Gia Love is Here

Gia Love wants to be remembered for her contributions to the Black trans community and let them know that she's with them—in all of their various shapes and sizes. office spoke with Gia Love to discuss her views on Black trans rights, the fashion industry, and how she strives to make a difference in the world.

Being a trans model and activist in the current social turmoil has to be challenging. How do you navigate these waters?

I just dig deep within my soul, and just know that no was never an option for me. I’m about to be 30 on November 30th. I finally have the fire inside of me to inspire people. I’ve always wanted to be that person who inspire people, through everything I’ve done. But I felt like it was time for me to take on a new kind of space and maybe even a broader audience. For the sake of representing all people and improving the lives of others holistically, can we really tackle some of these structures that make it hard for people who are different?

Do you feel as though fashion is taking the necessary steps to actually stand in solidarity with trans people? Why?

I don’t think so at all. You’ve been seeing more trans people being represented, but it’s the same girls. It’s been the same girls with a similar narrative. It’s like, “Who is respectable of the not so respected?” I told myself, if I’m going to be a model, I need to do modeling that matters, modeling that changes the lives of little kids. I just want to be that beacon of hope.

In 2020, almost 2021, what does Black trans activism mean and look like in your definition?

I think that Black trans activism is literally waking up every day and walking out of your door. I know that sounds very simple. We have to exist against a narrative that basically suggests that we’re not even human beings. So, in 2020, in some states you can be fired. Like you can’t ever work [for being trans]. So just existing, and existing despite of the barriers that the majority puts in place for us is our form of activism.

As a person who wasn’t able to grow up in the ballroom community who now loves it, I’ve seen the Kiki documentary. What does it feel like to be a part of something that will impact culture 25 years from now?

I’ve always been fighting to tell my story, and I’ve always fought against narratives that people have placed on me. The Kiki film for me has given me an opportunity, or reference, for history. It’s something that I can never take away. It’s something that will inspire people for generation to come and give a comment on a time we were in at that point.

I can see from your Instagram that you have a couple Telfar bags. How do you feel about the brand?

I love the brand. I love the bag, and what it symbolizes. It’s kind of like a movement within itself. Like you’re walking down the street, and you see people with Telfar bags, and you wink at them, you know what I mean? I really support our community and what we contribute to the larger scheme of things.

If you could be on the cover of one magazine, which one would you choose?

Jet. I would be a Jet girl. Because of the impact that it had on Black women, especially me growing up, and going back and seeing the types of women and the people that they profiled on there makes me want to make Black trans women a part of the conversation.

Are you working on any upcoming projects?

Yeah, I have a nice upcoming project that I worked on with some other trans women. It about everything that I talk about in terms of like diversity, inclusion, and fashion. It’s a trans directed, trans executive produced, and trans created concept. We worked with people who look like us to get this done, even Telfar is featured in it. Stay tuned and be on the lookout for that, because I really think that it's going to really contribute to changing the conversation about what it means to be Black, trans, full-figured, and beautiful.

If you could see your energy as a color, what would it be and why?

I bring a brightness to things, and I love to stand out. I always say whether or not I fit the mold of like, what is conventionally beautiful or what is conventionally acceptable, you will never forget me. You will always see me; you will always remember me. So, yellow.

What’s one thing you want to be remembered for?

I think that when Beyoncé said, "I was here, I lived, I loved," that really resonated with me. I want to be remembered for loving. I want to be remembered for being a person who unconditionally loved people and really did everything in her power to make sure that the most vulnerable among us have a voice and can be heard, not just seen.