Shay Neary
| |
|---|---|
| Born | 1987 or 1988 (age 35–36)[1]
Poconos, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| 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 MountainsinPennsylvania.[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 Collegeinnortheastern 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]
