Ali Medina, teacher, artist, and model
Breaking Down the "Norms"
"I originally started modelling because I wanted to challenge hegemonic gender expectations and standardizations in the industry by working with designers that cater to individuals all across the gender spectrum. I saw the fashion world as a space to exhibit alternative standards of beauty outside of the gender binary. My interest in fashion came from my desire to find clothes that were not exclusively made for 'men' or 'women' but were produced for and with respect to all kinds of bodies. I started to seek out companies that provided for nonbinary humans, like myself, because I was tired of wearing apparel that did not reflect me."
The Unspoken Pressure of Choosing a Side
"I have always felt uncomfortable with gender as a binary concept. Given the prevalence and power of the binary, I have experienced a lot of pressure to express my gender within confined and stereotypical definitions of 'male' or 'female.' I frequently go on castings for beauty products or beauty campaigns, and in the casting instructions, there are guidelines for what men and women should wear — which reinforces the gender binary and doesn't create a space for gender-fluid or nonbinary individuals."