About
Leyna Bloom is a Chicago-born model, actress, dancer, and outspoken voice for inclusion. She burst onto the global stage in July 2021 when she became the first transgender woman—and the first transgender person of color—to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s legendary Swimsuit Issue, a milestone she called “a moment that heals a lot of pain in the world.” Her career blends fashion runways, film sets, and advocacy campaigns that push for a more expansive definition of beauty and equality. In every arena she steps into—from the Cannes Film Festival to national-television public-service spots—Bloom centers joy, resilience, and representation.
Beyond the headlines, Bloom is celebrated for her contagious optimism and the way she champions others. Fans admire how she keeps her language clear and her goals transparent: she wants transgender and queer communities, especially those of color, to feel seen. Her layered identity—Black, Filipina, transgender, ballroom-trained performer—lets her speak to audiences that rarely feel addressed by mainstream media. That authenticity has made her a sought-after speaker, brand partner, and cultural figure.
Before Fame
Bloom grew up on the South Side of Chicago. Her father, an African-American military veteran and self-taught artist, raised her almost solo after U.S. immigration authorities sent her Filipina mother back to General Santos City while Bloom was still an infant. Childhood was often unstable—at one point the family experienced homelessness—but her dad never stopped encouraging creative expression.
A gifted mover, Bloom earned a full dance scholarship to the Chicago Academy for the Arts, training in ballet, jazz, hip-hop, modern, tap, and vogue. She eventually left school to focus on her transition and to explore New York’s ballroom scene, whose exuberant “walks” and categories felt like home. By her mid-teens she was voguing at balls, styling friends, and sharpening a runway walk that would later carry her across international fashion weeks. Those grassroots stages taught her to command space, celebrate difference, and lift community truths into the spotlight.
Trivia
- Paris breakthrough: In 2019 she walked the Tommy Hilfiger × Zendaya show during Paris Fashion Week, becoming the only transgender woman of color in that season’s presentations.
- Cannes history-maker: Her acting debut in Port Authority made Bloom the first transgender woman of color to lead a feature selected by the Cannes Film Festival (Un Certain Regard, 2019).
- Cover star firsts: Bloom shared the 2021 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit rollout with tennis champion Naomi Osaka and rapper Megan Thee Stallion, standing alongside two other boundary-breaking women.
- Advocacy on air: In October 2024 she appeared in “Freedom Should Be Free,” a nationwide Ad Council campaign with The Bail Project, highlighting the injustice of cash bail.
- Versatile performer: Beyond modeling, she’s classically trained in multiple dance styles and often choreographs her own shoots.
- Upcoming screen work: An early-2025 Instagram post revealed she is filming House on Fire, a TV project whose first episode wrapped this spring.
Family Life
Bloom’s family story threads through much of her public narrative. Her parents connected while her father was stationed overseas, and their cross-cultural bond shaped Bloom’s pride in both Black and Filipina roots. After her mother’s deportation, Bloom remained close to her paternal grandmother and aunt, who helped provide stability.
Years later, Bloom traveled to the Philippines, reestablishing ties with her mother and extended relatives—an experience she has said deepened her sense of global belonging. Her father continues to appear in interviews and social posts, often reminding her to stay grounded. His steadfast belief in her transition and career, Bloom notes, laid the foundation for every barrier she has broken.
Associated With
Bloom’s journey is interwoven with other bold names and visionary creatives. She shared a Sports Illustrated milestone year with Naomi Osaka and Megan Thee Stallion; strutted Paris Fashion Week under Tommy Hilfiger and Zendaya’s direction; headlined Cannes drama Port Authority in collaboration with filmmaker Danielle Lessovitz; and raised her voice beside NBA icon Carmelo Anthony and scholar Michael Eric Dyson in The Bail Project’s 2024 reform campaign. Each partnership reflects her instinct to channel fashion and fame toward collective progress—proof that when representation broadens, culture follows.
