Isis King facts for kids

Isis King, born on October 1, 1985, is an American model, actress, and fashion designer. She is best known for appearing on the reality TV show America's Next Top Model. Isis was the first openly trans woman to compete on the show. This made her one of the most visible transgender people on television. Since 2021, King has played Sol Perez in the Amazon Prime Video romantic comedy series With Love.

About Isis King

Isis King has shared that she felt like she was "born in the wrong body." This means that even though she was identified as male at birth, she always knew she was female. She prefers this phrase to describe her experience.

Isis studied design and illustration at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. She moved to New York to begin her journey of living as her true self. However, she did not have enough money for a place to live. Her family also did not support her at that time. Because of this, she lived at the Ali Forney Center, a place for young LGBTQ+ people who are experiencing homelessness.

In 2007, Isis was featured in an MSNBC special called Born in the Wrong Body. This show shared stories of transgender teens across the United States. In 2009, she had gender affirmation surgery. She talked about this on America's Next Top Model: All-Stars.

Isis King's Early Career

Before joining America's Next Top Model, Isis King had been a runway model for seven years. She also gained experience in the underground ball culture scene. In an interview for America's Next Top Model, she mentioned her long experience with runway modeling.

After her time on the show, Isis continued to model on runways. She walked in shows like the Amore Fashion Show and the Howard University Homecoming Fashion Show. She also modeled for Colors Fall/Winter 2009–10 Line and Secret Society. She even received an award for her work in the Images Fashion Show.

Isis also worked as a receptionist at a hair salon. She was also a program assistant for a nonprofit organization.

America's Next Top Model Journey

Cycle 10 Appearance

Isis King was living at the Ali Forney Transitional Living Program. There, she found out about a photo shoot for the tenth cycle of the show.

Cycle 11 Experience

Isis asked Jay Manuel, the show's art director, if she could audition as a girl who felt "born in the wrong body." After the photo shoot, the show's host, Tyra Banks, asked her team to find Isis. Tyra wanted to encourage Isis to audition because of how well she did in the shoot. Isis became one of the fourteen finalists for the eleventh cycle. She was the fifth contestant to be eliminated from the competition.

Isis King also posed for a photography series about youth homelessness. This experience later led to her return for Cycle 17.

Cycle 17: All-Stars

After her first time on the show, Isis King was chosen to return for the first "All-Star" edition. She joined twelve other models from past seasons. During this season, she received the first "first call-out" in the first week. She was eliminated third in the competition.

Taz Tagore, who helped start the Reciprocity Foundation, said that Isis had a goal for Cycle 17. She wanted to help remove negative ideas and barriers for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Isis became a role model for many women in that community.

After America's Next Top Model

Isis King appeared on The Tyra Banks Show two times. In her first visit, she talked more about her life story. Tyra Banks surprised Isis by introducing her to Marci Bowers, a surgeon who offered Isis a free surgery. This surgery happened in 2009. New photos of Isis were taken after the surgery. These photos were shown during her second appearance on the show. Isis's journey to becoming anatomically female was completed. She also appeared on Larry King Live on July 25, 2009.

Since then, King has worked with American Apparel. This made her the first transgender person to work with the brand.

In July 2015, Isis was a guest star on several episodes of the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.

King played Gia in a guest role on season 7 of the Showtime show Shameless.

In Fall 2016, King's documentary series Strut aired on the Oxygen Network. This show was produced by Whoopi Goldberg. It followed five trans models and showed Isis's move from New York to Los Angeles.

In 2019, she starred in the Netflix series When They See Us. This series was created by Ava DuVernay. It tells the true story of the Central Park Five. Isis played Marci, the older sister of Korey Wise. King said that playing this role was like "a magnifying glass on the world right now." She felt that the role was "relatable to who she is as a person." She believes that transgender women of color are especially at risk of violence, like Marci Wise experienced.

In August 2019, King was interviewed by Deadline. In the interview, she talked about transgender visibility and acceptance.

On July 3, 2020, King appeared on Jay Manuel's weekly web chat, Jays Chat. They discussed Cycle 11 of America's Next Top Model, which was Isis's first appearance.

Isis King is now signed with AEFH Talent for acting roles. She is also with A3 Artist Agency for commercial work in Los Angeles.

Print Work and Campaigns

Isis King has appeared in several magazines. These include Us Weekly (September 2008), Seventeen magazine (December 2008/January 2009), Out magazine, and Mallard International magazine. She was also on the cover of the Spring 2010 Swerv magazine. She did many test photo shoots that were used to promote her visit to The Tyra Banks Show.

In 2012, she became American Apparel's first openly transgender model. However, some groups raised concerns about the "Gay O.K." t-shirts she modeled. They felt it was misleading because Isis identifies as a straight transgender woman.

In 2014, King was featured on the fifth anniversary cover of C☆NDY magazine. She appeared with 13 other transgender women. These included Janet Mock, Carmen Carrera, Geena Rocero, and Laverne Cox.

Cultural Influence

Isis King is one of a growing number of transgender people seen in movies and on television. Her being on America's Next Top Model was called a "huge opportunity" by Neil Giuliano, who was president of GLAAD. By competing on the show, King brought national attention to topics like gender transitioning and gender expression.

New York magazine called King the "cause célèbre" of Cycle 11. This means she was a very popular topic of discussion. The show's executive producer, Ken Mok, said that casting Isis helped "redefine what beauty is." This was one of Tyra Banks's main goals for the show.

Because the show filmed contestants living together, it showed how people reacted to Isis. Some contestants had misunderstandings about transgender issues. Others worried about how her gender identity would be seen in their own communities. However, the show also helped viewers learn more about Isis and the transgender community.

New York magazine noted that King is one of the few transgender models to become well-known. Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York, even suggested that it might be time for a transgender supermodel to be on the cover of Vogue.

Personal Life

Isis King is a Christian and attends Mosaic Church in Los Angeles.

Her younger sister, Chanel, passed away as a baby. She was born with all of her organs outside of her body. Because of this, Isis King has taken part in the Catwalk for Cause. All the money raised goes to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.

In 2016, she moved to Los Angeles to focus more on her acting and modeling.

She is also a motivational speaker. She shares her experiences with schools across the country.

Film and Television Roles

Podcasts

See also

In Spanish: Isis King para niños

• List of transgender characters in film and television
• List of transgender people