Leyna Bloom, a Filipino-American transgender model, has sparked a heated discussion on social media regarding who was the first Filipino to walk at the L’Oréal Paris Fashion Week.
This controversy arose after Bloom posted about her participation in the annual fashion event in France, claiming the title of “first Filipino” to do so.
In her post, Bloom emphasized the significance of her achievement, noting that she is one of the first transgender women to grace the prestigious fashion platform.
She also highlighted her history as the first trans woman in the U.S. to serve as a brand ambassador for the French multinational personal care company.
In her message, Bloom congratulated her fellow Filipina models, Pia Wurtzbach and Stephanie Valentine, who also participated in this year’s L’Oréal fashion show.
Leyna is the daughter of a Filipina from the Blaan tribe in Southern Mindanao and an African-American father.
Following her statement, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach faced criticism and backlash for what some described as “incorrect and irresponsible information” regarding the title as the first Filipina to walk in L’Oreal’s runway show at Paris Fashion Week.
In response to the negative comments directed at Wurtzbach, Bloom addressed the “toxic behavior” exhibited by netizens.
Bloom expressed that it is more important for the public and fans to unite, stating that she did not need to mention her “title of first” when she walked in the fashion show.