Shay Neary

Shay Neary is an American fashion model. She is known as the first transgender plus-size model to be featured in a major fashion campaign.[2][3][4]

Neary was born and raised in the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania.[3][5] During high school, she identified as a gay man, and performed in drag.[3] A transgender friend of her mother suggested to Neary that she might also be trans.[3]

Neary attended Keystone College in northeastern Pennsylvania,[5][6] and started her transition to female during her freshman year there.[3] In 2012, she received the Outstanding Leadership Award from the Rainbow Alliance.[6] Neary later moved to New York, as she had difficulty accessing hormones while in college.[3]

In 2016, Neary was signed by the fashion brand Coverstory, becoming the first openly trans plus-size model to land a major campaign.[2] Coverstory founder Heidi Kan found Neary through the Transmodel agency after a lengthy search.[7] In 2017, Neary came to the UK to model for the plus-size brand Yours Clothing.[8][9][10]

Neary has spoken out against transphobia and fat-shaming she has experienced in online dating communities.[1][11]