This week, Alex Consani made fashion history. On Monday night the 21-year-old Californian was named British Fashion Council's Model of the Year. She is the first transgenderSomeone whose gender identity (what they feel inside) does not match the gender identity they were assigned at birth (based on their biology). model to be honoured with the prize.

Consani is a trans pioneerA person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area of activity.. She started modelling at 12 years old, making her the youngest trans model in the world. She is also a TikTok phenomenon, with four million followers for her account @captincroook.

Consani has spoken about the lack of representation in fashion. She told Elle: "I wanted to show other trans and non-binarySomeone who does not identify as a boy or a girl. people that it is beautiful to be trans - not something to be ashamed of."

Her victory could empowerGive someone power, or make someone feel strong and confident. other trans people. It might show that fashion can be used to increase the acceptance of trans identities throughout society. 

High fashion is often ahead of the curve when it comes to representation. British supermodel Naomi Campbell is a long-term activist against racial bias. Fashion has embraced many queer people, such as designers Yves Saint-Laurent, Gianni Versace and Alexander McQueen.

Yet there is also a darker side. Fashion history is full of truly nasty people. Coco Chanel dated a Nazi agent and tried to use anti-SemiticShowing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people. laws to remove a Jewish business partner from her perfume company.

Even the aims of the industry are suspicious. Fashion promotes unrealistic ideals of beauty and glamour. It works by convincing people - especially women - that they need to look a certain way to be attractive.

This often hinges on body size. A survey this year found that 95% of runway outfits used size-zeroA women's body type that is extremely thin, with a very low body mass index (BMI) and minimal body fat. models.¹

To become very slim, models starve themselves. Eating disorders have led to weakness, mental health problems and even death. Fashion ruins lives, just to sell clothes and make-up.

Is fashion a force for good?

Yes: Great fashion is a thing of beauty. And beautiful things make the world a better place for everyone. The industry has its problems, but so do almost all sectors - and few give us such a visual feast.

No: The fashion industry is built on body shaming, exclusivity and prejudice. On top of this, the clothes we wear are often produced in brutal sweatshops at an enormous environmental cost.

Or... Fashion is not a monolithA single big stone, often standing upright. Also used to describe large political, social or corporate structures that are slow to move or change. , but an enormous collection of different people and groups with varied values. And it is complex: what proves empowering to one individual could disempower another.