Hubbry Logo
Isis KingIsis KingMain
Open search
Isis King
Community hub
Isis King
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Isis King
Isis King
Isis King
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Isis King (born October 1, 1985) is an American model, actress, and fashion designer. King is most widely known for her role on both the eleventh cycle and the seventeenth cycle of the reality television show America's Next Top Model.[3] She was the first openly trans woman to compete on the show, and became one of the most visible transgender people on television.[4] King starred as Sol Perez on the Amazon Prime Video romantic comedy series With Love between 2021 and 2023.[5]

Key Information

Biography

[edit]

King was assigned male at birth but has stated, "mentally and everything else" she was "born female."[6] She has stated, people might refer to her as "transgender" or "transsexual", but she prefers the phrase "born in the wrong body".[6] While in high school, King came out as "gay" but later felt it was not an accurate label for her.[7]

King has an associate degree in design and illustration from the Art Institute of Philadelphia.[8] King moved to New York to begin her transition, but didn’t earn enough money to afford rent, and her family opposed her transition. As a result, she moved into the Ali Forney Center for homeless LGBTQ youth.[9]

In 2007, King appeared in an MSNBC special titled Born in the Wrong Body, which documented the lives of transgender teens from across the United States.[10] King began hormone replacement therapy in the summer of 2007, as part of her transitioning process.[8] She had gender reassignment surgery in 2009,[11] which she stated on America's Next Top Model: All-Stars.

Early career

[edit]

King had been runway modeling for seven years before participating in America's Next Top Model. Her experience included competing in the underground ball culture scene. In a promotional interview for ANTM, King stated she was looking forward to runway as she had been "walking" for seven years. Her post-show runway credits include the Amore Fashion Show, Howard University Homecoming Fashion Show, Colors Fall/Winter 2009–10 Line, Secret Society, and Images Fashion Show (for which she received an award).[citation needed]

She has also worked as a receptionist at a hair salon, and as a program assistant for a nonprofit organization.[12]

America's Next Top Model

[edit]

America's Next Top Model Cycle 10

[edit]

King was living at the Ali Forney Transitional Living Program when she learned about an upcoming photo shoot for the tenth cycle of America's Next Top Model.[13]

America's Next Top Model Cycle 11

[edit]

King asked ANTM art director Jay Manuel whether she could be accepted as a girl "born in the wrong body" if she were to audition as a contestant for the program.[13] After the shoot, show host and producer Tyra Banks had her staff search out King to encourage her to audition based on her performance in the photo shoot. King became one of fourteen finalists for the eleventh cycle of the show.[14][15] She became the fifth eliminated overall.

Isis King began posing for a photography set primarily concentrated on youth homelessness, which became the catalyst for her returning for cycle 17.[16]

America's Next Top Model Cycle 17: All-Stars

[edit]

After her first appearance on the show, King was selected to return to America's Next Top Model along with former fellow contestant Sheena Sakai to both represent their Cycle together on the first All-Star edition of the show along with twelve other returning models from past America's Next Top Model cycles. During her time on the show, she received one first call-out in the first week and was eliminated third after former Cycle 12 semifinalist and Cycle 14 contestant Angelea Preston survived her first-ever bottom two appearance.

Taz Tagore, co-founder of the Reciprocity Foundation, said that King had an agenda when participating in Cycle 17, she wanted to break the stigma and destroy the barriers for those who identify with the LGBTQ+ community. She became a role model for women in that community.[16]

After ANTM

[edit]

King appeared on The Tyra Banks Show twice. In her first appearance she discussed her life story further, along with fellow contestant Clark Gilmer. Banks surprised King by introducing her to Marci Bowers, a fellow trans woman and top gender reassignment surgeon, who offered her an all-expenses-paid surgery which was conducted in 2009.[17] New shots were taken after the surgery, which were revealed in King’s second appearance. King's transition to being anatomically female was deemed "complete." She also appeared on Larry King Live on July 25, 2009.[18] King competed in the seventeenth overall and first 'All Star' cycle of America's Next Top Model, which aired on the September 14, 2011. She was eliminated.

Since then King has worked with American Apparel, making her the first transgender person to do so.

In July 2015, Isis was a guest star on multiple episodes of the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

King played Gia in a guest role on season 7 of the Showtime show Shameless.

In Fall 2016, King's docu-series Strut, executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg, aired on the Oxygen Network. It followed five trans models, and documented King's move from New York to Los Angeles.

In 2019, she starred in the Netflix series When They See Us, created by Ava DuVernay, a series about the real story of the Central Park Five.[19] She plays Marci, the deceased older sister of Korey Wise. King said that playing this role is ‘like a magnifying glass on the world right now’(express online). King’s role is “relatable to who she is as a person.” She feels like transgender women of color are especially at risk of being the victim of murder, as Marci Wise suffered.[20]

In August 2019, King was the subject of a Deadline interview. In it she discussed trans visibility, acceptance, and other matters.[21]

On July 3, 2020, King appeared on fellow America's Next Top Model star Jay Manuel's weekly web chat, Jays Chat, to discuss the show's Cycle 11, on which she made her debut.[22]

King is now signed with AEFH Talent for Theatrical, and A3 Artist Agency for commercial work in Los Angeles. [23]

[edit]

King appeared in Us Weekly (September 2008), Seventeen magazine (December 2008/January 2009), Out magazine, Mallard International magazine, and the cover of the Spring 2010 Swerv magazine.[citation needed] King also did a variety of test shots that were used to promote her visit to The Tyra Banks Show. In 2012 she became American Apparel's first openly transgender model.[24] However, Media Advocates Giving National Equality to Transsexual & Transgender People (MAGNET), an anti-defamation organization dedicated to educating the media about transsexual, transgender, and intersex issues, launched an education campaign against the t-shirts King modeled because they say "Gay O.K.", which some feel is misleading since King is a straight transgender woman.[25] Chanel Jessica Lopez, a transsexual and transgender communities based counselor at New York City's Anti-Violence Project, called for a boycott of the t-shirts for the same reason.[25]

In 2014, King was featured on the fifth anniversary cover of C☆NDY magazine along with 13 other transgender women: Janet Mock, Carmen Carrera, Geena Rocero, Laverne Cox, Gisele Alicea, Leyna Ramous, Dina Marie, Nina Poon, Juliana Huxtable, Niki M'nray, Peche Di, Carmen Xtravaganza, and Yasmine Petty.[26]

Cultural impact

[edit]

King is one of a small but growing number of transgender people and characters in film and television, and her inclusion on ANTM has been called an "unprecedented opportunity" by Neil Giuliano, president of GLAAD.[27] By competing on the show, King has brought national and prime time attention to issues of gender transitioning and gender expression.[28][29] New York magazine has called King the cause célèbre of Cycle 11, comparing her to previous contestant "issues" featured on the show such as Cycle 9 contestant Heather Kuzmich's Asperger syndrome.[30] ANTM executive producer Ken Mok stated her casting was done in support of "redefin[ing] what beauty is," one of "Tyra's original missions" for the show.[31]

Due to the intimate nature of the program, which films the contestants living together during the several weeks of the competition, GLAAD spokesman Damon Romine noted "the show deals head on with the contestants confronting their own phobias. Facets of King's transitioning process have been portrayed in the show, such as her hormone injections and subsequent nausea.[30] There's going to be support, and the reverse of that. It opens the door for the other girls and the viewers to get to know King and the transgender community." Some of King's fellow contestants revealed prejudices and misunderstandings about transgender issues, and others commented about how her gender transitioning would be poorly received in their own small communities or in the southern United States.[14] Contestants have referred to King pejoratively as a "he/she" and a "drag queen".[32]

New York magazine noted that King is one of few transgender models in history to rise to public prominence, comparing her to Teri Toye, former club kid Amanda Lepore, and the gender-bending club promoter and model André J.[33] Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York, told ABC News that the time may be right for a transgender supermodel: "Maybe it's time for a tranny [sic] to end up on the cover of Vogue."[31]

Personal life

[edit]

King is a practising Christian, and attends Mosaic Church in Los Angeles.[34]

Her younger sister Chanel died as a baby after being born with all of her organs outside of her body. Because of that, Isis King has participated in the Catwalk for Cause, where all the proceeds go to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.[35]

In 2016, she began to focus on her acting and modeling skills and moved to Los Angeles.[36]

She is a motivational speaker and shares her experiences to schools across the country.[36]

King identifies as being on the asexual spectrum.[37]

Filmography

[edit]

Film and television

[edit]
Year Title Role Note
2007 Born in the Wrong Body 2: On the Edge Herself
2008 America's Next Top Model Self Cycle 11; 10th place
2010 Bella Maddo Cassandra Short film
2011 America's Next Top Model: All Stars Self Cycle 17; 12th place
2013 Hello Forever Rommy Film
2015 The Bold and the Beautiful Sonja 3 episodes
2016 Strut Self 6 episodes
2016 Shameless Gia Episode: "Own Your Sh*t"
2017 The Heart of a Woman Rosie Short film
2017-21 Hey Qween! Self Celebrity guest
2018 Grown Bea Episode: "Viral"
2019 Dark/Web Jersey Episode: "Chapter Two"
2019 When They See Us Marci Denise Wise Miniseries
2019 Savage X Fenty Show Herself Amazon Prime Video fashion special
2019 Stonewall Outloud Self Documentary short
2020 Equal Alexis HBO Max docuseries
2021 Good Trouble Brooke Episode: "Arraignment Day"
2021 The L Word: Generation Q Claudia Hanson Episode: "Launch Party"
2021-23 With Love Sol Perez Amazon Prime Video series;[38] Main role

Podcasts

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
Dec. 4, 2017 LGBTQ&A Herself "Isis King: Paris is Burning Changed My Life"
unknown Not So Glamorous Herself "I'm A Trans Model w/ Isis King"

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Isis King

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Isis King (born Darrell Walls; October 1, 1985) is an American fashion model, actress, and designer, born male in , who underwent transition to present as a and achieved prominence as the first such contestant on the reality competition during its eleventh cycle in 2008. King, who competed while disclosing her biological sex and transition process on the program, advanced to the final five before elimination, marking an early instance of visibility for transitioned individuals in mainstream modeling competitions. She returned for the seventeenth all-stars cycle in , further leveraging the platform to build a career that included runway appearances and campaigns. Beyond modeling, where she became the first transitioned model signed by and walked for designers including Fenty, King expanded into acting with roles in series such as (2019) and (2019–2023), alongside motivational speaking on personal perseverance. Her trajectory reflects determination amid challenges inherent to biological incongruence with professional standards in and .

Early Life and Background

Birth and Upbringing

Isis King was born Darrell Walls on October 1, 1985, in . Of African-American descent, she was born male but has described herself as mentally female from early childhood. King has recounted recognizing her difference from others by age four, though she initially lived as a gay male during her youth. Details on her family background remain limited in public records, with no verified information on parental occupations or siblings. She spent her early years in the Annapolis area of , where she developed an interest in modeling and .

Education and Formative Influences

King earned an associate's degree in from the Art Institute of following high school. While studying there, she began confiding in close friends about her and desire to live as a , marking a pivotal step in her personal development amid a supportive but limited circle. Her early interest in fashion, which drew her to design studies, stemmed from observations of gender dynamics in her predominantly upbringing, where she noted rigid expectations for men and women in her community. This environment, combined with an initial self-identification as during that she later reframed as incomplete, fostered a drive toward self-expression through creative fields like apparel and . These experiences underscored a formative tension between societal norms and innate identity, influencing her later pursuits in modeling and as avenues for authenticity. Records indicate attendance at , CUNY, where she participated in theatre programs around 2006, potentially broadening her exposure to performance and , though degree completion details remain unconfirmed in primary accounts.

Gender Transition and Pre-Modeling Years

Personal Transition Process

Isis King, born biologically , reported experiencing a disconnect between her internal sense of self and her outward presentation from a young age, initially navigating life as a before recognizing this did not align with her identity. She described knowing "who I was" but lacking the means or language to express it fully during her youth. King initiated her medical transition by beginning in the summer of 2007, which involved injections to induce female secondary sex characteristics. This step occurred amid personal hardships, including periods of and residence in for LGBTQ youth. She underwent sex reassignment surgery in 2009, a procedure that surgically altered her male genitalia to female configuration, performed with assistance from America's Next Top Model host and surgeon . At the time of her participation in Cycle 11 in 2008, King was pre-operative, with episodes depicting her self-administering hormone injections. By her return for Cycle 17 in 2011, the surgery was complete, marking the culmination of her physical transition process.

Early Career Attempts

Prior to her appearance on America's Next Top Model, King pursued opportunities in fashion design following her associate's degree from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. She relocated to New York City to establish herself in the industry, focusing on both design work and initial runway modeling endeavors amid her gender transition, which included beginning hormone replacement therapy in the summer of 2007. These efforts were marked by significant hardships, including periods of homelessness in New York City as she navigated the competitive fashion landscape as a Black transgender woman. King later recounted being advised during this time that her limited viable employment options were confined to sex work, reflecting the barriers she encountered in securing professional fashion roles. Despite these obstacles, she persisted in auditioning and building a portfolio, culminating in her casting for America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 in 2008, which she described as an opportunity to launch her career.

America's Next Top Model Participation

Cycle 11 (2008)

Isis King competed in Cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model, which premiered on September 3, 2008, on The CW network. The cycle featured 14 finalists selected from initial auditions, with challenges focused on photo shoots, runway walks, and commercial tasks judged by Tyra Banks, Nigel Barker, J. Alexander, and guest panelists. King entered the competition as the first contestant to openly identify as a transgender woman, revealing her status to housemates after arriving at the model loft in New York City. In the first photo shoot, themed around political and voting issues, King earned second place for her performance, demonstrating strong initial potential and earning praise from judges for her poised expressions. Subsequent challenges included a hot air balloon shoot and makeovers, where her adaptability was tested amid group dynamics. However, tensions arose as some contestants expressed discomfort or made disparaging remarks about her identity, highlighting interpersonal conflicts within the house. King's progress was hindered by her reluctance to pose in swimsuit-themed shoots, reflecting personal boundaries related to her transition. King was eliminated in episode 5, finishing in 10th place after a panel critique that emphasized her inconsistent commercial appeal despite earlier strengths. Upon departure, judges commended her resilience and representation of the LGBT community, noting her trailblazing presence as a step toward greater inclusion in fashion modeling. Her participation garnered media attention for challenging norms in a high-stakes competition, though critics later questioned whether production elements, including back-to-back swimsuit challenges, influenced her early exit. Despite the elimination, King's visibility on the show marked a precedent for future participants in mainstream .

Cycle 17: All-Stars (2011)

King returned as one of 14 contestants for Cycle 17, subtitled All-Stars, which premiered on on September 14, 2011, and featured models from prior cycles competing for a second chance at the title. Originally from Cycle 11, the 25-year-old model from , entered at 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) tall, aiming to showcase growth in her modeling abilities after her earlier elimination in 10th place. The premiere episode's photo challenge required contestants to revisit personas from their original cycles, with King's theme centered on "confidence." She described channeling this attribute during the shoot, emphasizing personal evolution since her debut. In the subsequent episode, participants underwent makeovers and completed a photoshoot posing with hot dogs as props, evaluated by guest judge , where King focused on adapting to the creative demands. King was eliminated in episode 3, aired September 29, 2011, finishing in 12th place as the third contestant cut from the competition. Panel judges, including , critiqued her recent photos for lacking the commercial versatility and high-fashion edge needed to compete against more experienced all-stars, despite her initial efforts to demonstrate improvement. Her early exit highlighted the intensified competition among returning finalists and fan favorites, where prior visibility did not guarantee advancement without consistently strong panel performances.

Post-ANTM Professional Career

Modeling Engagements

King participated in the advertising campaign in June 2012, becoming the brand's first openly model. She walked the for Rihanna's during on September 10, 2019, at in , New York, alongside models including and Aquaria. King has also walked runways for designers including Christian Cowan and . Her modeling work post-ANTM has primarily featured in inclusive brand presentations emphasizing diversity, though major high-fashion campaigns or extensive runway seasons remain limited based on available records.

Acting Roles and Appearances

King's acting debut came with minor roles in established television series. In 2009, she portrayed Marsha in an episode of . This was followed by a guest appearance as a waitress in the 2012 musical drama Smash. Her breakthrough in scripted television occurred in 2019 with the role of Norman (Denise) Wise, the sister of one of the exonerated Central Park Five defendants, in the Netflix miniseries When They See Us, directed by and nominated for multiple Emmys. That same year, she appeared as Claudia Hanson in episodes of on Showtime. Also in 2019, King played Jersey in the anthology series on . In 2020, she took on the role of Alexis in the HBO miniseries Equal, which examined LGBTQ+ history. King later appeared as Brooke in Good Trouble on Freeform. Since 2021, she has starred as Sol Perez, a key character in the multigenerational With Love on , appearing across multiple seasons. King is set to appear as Megan in the upcoming 2025 film Marcie's. Beyond scripted work, she has made appearances as herself in projects like the 2019 documentary Stonewall Outloud and the Rihanna-produced specials.

Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship

King studied at the Art Institute of , where she earned an in design and illustration. During her senior year of high school, she designed and sewed 24 outfits for a , also instructing models on runway techniques. Following her appearances on America's Next Top Model, King expanded into independent . In 2012, she announced intentions to launch her own fashion line, emphasizing her prior experience customizing clothing for personal use. That year, she presented initial designs, marking her transition from modeling to creating apparel. King's most documented collection debuted as the Fall/Winter 2013 women's line, featured during . She personally sketched, drafted, and sewed each piece to realize her vision, with an aesthetic described as sexy, bold, futuristic, and fun. The collection received positive reception, prompting plans for a successor line. By 2015, sources referenced her establishment of a personal fashion line, influenced by designers such as and . Entrepreneurial efforts in have remained boutique-scale, integrated into her broader as a model and speaker via her website, which promotes her design work alongside motivational content. King has sporadically shared custom designs on , including a self-sewn outfit for a 2024 event, indicating ongoing but non-commercialized creative output rather than a sustained business enterprise. No large-scale retail launches or revenue figures from design ventures are publicly detailed.

Activism and Public Commentary

Advocacy for Transgender Visibility

King's appearance on America's Next Top Model Cycle 11 in 2008 represented an early breakthrough for transgender visibility on network television, as she competed as the first openly woman, reaching the top 5 and thereby exposing millions of viewers to a transgender competitor in a high-stakes modeling contest. This participation drew both support from organizations like and criticism from some contestants, but it shifted perceptions by humanizing transgender experiences in fashion and entertainment. Following her return for Cycle 17 (All-Stars) in , where she placed 12th, King leveraged her platform in media interviews to for sustained representation, noting in 2019 that her on ANTM inspired a younger generation of individuals despite ongoing barriers in Hollywood. In discussions around her role as Marci in Netflix's (2019), she stressed the need for broader trans inclusion in casting and narratives, arguing that authentic portrayals counteract marginalization. King has used acting roles to further visibility efforts, such as in Max's Equal (2020), where she depicted composite figures from transgender activism history, emphasizing education on overlooked LGBTQ+ struggles and the necessity of speaking out against erasure. In the Freeform series With Love (2021), she advocated expanding conversations around pronouns and representation to promote empathy, while acknowledging persistent underrepresentation of transgender women. Through these outlets, King has consistently highlighted intersections of identity with race, critiquing siloed approaches to and calling for unified efforts to address violence and economic disparities faced by communities, as detailed in her 2019 reflections on personal success amid broader trans losses. Her work prioritizes empirical visibility over abstract policy, focusing on media as a tool for normalization rather than institutional reforms.

Critiques Within Transgender Community

Isis King's participation in American Apparel's 2012 LGBT Pride campaign, which featured her as one of the first openly models in a national advertisement for the brand, drew some criticism from within the transgender community. The ads prominently displayed her modeling t-shirts emblazoned with slogans like "Legalize " and " OK," aimed at supporting gay rights. As a heterosexual transgender woman—attracted to men—King's involvement prompted debate among some community members, who argued that the campaign blurred distinctions between transgender and male identities, potentially misrepresenting trans experiences in gay-centric advocacy. Critics viewed it as an inappropriate alignment, questioning whether straight trans women should front messaging tied to homosexual legalization efforts. Despite the campaign's broader acclaim for increasing trans visibility in partnership with and marking a milestone for representation in , the specific imagery fueled inter-community discussions on representational boundaries within the wider LGBTQ spectrum. No large-scale backlash emerged, and remained niche, highlighting tensions over intersectional rather than King's overall activism. King has not publicly responded to these critiques, focusing instead on her advocacy for trans inclusion in modeling and media.

Controversies and Criticisms

Treatment During ANTM Competitions

During Cycle 11 of in 2008, Isis King faced insensitive and transphobic comments from several contestants upon her introduction as the first openly competitor. For instance, contestants questioned her with remarks such as "Are you all female?", to which King replied, "Physically was I born female? No." Clark Gilmer expressed by stating, "If it comes between me and my goal, I will stomp that man right out of the ," reflecting attitudes that treated King's as a competitive threat. Hannah White also made comments questioning King's womanhood. In contrast, the production team and judges, led by Tyra Banks, provided visible support by emphasizing King's role in broadening beauty standards to include transgender women. Banks personally facilitated King's access to a surgeon for her transition during the cycle and featured her on The Tyra Banks Show to discuss her experiences. King performed strongly early on, securing second place in the initial photo shoot challenge, but was eliminated in episode 5, placing 10th overall out of 14 contestants. King has described the cycle's treatment as including hurtful and unfair elements amid her ongoing transition, which ultimately built her resilience and sparked broader conversations on visibility. She expressed lasting gratitude for the opportunity's impact, stating her presence as an open woman "pulled the curtain back" on trans issues for contestants and audiences, despite the show's imperfections. King returned for Cycle 17 (All-Stars) in 2011, by which time she had undergone gender confirmation surgery in 2009, and competed among returning models but was eliminated early in episode 3, placing 12th out of 14. Specific contestant interactions received less public scrutiny than in Cycle 11, with King later noting the overall ANTM experience advanced trans representation without detailing further hostilities.

Debates on Transgender Inclusion in Women's Modeling

In Cycle 11, which aired in 2008, 's participation as the first openly woman contestant prompted immediate backlash from fellow competitors, who questioned her eligibility in the women's competition on grounds of biological sex. Contestants including Utter and expressed views that King, having transitioned after male , did not belong in the category, with remarks such as Utter's on-camera statement that the show should feature only biological women to maintain category integrity. These objections highlighted early tensions in modeling over whether women could fairly represent or compete alongside women, given immutable differences like broader shoulders and narrower hips retained from male skeletal development. Host defended King's inclusion, emphasizing that modeling evaluates projected femininity and marketability rather than birth biology, a stance that aligned with the show's push for diversity but drew criticism for overlooking sex-based aesthetic standards in women's fashion. Viewer complaints echoed contestant sentiments, with some arguing that King's presence disadvantaged women by blurring sex-segregated categories designed to showcase female-specific proportions and appeal. Banks addressed in episodes, framing objections as rooted in ignorance rather than legitimate fairness concerns, though this narrative has been critiqued in retrospect for prioritizing visibility over empirical differences in body morphology that influence in high-fashion and segments. King later reflected in 2025 that her participation "should not have been as controversial as it was," attributing debates to societal unfamiliarity with experiences rather than inherent competitive inequities. Broader industry discussions post-ANTM have seen limited but persistent pushback against inclusion in women's categories, as evidenced by executive Ed Razek's 2018 comments rejecting trans models for the brand's "fantasy" focus on biological ideals, which prioritize pre-pubertal traits like softer over transitioned bodies. Despite such views, inclusion advocates argue that modeling's subjective nature accommodates diverse expressions of , though empirical data on booking rates remains sparse, with trans models often tokenized rather than equitably integrated. Critics, including some models and gender-critical commentators, maintain that uncritical inclusion risks eroding sex-based standards, potentially reducing opportunities for biological women in a visually competitive field where male-puberty advantages in height and frame can confer perceived edges in certain bookings.

Personal Life

Relationships and Engagement

King accepted a marriage proposal from her boyfriend Desmond, a graphic designer, on March 31, 2009, during a taping of . The on-air proposal followed nearly three and a half years of between the couple, with King describing Desmond as embodying everything she sought in a partner. No or announcements confirm a subsequent or the continuation of the beyond initial reports. Some secondary sources referred to Desmond as her fiancé into the , though without updated verification. Prior to her public transition, King exited an abusive relationship that she later credited with providing the resolve to pursue her openly. In subsequent years, she has spoken of broader relational challenges, including in a 2014 where she attributed difficulties in to her birth and status. By 2022, King highlighted how public visibility as a woman complicated romantic pursuits amid financial instability.

Health, Identity, and Daily Life

Isis King, born biologically male on March 11, 1985, recognized a mismatch between her internal sense of self and physical body from age four. She publicly identifies as a transgender woman, emphasizing that transgender identity pertains primarily to one's internal gender experience rather than necessitating physical alteration, though she distinguishes this from transsexualism, which she associates with bodily changes to align with the opposite sex. Her transition process began in earnest in her early twenties after relocating to specifically for medical support. King initiated in the summer of 2007, which she continued at reduced doses following surgery. In 2009, she underwent sex reassignment surgery, a procedure funded by and lasting four hours and fifteen minutes; she described subsequent swelling and bruising but reported immediate feelings of greater comfort, confidence, and sexiness, likening it to something she was "supposed to have." followed approximately one year later. No complications from these interventions have been publicly reported, and King has expressed acceptance of her post-transition body without pursuing additional anti-aging or cosmetic procedures. Public details on King's daily routines remain limited, with her accounts focusing instead on the ongoing, lifelong nature of influencing personal growth and interactions. She has highlighted challenges in romantic relationships, noting that men often disengage upon learning of her and pre-transition life, compounded by her fame. King maintains consistency in her self-perception pre- and post-transition, prioritizing positivity, motivation through advocacy, and support for others facing similar experiences over rigid daily structures.

Legacy and Assessment

Achievements and Barriers Broken

Isis King achieved prominence in 2008 as the first openly woman to compete on (ANTM) during Cycle 11, advancing to the final five contestants in a competition that aired on Network. This participation marked a milestone for transgender visibility in mainstream fashion media, as King transitioned from and prior underground runway experience to national exposure on a top-rated modeling show hosted by . Her selection challenged prevailing industry norms, which at the time rarely featured women in competitive formats aimed at female models. King returned for ANTM Cycle 17 (All-Stars) in 2011, becoming the first transgender contestant to appear in multiple cycles and further solidifying her role in pushing boundaries within reality television modeling. Post-ANTM, she secured modeling opportunities that extended her influence, including runway work and features that highlighted transgender inclusion, though high-fashion bookings for transgender women remained limited compared to cisgender peers. These efforts contributed to incremental progress, with King later reflecting that her visibility helped normalize transgender participation in fashion competitions, despite ongoing debates about biological sex distinctions in women's divisions. Beyond modeling, King's barriers extended to , where she portrayed roles in series like (2019) and Good Trouble (2019–2023), representing characters in scripted television and broadening her impact on media representation. However, her achievements are contextualized by the fashion industry's selective progress; while she opened doors symbolically, systemic preferences for aesthetics persisted, as evidenced by the scarcity of women headlining major seasons in subsequent years.

Limitations, Criticisms, and Broader Context

King's trailblazing role on Cycle 11 in 2009 elevated visibility in , yet it simultaneously revealed entrenched transphobia within the modeling competition format, as fellow contestants directed derogatory remarks toward her, which she later characterized as "hurtful." This exposure underscored limitations in the show's approach to inclusion, with King reflecting in 2025 that while it "pulled the curtain back" for trans models, ANTM itself "was not perfect." Within the transgender community, King's experiences prompted external critiques of the program's dynamics; comedian , in a 2025 interview, condemned the "" among contestants for mistreating her and "justifying the harm," arguing it reflected broader accountability failures in entertainment portrayals of trans individuals. King has also voiced internal community tensions by publicly challenging Caitlyn Jenner's advocacy in 2017, accusing her of overlooking intersectional challenges faced by trans people of color, such as compounded racial and economic disadvantages, in favor of a narrower focus on high-profile visibility. In broader context, King's legacy highlights the gap between increased media representation and substantive industry progress for models; despite her barriers-breaking participation, trans individuals—especially trans women—remain among the most marginalized and underpaid groups in , with persistent barriers including limited high-fashion bookings and scrutiny over biological sex in women's categories. Her 2009 sex reassignment surgery and subsequent roles in projects like advanced personal milestones but did not fully mitigate systemic exclusions, as evidenced by ongoing debates over equitable inclusion criteria that prioritize empirical standards like post-surgical physiology over self-identification alone. This reflects causal realities in modeling, where commercial viability often hinges on unaltered female archetypes, limiting the scalability of visibility-driven advocacy without addressing biological and market-driven constraints.

References

  1. https://nationaltoday.com/birthday/isis-king/
  2. https://ethnicelebs.com/isis-king
  3. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3109027/
  4. https://www.kingisis.com/
  5. https://shop.mayvenn.com/blogs/blog/model-and-actress-isis-king-talks-trans-beauty-visibility
  6. https://www.tuko.co.ke/403450-isis-king-bio-partner-net-worth-movies-tv-shows.html
  7. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2759147/Transgender-model-f
  8. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/isis-king_b_2948579
  9. https://andscape.com/features/isis-king-continues-to-break-ground-with-love/
  10. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/isis-king.html
  11. https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2008/sep/28/transgender-model-isis-king-becomes-a-tv/
  12. https://www.hunter.cuny.edu/pending-migration/communications/at-hunter-spring-2006.pdf
  13. https://library.hunter.cuny.edu/sites/default/files/documents/archives/commencements/193rd_commencement_06012006.pdf
  14. https://people.com/tv/isis-king-transgender-top-model-blogs-antm-all-stars-premiere/
  15. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/isis-king-transgender-star-americas-next-top-model
  16. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C36IVA4v8Ug/
  17. https://www.southcoasttoday.com/story/entertainment/television/2008/10/01/living-true-america-s-next/52247392007/
  18. https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/national-international/transgender-contestant-returns-to-americas-next-top-model/1909843/
  19. https://antm.fandom.com/wiki/Isis_King
  20. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/model-isis-king-talks-her-transition-homelessness_b_59477eaae4b0940f84fe301e
  21. https://deadline.com/2019/08/when-they-see-us-isis-king-interview-lgbtq-trans-diversity-inclusion-ava-duvernay-netflix-1202666053/
  22. https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2008/09/30/model_in_the_middle_americas_next_top_mo/
  23. https://www.episodate.com/tv-show/america-s-next-top-model?season=11
  24. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/america-s-next-top-model/s11
  25. https://ew.com/antm-trans-model-isis-king-reflects-cycle-11-11700391
  26. https://www.businessinsider.com/americas-next-top-model-controversy-scandals
  27. https://nz.news.yahoo.com/americas-next-top-model-alum-184805422.html
  28. https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=6280233
  29. https://antm.fandom.com/wiki/Cycle_17
  30. https://people.com/tv/isis-king-transgender-top-model-blogs-antm-all-stars-episode-2/
  31. https://www.realitytvworld.com/news/isis-king-cut-from-america-next-top-model-all-stars-edition-12724.php
  32. https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/americas-next-top-model-recap-not-isis-nooooo-68926/
  33. https://www.eonline.com/news/322221/transgender-america-s-next-top-model-catwalker-isis-king-goes-to-work-on-american-apparel-campaign
  34. https://www.out.com/fashion/2019/9/20/was-rihannas-savage-x-fenty-queerest-show-fashion-week
  35. https://www.eonline.com/news/1075076/8-must-see-moments-from-rihanna-s-savage-x-fenty-show
  36. https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion/14-trans-models-fashion-industry-representation
  37. https://www.instagram.com/msisisking/
  38. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3819827/
  39. https://watch.plex.tv/person/isis-king-1
  40. https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/isis-king/credits/3000114281/
  41. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1224557-isis-king?language=en-US
  42. https://tv.apple.com/us/person/isis-king/umc.cpc.1q8nocsjuj9rec9pp9lt1hlk
  43. https://www.oxygen.com/people/isis-king
  44. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/isis-king-transgender-model-fashion-design_n_2079230
  45. https://www.kingisis.com/fashion-designing
  46. https://www.instagram.com/p/C4jSKu1PaJC/
  47. https://inmagazine.ca/2023/09/flashback-isis-king-becomes-the-first-trans-woman-to-compete-on-antm-september-3-2008/
  48. https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2019/7/25/isis-king-no-longer-just-trans-contestant-top-model
  49. https://lovelyti.com/2019/06/19/isis-king-talks-when-they-see-us-becoming-marci-trans-visibility/
  50. https://www.eonline.com/news/1206554/for-equals-isis-king-its-vital-to-speak-up-about-transgender-representation
  51. https://zora.medium.com/the-fight-is-not-ours-alone-30146da6b15
  52. https://www.transgenderhistorymonth.com/tht/isis-king
  53. https://glaad.org/americanapparel/
  54. https://www.hellomagazine.com/film/20211224129660/antm-with-love-star-isis-king-trans-representation-hurtful-comments/
  55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvvd9RZku0I
  56. https://www.reddit.com/r/ANTM/comments/1dmkwvx/rewatching_cycle_11_isis/
  57. https://collider.com/americas-next-top-model-problematic/
  58. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/victorias-secret-backlash-ed-razeks-comments-trans-size-models-spark-outrage-1160446/
  59. https://www.voguebusiness.com/fashion/how-fashion-can-lead-on-trans-and-non-binary-inclusion
  60. https://www.reddit.com/r/rant/comments/a3kzo2/stop_pressuring_victoria_secret_to_have_trans/
  61. https://people.com/celebrity/top-model-contestant-isis-king-gets-engaged-on-tv/
  62. https://www.nosugarnocreammag.com/post/2019/09/07/getting-out-of-an-abusive-relationship-helped-isis-king-transition
  63. https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/the-love-connection-isis-king/776469340140290/
  64. https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/itop-modeli-contestant-opens-up-about-sex-change-surgery-2009273/
  65. https://www.thecut.com/article/what-helped-me-through-transition.html
  66. https://mytransgenderdate.com/blog/2025/10/isis-king-antms-transgender-model-to-global-supermodel
  67. https://www.arizonafoothillsmagazine.com/people/interviews-profiles/isis-king-equality-influence-and-media-representation
  68. https://ew.com/bob-the-drag-queen-slams-mean-girls-antm-trans-model-isis-king-11799769
  69. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/02/28/trans-model-isis-king-calls-caitlyn-jenner/
  70. https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/isis-king-interview-on-being-a-role-model-48027410
  71. https://teenvogue.com/story/isis-king-transgender-star-americas-next-top-model
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.