April Ashley, one of the first British trans women, graced the pages of magazines and walked runways as a fashion model. But when the tabloids exposed her, the industry turned its back. She spent the next 50 years pushing for the rights she’d been denied and in 2012, she stood at Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II for her work in transgender equality. Fashion Conservatory: Preserving fashion’s past for future generations. #AprilAshley #TransFashionHistory #LGBTQHistory #

April Ashley (1935–2021) was a British transgender pioneer, one of the first people in the UK to undergo gender reassignment surgery in 1960, and a trailblazing model, socialite, and activist. After transitioning, she achieved success as a model in Paris and London, becoming a cultural icon. #aprilashley #lgbtqcommunity #lgbtqia #lgbtqpride #pioneer | Jeff Waters