Laverne Cox: I used to want facial surgery, but not any more
Trans actress Laverne Cox has spoken more about fitting into “cisnormative beauty standards”.
After Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover was revealed, Ms Cox wrote a blog post criticising the focus on trans people’s appearances, and whether they conform to gender expectations.
She said: “Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities.
“A year ago when my Time magazine cover came out I saw posts from many trans folks saying that I am “drop dead gorgeous” and that that doesn’t represent most trans people.
“They meant is that in certain lighting, at certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards.
“Many trans folks don’t want to embody [these standards] and we shouldn’t have to to be seen as ourselves and respected as ourselves.”
In an interview with the Guardian, Ms Cox explained “I thought there was a conversation that was not being had.
“It was about me wanting to acknowledge all those trans folks out there who don’t have access to health care, who don’t embody cisnormative beauty standards, even that cisnormative beauty standards are deeply problematic.”
She went on to say: “I’ve been picking myself apart my whole life.
“Years ago, I wanted really highly invasive surgical procedures to feminise my face.
“All these years later, I have the money to do it, but I don’t want it. I don’t want it! I’m happy that this is the face that God gave me, and it’s imperfect.”
She recently spoke about how her Orange is the New Black character had helped a woman accept her trans daughter.
She is soon to get her very own Madam Tussards waxwork.
