Teddy Quinlivan Biography
Teddy Quinlivan (Theodora Quinlivan) is an American transgender model and activist. She was discovered in 2015 by Nicolas Ghesquière, Louis Vuitton’s creative director. In August 2019 she became the fist openly transgender model to work for Chanel.
Teddy Quinlivan Age
Teddy is 25 tears old as of 2019; she was born on June 22, 1994 in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Teddy Quinlivan Height
Teddy stands at a height of 5 feet 11 inches tall.
Teddy Quinlivan Transgender
Teddy came out as transgender on September 13, 2017 in a CNN exclusive. “I’ve decided to reveal my trans identity because of the political climate in the world right now — particularly in the United States. We made an amazing progression under the Obama administration, and since the new administration took office there’s been a kind of backlash.
There’s been violence against transgender people — particularly transgender women of color — since before I even knew what transgender was. I just felt a great sense of urgency. I’m very fortunate to be in (a) position (that) I never really thought I would be. It’s really important to take advantage of a time like this.”
She added that her decision to come out was rooted in politics but she was also doing it for herself; “I think the personal is political. It’s political, but I’m also doing it for myself. I was ready to come out, but I think the times we live in elevated the sense of importance and urgency.”
Teddy transitioned at the age of 16, she said she was living as a cis female as her voice hadn’t dropped. She said that that gave her confidence as most people would presume she was a ‘normal’ girl.
“Since I transitioned when I was 16, I’ve been living as a cis female… I was very lucky, because I won the genetic lottery. I looked a certain way and my voice hadn’t dropped. That privilege gave me a lot of confidence to walk down the street, date and (work) in the fashion industry, where people I would presume I was a ‘normal’ girl.”
Teddy Quinlivan Before Transition
Teddy Quinlivan Chanel
On July 26, 2019 Teddy announced on Instagram that she was the first openly transgender model to work for Chanel. She shared a video from the beauty campaign, in which she’s shown applying the brand’s Rouge Coco lipstick in Légende.
She captioned the video; “?CHANEL BEAUTY?
-I find I don’t cry anymore when things are sad, but isn’t it interesting when we shed tears in moments of triumph. This was one of those triumphant cry moments for me. My whole life has been a fight. From being bullied at school consistently, kids threatening to kill me and going into graphic detail how they were going to do it, my own father beating me and calling me a fagot, to receiving industry blowback after speaking publicly about being sexually assaulted on the job… This was a victory that made all of that shit worth it. I had walked 2 shows for Chanel while I was living in stealth (stealth meaning I hadn’t made my trans identity public yet) and when I came out I knew I’d stop working with some brands, I thought I’d never work with the iconic house of Chanel ever again. But here I am in Chanel Beauty Advertising. I am the first openly trans person to work for the house of Chanel, and I am deeply humbled and proud to represent my community. The world will kick you down, spit on you, and tell you you’re worthless. It’s your job to have the strength to stand up and push on, to keep fighting, Because if you give up then you will never experience the tears of triumph.
Thank you to everyone who made this dream a reality!”
Teddy Quinlivan Ted Talk
Teddy Quinlivan Instagram
Teddy Quinlivan Twitter