Teri Toye

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Teri Toye is a former model and historic preservationist from Des Moines, Iowa. She is widely regarded as the first successful openly transgender model in the United States, and is best known for her work with designers such as Stephen Strouse, Thierry Mugler, and Jean Paul Gaultier.[1][2][3]

Early life and modeling career[edit]

Toye was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa with one sister.[4] In the late 1970s, she moved to New York City to study fashion at Parsons School of Design, though she later dropped out as her modeling career took off.[5][6] While a student there, she began her gender transition.[7][4] Toye met Steven Meisel at a party thrown by Gabriel Rotello, and began modeling for an illustration class that he taught at Parsons.[7][4] She became involved in the downtown culture of the East Village in the early 1980s, frequenting clubs such as Studio 54 and meeting designers like Stephen Sprouse.[4] Toye rose to prominence as a model after serving as Sprouse's muse and walking in his 1984 show at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.[8][9][3][10][11]

In 1984, she was named "Girl of the Year" by New York Times fashion columnist John Duka.[7] Toye was represented by Frances Grill of Click,[12] walked in shows internationally for Chanel, and appeared in editorials for Interview.[13][10] Toye also became friends with artists of the East Village scene, including Nan Goldin and Greer Lankton. She was Lankton's maid of honor and the subject of a doll by Lankton, which has been exhibited at galleries like Civilian Warfare and Participant Inc.[14][15][16][17][9]

Historic preservation work[edit]

In 1987, Toye married art dealer Patrick Fox and moved back to Des Moines.[7][4] She became involved in real estate and local advocacy groups for the preservation of historic homes, and continues to work as a specialist for FEMA consulting on historic preservation and renovation.[18][5][7][19] In 1993, Toye and Fox purchased the Hatton House, a 130-year old Stick style home in the River Bend neighborhood. Toye prevented the destruction of the house and preserved original features using a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office in the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.[20][21] When Toye and Fox divorced in 1995, she retained full ownership of the home.[20]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Factora, James (January 24, 2022). "Unapologetically Queer Designer Manfred Thierry Mugler Has Died". Them Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Blasberg, Derek (March 24, 2017). "Models Matter: A Love Letter to the Women Who Shaped the Industry". Vanity Fair. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Yuan, Jada; Wong, Aaron (December 2015). "The First Black Trans Model Had Her Face on A Box of Clairol". The Cut. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Walker, Andre (December 16, 2009). "Heroes: Teri Toye". V Magazine. Archived from the original on December 16, 2009. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Carothers-Kay, Ann (November 16, 1996). "Passion for Preservation". The Des Moines Register. p. 34. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  6. ^ Brown, Elspeth (2019). Work!: A Queer History of Modeling. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University Press. ISBN 9781478002147.
  7. ^ a b c d e Gross, Michael (October 2, 1992). "Madonna's Magician: How Lensman Steven Meisel, the Cat in the Hat, Makes Things Click". New York Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ Gilhart, Julie (September 7, 2016). "Unforgettable Moments (New York Fashion Week: An Oral History)". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  9. ^ a b Hogrefe, Jeffrey (October 2, 1984). "It's a Mod, Mod World". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  10. ^ a b Street, Mikelle (November 30, 2018). "Born Beautiful: A Short History of Trans Models in Fashion". Out Magazine. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  11. ^ Strong, Lester Q (November 2009). "Stephen Sprouse's Time to Design". The Gay & Lesbian Review. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  12. ^ Laneri, Raquel (February 16, 2019). "How one agent changed fashion by opening the modeling world". New York Post. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  13. ^ Linn, James (August 14, 2008). "Tranny Models Who Made History". The Cut. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  14. ^ Goldin, Nan (October 1999). "Features: Greer Lankton". ArtForum. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  15. ^ Cotter, Holland (December 4, 2014). "The Artist and the Work, Both Intricate and Fluid". The New York Times. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  16. ^ Cohen, Alina (February 15, 2019). "1980s Icon Greer Lankton Explored Glamour and Gender in Her Eerie Dolls". Artsy. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Gonzalez, Rita (February 7, 2019). "Q&A with Paul Monroe: Life and Work of Greer Lankton". Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  18. ^ Hines, Holly (June 21, 2014). "Hubbard Park site holds clues of early black culture". Iowa City Press Citizen. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  19. ^ Basu, Rekha (August 7, 2014). "Losing Kruidenier home would be blow to D.M." The Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Stamps, Danelle Theresa (January 1, 2006). "The Many Histories of the Hatton House". Iowa State University Digital Repository. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  21. ^ Pitts, Jeff (January 4, 2017). "Hatton House: If these walls could talk..." DMV Cityview. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
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