Shay Neary | |
---|---|
Born | 1987or1988(age 37–38) [1] Poconos, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Alma mater | Keystone College |
Occupation | Fashion model |
Modeling information | |
Hair color | Auburn |
Eye color | Brown |
Agency | Unsigned |
Website | shayneary |
Shay Neary is an American fashion model. She is known as the first transgender plus-size model to be featured in a major fashion campaign. [2] [3] [4]
Neary was born and raised in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania. [3] [5] During high school, she identified as a gay man, and performed in drag. [3] A transgender friend of her mother suggested to Neary that she might also be trans. [3]
Neary attended Keystone College in northeastern Pennsylvania, [5] [6] and started her transition to female during her freshman year there. [3] In 2012, she received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Rainbow Alliance. [6] Neary later moved to New York, as she had difficulty accessing hormones while in college. [3]
In 2016, Neary was signed by the fashion brand Coverstory, becoming the first openly trans plus-size model to land a major campaign. [2] Coverstory founder Heidi Kan found Neary through the Transmodel agency after a lengthy search. [7] In 2017, Neary came to the UK to model for the plus-size brand Yours Clothing. [8] [9] [10]
Neary has spoken out against transphobia and fat-shaming she has experienced in online dating communities. [1] [11]