Trans model and activist Munroe Bergdorf makes Vogue list, celebrating women who are shaping modern Britain
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Vogue has included trans model and activist Munroe Bergdorf in its annual “Vogue 25” list, celebrating women who are shaping modern Britain.
Bergdorf, who began her transition in 2009, made history in 2017 as L’Oréal’s first transgender model and has served as an LGBTQ+ adviser to the Labour Party. Vogue praised her advocacy, stating that her voice is especially vital amid rising hate crimes and ongoing debates around trans rights.
The fashion mag claimed there “couldn’t be a more urgent time” for Bergdorf’s work highlighting the experiences of trans people.
The article read: “In a time when hate crimes against transgender people are frighteningly high, and anti-trans rhetoric continues to fester in the media and in the legal system… Bergdorf’s voice resonates louder than ever.”
The recognition comes shortly after a UK Supreme Court ruling clarified that, under the Equality Act 2010, the term “woman” refers to biological sex. Vogue noted that the decision has energised gender-critical activists, including author JK Rowling, who argues that women’s spaces should be reserved for those who are biologically female.
Bergdorf’s inclusion follows a broader trend of recognition for trans women. In 2024, she was named a UK Champion by UN Women UK. That same year, the BBC featured Colombian scientist Brigitte Baptiste in its “100 Women” list, and Cannes awarded its Best Actress prize to Spanish trans actress Karla Sofía Gascón for her role in Emily Perez. In 2023, Nepalese activist Rukshana Kapali was also honoured by the BBC after a legal battle to change her gender status.
