When Australian transgender model Riley Minford was walking the runway at Miami Swim Week on June 1 she said: “You can call me Miss Miami Swim until further notice.”
Riley, who is based in Sydney and has nearly 75,000 Instagram followers, called the experience a “dream come true.” She walked in the Oh Polly show wearing a red cutout swimsuit and a revealing white bikini. She admitted she was nervous at first, but quickly found her confidence.
The model said: “I was absolutely terrified but I got on that runway and ate it up”.
Riley, who is half Filipino, said it felt special to represent Australia at such a major fashion event. “It felt so special being flown across the world to walk and I hope I did my duty.”
While some online critics called her appearance “misogynistic,” many fans praised her confidence, calling her an “icon” and predicting big things for her future in modeling.
Riley has been open about the struggles she faced growing up. She said her mother knew she was transgender early on but didn’t offer support.
“She’d say to me, ‘Riley, I knew if you were gay or trans, you’d d*e sad and alone, or she’d tell me that she was worried I’d get AIDS and die with just a cat for company.”
Her father wasn’t around much but did support her financially. Riley said she began feeling more comfortable with herself in high school while attending a private Christian co-ed school. She wanted to transition during that time but knew it would be “really hard.”
Thankfully, her relationship with her mother has changed over time. Riley now calls her mom her “biggest cheerleader.”
Riley started her transition after high school and says she no longer hides who she is.
“I had hidden from my trans self for so many years, that before I started this journey, I didn’t know whether or not I would be open about being trans.
“I thought the physical process of transitioning would be the hardest part, but for me it wasn’t at all.
“I transitioned so flawlessly that now I could fly under the radar if I wanted to, so it made me want to be out and open and proud. I wanted to take the high road for others who don’t have it so easy.”
She said the emotional challenges of transitioning were harder than the physical ones.
Riley’s debut at Miami Swim Week also reflects a larger movement in fashion to embrace trans models. Last year, Alex Consani and Valentina Sampaio made history as the first transgender models to walk in the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
She said: “I transitioned so flawlessly that now I could fly under the radar if I wanted to, so it made me want to be out and open and proud. I wanted to take the high road for others who don’t have it so easy.
“Especially in a setting like this that’s always been very cis-oriented, it’s important to be bringing in a lot of different types of people and I’m just grateful that I was thought of, you know in that community.”
She also said: “Inclusivity is crucial to the world we’re building, and I’m honored to walk with pride, love, and the hope of inspiring the next generation. Thank you, Victoria’s Secret, for making a long-held dream come true.”