--- title: Model Nathan Westling Comes Out as Trans description: Model Nathan Westling, known for his work for high-fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Marc Jacobs, has come out as a trans man. canonical: https://time.com/5555051/model-nathan-westling-comes-out/ author: Cady Lang article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2019-03-20T17:38:24.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:47:10.033Z og:title: Model Nathan Westling Comes Out as Transgender og:description: "I'm not trying to be something I'm not anymore" og:url: https://time.com/5555051/model-nathan-westling-comes-out/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95d6a0ab54bfb729/698946f522fb85860de27f66/nathan-westling-comes-out-transgender-model.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 2000 og:image:height: 1125 og:image:alt: Nathan-Westling-comes-out-transgender-model og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Model Nathan Westling Comes Out as Transgender twitter:description: "I'm not trying to be something I'm not anymore" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt95d6a0ab54bfb729/698946f522fb85860de27f66/nathan-westling-comes-out-transgender-model.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Model Nathan Westling Comes Out as Transgender > Sponsored content. 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Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=1d3227d9-6cc0-4cac-ba58-0197e23a3807&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Laverne Cox Will Show You the Long, Intense Fight for Transgender Rights [Watch (HLS stream): Laverne Cox Will Show You the Long, Intense Fight for Transgender Rights](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/tfCdqzk6.m3u8) (3:57)  _Published 2017-08-09. Narrated by Laverne Cox and illustrated by Molly Crabapple_  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Mar 20, 2019 5:38 PM UTC  Photo by Collier Schorr  by [Cady Lang](https://time.com/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Mar 20, 2019 5:38 PM UTC Model Nathan Westling has come out as a [trans man](http://time.com/transgender-men-sexism/). Westling, a fashion industry favorite known for working with luxury labels like Louis Vuitton, Prada, Saint Laurent, and Marc Jacobs, opened up about his decision to transition in an interview with [_CNN Style_ ](https://www.cnn.com/style/article/nathan-westling-transgender-model/index.html)on Tuesday. “It feels like I’ve been wearing like a mask my whole life,” Westling said. “Once I removed that mask, it was like I was finally… I don’t know. I’m not wearing a skin that I don’t feel I am anymore. I’m not playing a persona; I’m not trying to be something I’m not anymore. I don’t feel like I’m stuck in this weird moment of having to be in-between.” Westling shared that he’s been taking testosterone for six months and has plans to get top surgery to reconstruct his chest. He also talked about how his experience modeling helped him consider his trans identity. “Working as a model, you know, a lot of people ask, ‘Did that screw with you? Did that hurt you?'” he said. “(Modeling) was cool to me because I’ve always been playing a character, a persona, my whole life. So to be able to be put in all this different hair and makeup, I was able to discover myself as well, and see myself as so many different things; to really know that this is who I should be and the path I should take.” Westling, who made his debut as a model in 2013 on the Marc Jacobs runway, says that he’s received support from the designers he’s worked closely with in the past and has a magazine cover shoot in the works; however, he’s taking things one day at time when it comes to thinking about the future of his career. “I’m not worried about it,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a good change and I’m excited for it. I’m really, really excited.” ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] On a hot night in June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, New York. But this time rather than be arrested the queens and street kids fought back. Back. The riots that ensued are considered the beginning of the LGBTQ movement in America. But, the movement has much deeper roots. Three years before stonewalled in August 1966, trans people at Compton's Cafeteria in San Francisco also rioted against the police. Late at night when trans people congregated there, police would routinely harass them in their sanctuary. But on this night, led by trans women and friends of color, the community resisted. Similar but lesser known uprisings occurred in Los Angeles at Cooper's Donuts in 1959 and at The Black Cat in 1967. And in Philadelphia at Dewey's restaurant in 1965. There are probably many other such events to be uncovered, that remind us of our courageous history of resisting institutionalized bullying and oppression. In the decades that followed, trans people largely remained in the shadows, quietly contributing to society. Our community was still denied employment, housing, healthcare and legal protection, essentially the basic right to live. Yet even when they were criminalized by anti- cross dressing and anti- loitering laws, Transcestors, including Miss Major, Marsha P Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Flawless Sabrina survived. They all spent time in jail because they dared to be themselves when our society made it a crime to deviate from gender norms. But time marched forward, and so did they, passing along their survival strategies. And today, trans people are more visible than ever Though our lives and bodies are sometimes celebrated, we remain more often targeted. In school, harassment often forces trans students to drop out. Federal and state government's act as bullies too. Now ascending guidance to schools on how to protect trans students and passing harmful laws banning trans students from common restrooms. Epidemics of homelessness HIV and incarceration, constraining the survival opportunities for trans women of color. The murder rate of trans women of color increases with every passing year. Rather than invest in our survival, the new administration has attempted to both literally and figuratively delete us and has ignored requests to investigate the escalating violence against us. Only 18 states explicitly and comprehensively protect trans people from discrimination, many other state law makers are focused at targeting us for more discrimination. In 2017 law makers in 22 states introduced more than 50 bills restricting the rights of trans people. Even as these law makers signal that we are not worthy of protection we persevere. This device had already spent years in dark places wrestling with our truth dealing ashamed of who we are. But when we manage to survive and even to love our selves, we are stronger than ever. thrice these law makers cannot erase this. Our rights would be heard one But we are winning. Our community is resilient and our history of resistance runs deep. Following in the footsteps of Flawless, Major, Sylvia, Marcia. We fight back the way they did. We take care of each other. We tell our stories and we demand justice. Join the fight, in court, in state legislature, in the streets. In the voting booths. Resistance is our birth right. [ UNKNOWN ] From our elders. We carry the lessons of Cooper, Stonewall, Compton's and the many strategies that continue to give us hope and life. We have always existed and we will continue to fight until we are all safe and free. 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