Trans model Aydian Dowling has some strong words for his critics
The trans model and advocate has hit out at those who criticise his body.
Aydian Dowling has spoken out against those who attack his body and looks online.
The trans bodybuilder – who has won countless fans due to his impressive physique – says he has grown tired of the hate he receives, simply because he is not cisgender.
In a lengthy Instagram post, Dowling revealed he is regularly told to “put a shirt on”.
“It’s a pretty common thing said to me. It makes me wonder – is it because I was born female that so many people insist having my shirt off is me being ‘topless’?
He goes on to compare himself to cisgender men, who Dowling says receive very little criticism despite posting countless topless pictures across social media platforms, “no matter the age, size, colour, anything.”
“But once transmen who work their ass off to AFFORD top surgery start posting shirtless photos – it’s now seen as ‘too much’ or ‘topless’.
Dowling concluded by giving his followers some inspiring advice.
“I say- TAKE YOUR SHIRT OFF! You aren’t too fat. You aren’t too skinny. You aren’t not ‘manly’ enough.
“You aren’t too black or too white. You aren’t post-op? Who cares?! You are female identifying? Who cares?!
‘I say #freethenipple! Or maybe you don’t even have nipples?! Let those non nipple chests out of their cages!
“STOP letting people make you feel SHAME because you are confident in yourself enough to be shirtless.”
Dowling rose to prominence last year, as he competed to become the first trans man to appear on the cover of Men’s Health magazine.
He eventually finished as runner up in the competition, but still appeared in a special spread in the mag.
Dowling founded BeefHeads Fitness, a YouTube channel geared toward transgender individuals who want to get fit and healthy.
