You may not know Ines Rau, but soon, if she realizes her second dream, the French trans model will be a household name.
It has taken some six decades, but in a first for the media company the late Hugh Hefner built, the magazine is featuring a transgender Playmate, according to a new Breitbart report. Ines, a 26-year-old fashion model has become Playboy’s first trans Playmate since its inception in 1953.
Ines Rau is featured in the November, 2017, issue that pays tribute to Hefner who passed away weeks ago. The late founder graces the magazine’s cover. He was 91 at the time of his death.
Ines was over the moon and expressed sheer elation at the honor of becoming Playboy’s first transgender Playmate. Rau took to social media and shared the news with her growing legion of fans.
According to an announcement from the magazine, Ines Rau, who is known in the fashion community — having rocked her inner-fierce on catwalks and appeared in high-fashion mags like Vogue Italia — appeared in a previous edition of Playboy .
In 2014, photographer Ryan McGinley shot fully nude images of Ines for the Playboy “Evolution” spread. She represented the shifting paradigm in American society that had edged closer to accepting gender as fluid, rather than polarized or binary in scope. Ines said the moment was a turning point in her life.
“It’s how I celebrated my coming out, actually. I took that chance, and then I signed with an agency.
“I always knew from within, when I was a little kid in my room in the ghetto, that a beautiful destiny was waiting for me. I don’t know how to explain it. A little voice was telling me, ‘You’ll see. Patience.’”
Ines is a self-described “tenacious advocate” for a multitude of social issues. While she is a fervent supporter of women’s and LGBTQ rights, Rau’s deepest passion is planetary conservation.
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
“Nothing touches me more than fighting against global warming. I was made to fight for the planet — the forest, the animals, the air. If I get famous, that’s my first battle.”
Ines grew up in a Paris ghetto. Early on, she struggled with her sexuality. Rau had many “dates” over the years and tried to fight off feelings of being different — “weird” as she describes it. Then, she had an epiphany that changed her outlook on life.
“Then I was like, You know, you should just be who you are. It’s a salvation to speak the truth about yourself, whether it’s your gender, sexuality, whatever. The people who reject you aren’t worth it. It’s not about being loved by others; it’s about loving yourself.”
As the magazine describes her appearance, Ines, who has “sculpted bone structure and dagger-sharp cheekbones,” is petite in stature. However, she has “poise” and a strong resolve that has helped her cope with adversities on many levels.
Today, the “hippie” and “tomboy”-turned-trans- Playboy -Playmate lives in New York. She’s “feeling sexy” and is looking forward to the next chapter in her life.
Ines Rau admits that it still hasn’t sunk in that she is the first transgender Playboy Playmate. To Ines, it’s a “compliment” and an honor to represent the evolution of Playboy .
“Am I really going to be a [trans] Playmate—me? It’s the most beautiful compliment I’ve ever received. It’s like getting a giant bouquet of roses.”
[Featured Image by Victor Boyko/Getty Images]