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.

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 and fashion has long embraced queer people.

Yet it does have a dark 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.

Fashion also promotes unrealistic ideals of beauty and glamour, convincing people - especially women - that they need to look a certain way to be attractive.

To become very slim, models often starve themselves. Risking their 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.

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