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Rain DoveGender neutral model
Country:
 USA |
Content:
- Reign Dav: A Gender-Neutral Model Breaking Barriers
- A Childhood on a Farm
- A Journey of Self-Discovery
- Challenges in the Modeling Industry
Reign Dav: A Gender-Neutral Model Breaking Barriers
Reign Dav has made history as the first gender-neutral model to grace the cover of 'Diva', a leading publication for the LGBTQ+ community. They have successfully promoted both men's and women's clothing and have appeared in magazines such as 'Vogue', 'Elle', and 'Cosmopolitan'. Dav actively advocates for the idea that gender is simply a social construct.
Editor Carrie Lyell describes Dav as an incredible individual, stating, "We are absolutely thrilled to have her on our cover this month." Dav herself expresses her pride in this achievement and hopes that her work will inspire other unique individuals to embrace their true selves.
A Childhood on a Farm
Reign Dav did not grow up in a gender-neutral environment. They recall, "I grew up thinking I was just an ugly little girl. I probably resembled a post-apocalyptic girl, a hero in an action movie, a lone wanderer on a road. Fortunately, unlike my teachers and classmates, my parents never forced me into a gender role or suppressed my personality. I grew up on a farm, so hard work was the only thing that mattered. Work became my refuge."
Dav would come home from school and find solace in the company of goats in the barn or take long walks in the woods. However, with the arrival of a new day, they would once again endure ridicule and bullying. Dav reflects, "I always knew what I know now, but back then I just couldn't find the right words. I am who I am. It's just me."
A Journey of Self-Discovery
When asked which pronoun they prefer (he, she, or they), Dav responds, "Pronouns are just empty sounds to me. All I want to hear in those sounds is a positive attitude. So, choose what resonates with you." Throughout their life, Dav has explored both masculine and feminine presentations and has experienced firsthand the impact of gender stereotypes.
Dav recounts an incident when they presented themselves as a man while working with a female colleague. "She would often get defensive about her work methods and criticize my skills, albeit in a subtle manner. At one point, I forgot that she saw me as a man and couldn't resist responding critically. A few days later, I was accused of mansplaining, as if I, as a man, was belittling a woman's competence. My supposedly harsh criticism was seen as verbal attacks."
Despite their intention to provide constructive feedback without insults, anger, or belittlement, Dav's colleagues expected them to behave differently because they presented as a man. This experience fueled their desire to defend those who stand up for transgender rights, even though they personally do not identify as trans.
Challenges in the Modeling Industry
Reign Dav's modeling career has been filled with surprises and often unpleasant experiences. They reveal, "I can lose jobs because my 'persona' is considered 'too loud' for a certain brand. I have been asked to lose weight to promote women's clothing and gain weight to promote men's clothing."
Today, androgyny is making a comeback in the fashion world. Celebrities like Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik, who have appeared on the cover of 'Vogue', have been seen as breaking gender norms. However, Dav has a different perspective on this trend.
Dav asserts, "'Vogue' missed the mark when they presented Gigi and Zayn as 'gender-fluid' because for many, gender fluidity is not just about wearing combat paint. It goes beyond your attitude towards clothing and what you wear. It's about your relationship with yourself and others."
They would prefer 'Vogue' to discover individuals who have been living authentically before it became popular, rather than using the opportunity to sell magazines by featuring 'gender fluidity' as a trendy concept associated with certain celebrities.
Dav concludes, "You can be both heteronormative and androgynous. Androgyny is not something strange. I believe that diversity is an important part of the fashion world, and it's amazing when you hear about agencies, designers, or fashion houses advocating for individual diversity. Gender complexities are just a social structure that we do not need to fit into."
Reign Dav affirms, "There are people who love you. There are people who will love you. There are people who will accept you, and I am one of them."
