people, let alone non-binary people and I still dissociate on set, but I love doing it anyway. I like the work as well as educating others through my existence. I also sing, play most instruments, and do a bit of audio engineering, so my main goal is to release some music in the next few years. I’m building my home studio, I want to finish writing a memoir-aligned book, and a screenplay. I’m excited for the future!”