Shay Neary

This article is about the American fashion model. For the British boxer, see Shea Neary.
Shay Neary
Born1987 or 1988 (age 36–37)[1]
Poconos, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma materKeystone College
OccupationFashion model
Modeling information
Hair colorAuburn
Eye colorBrown
AgencyUnsigned
Websiteshayneary.com

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]

  1. ^ a b Gilmour, Paisley (July 4, 2017). "This model has opened up about the transphobic abuse she experiences on dating apps". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  2. ^ a b Salandra, Adam (December 22, 2016). "Shay Neary Just Became The First Plus-Size Trans Model To Land A Major Fashion Campaign". NewNowNext. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Peoples, Landon (December 19, 2016). "What It's Like To Be A Plus-Size Transgender Model". Refinery29. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  4. ^ Hale, James Loke (April 23, 2017). "Shay Neary Is The First Trans Plus Size Model To Land A Major Fashion Campaign". Bustle. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  5. ^ a b Neary, Shay. "Meet the Model". Shay Neary. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  6. ^ a b Brown, Rebekah (March 24, 2012). "Rainbow Alliance announces honorees". Standard-Speaker. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  7. ^ Larbi, Miranda (December 22, 2016). "This plus-size transgender model is transforming the fashion industry". Metro. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  8. ^ Jackman, Josh (April 24, 2017). "First plus-size trans model 'will be part of campaign with full LGBT representation'". PinkNews. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  9. ^ Lubitz, Rachel (April 14, 2017). "Plus-size transgender model Shay Neary lands her first UK fashion campaign". Mic.com. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  10. ^ "Shay Neary Style Advice". Yours Clothing. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  11. ^ McCormick, Joseph Patrick (July 3, 2017). "This plus-size model is calling out guys who abuse her on dating apps because she's trans". PinkNews. Retrieved September 21, 2017.