Noella has become the youngest trans model to walk the runway at NYFW (Image: Caters/Getty)
Meet Noella, the youngest transgender model to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week.
At just 10 years old, Noella walked the runway for Mel Atkinson, the designer behind Trans Clothing Company.
“It feels good that I’m already inspiring trans kids to be themselves,” the mini model said.
Her parents, Dee McMaher, 35, and Ray, 32, are incredibly proud of their daughter, who began social transition at age four.
Dee, an event manager, said: “Noella never really gets flustered or scared about anything. She’s a little pro!”
“I was so excited to walk down the catwalk, excited to see all the people and the cameras. She knows exactly how to work with a crowd.
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We are so proud of Noella for being the first trans girl at New York Fashion Week, we are in awe of her confidence and determination.
‘Noella already has so many transgender people of all ages contacting her for advice and support.
‘Noella is very outspoken and an amazing advocate for other trans kids.
“It’s great that she can provide this trans visibility on a global scale. She is showing them that trans is beautiful.’
Noella was once a troubled child who often threw tantrums and refused to wear the clothes her parents tried to put on her.
Noella knew she was a girl when she was only four years old (Image: Dee McMaher/ Caters News)
Everything changed when, at the age of four, Noella went to therapy and declared that she was a girl.
Her parents feel that their daughter is too young to begin the medical transition, but in the meantime they have allowed her the freedom to explore her identity.
“Noella had a rough start in life as she was extremely unhappy being perceived as a boy,” Dee said.
Even when he was two years old, he said he was not a little boy.
Her parents say she’s too young to transition medically, but they’ve allowed Noella to transition socially in the meantime (Image: Dee McMaher/ Caters News)
“She refused to wear boy’s clothes and had tantrums because she was so young, she knew what she wanted but didn’t have the words to say it.
I should have known earlier as she hated anything masculine so I took her to a gender clinic.
‘She blossomed as soon as we realized it and allowed her to finally be herself.
‘When he was seven years old, he legally changed his name.
She also began modeling on runways.
“It has been so incredible and pure to see her embrace who she is.
“She’s fearless when she’s onstage and knows exactly how to work with the crowd and the camera.”
After walking for the Trans Clothing Company, Noella’s modeling career is taking off (Image: Getty Images North America)
Noella’s career has fully taken off and she is already booked as a model until November 2022.
She hopes to use her platform to encourage other trans people to accept who they are.
Dee said: “As the parent of a transgender girl, it is my duty to protect her and make sure she is safe.
“But Noella is a transgender rights activist and wants to make herself known.
She hopes to inspire other trans people to embrace their identity (Image: Dee McMaher/ Caters News)
“For a ten-year-old, she is very mature for her age and sure of herself.
“She wants to show other transgender kids that it’s okay to transition socially and accept who they are.
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“She is the first person who tells others that they are wrong when they discriminate.
“She is passionate about raising awareness of transgender people – she is going to make a difference in this world.”
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Source: metro.co.uk