DIRECTOR OF FASHION HOUSE BALMAIN OLIVIER ROUSTAING AND THE TEMPTATION OF TRANSSEXUALITY
In the Yann Barthès French TV show called Quotidien, the great fashion stylist Olivier Roustaing just came out publicly by affirming his sexual identity as a Trans.
By Fouad ZERAOUI
As an artistic director, very chic, dressed in Balmain which is also his own fashion house, the talented mixed man conveyed a message using a body language and his mouth.
BIG LIPS WITH DISCREET RED LIPSTICK, HE DECIDED TO TELL THE WORLD HE IS OUT OF THE CLOSET : I AM OLIVIER ROUSTAING, STAR STYLIST AND BECOMING A TRANSSEXUAL.
In any case, his coming out was a real success. You really had to see this mouth, worthy of its peers such as, Amanda Lepor, the New-York trans star and muse of the photographer David Lachapelle; a mouth which was so huge and even bigger than the TV show set. You could only see that mouth. We were flabbergasted when we saw those volumetric shapes and the way he was playing with this powerful and feminine organ called « mouth ». For Olivier, it was probably the very first bravery thing, and also complicated step in becoming a trans.
How can you assert an identity totally radical and so taboo in a place where success is not granted, when it comes to the crazy rhythm in fashion line and clothes that you have to ship, and still be at the top. The image that you build of yourself because of thousands of selfies on Instagram, and suddenly, tell the world that success, friends, and power are not enough to ease the pain that you feel when you want to be someone else.
THE REJECTION OF YOUR INITIAL IDENTITY REMINDS US ABOUT MICHAEL JACKSON.
Do you remember ? His last appearance in London for the promotion of his last tour. The same XXL mouth, the red lipstick that you finally put on your lips and hair in mane form…
The King of Pop at the end of his career made a significant step in his transgender quest. Because of his multiple transformations, from being a young black boy to a white skin diva, and the nose disappearing albums after albums, Michael Jackson was considered as a Mutant. He was the opposite of what life gave him. The abused black boy suffered from a father who were his manager. Michael did no longer want to be that abused black boy and became a white woman instead. Transexuality as a radical way to change the skin color, and not be that suffering person anymore. Be a new person and erase the past and stories that made you suffer.
THE EGO IS STILL ENHANCED WHILE BEING IN THE JET SET AND BEING CLOSE TO FAMOUS CELEBRITIES LIKE RIHANNA, KIM KARDASHIAN.
Olivier Roustaing is this young boy who does not want people to tell the story about this mixed child who came from foster care when he was one year old. I was rejected by my biological family because, I was not loved enough. Being a mixed boy in a white world, and in a white family, there’s a glaring difference. I’m a child who plays with the wrong cards.
Life has been good to me so, I’m trying to be grateful. The world is not enough for me as long as I’m not done with my childhood.
But how can I get to this new me that I truly want, how can I be comfortable with this feminine identity like a haute couture dress, more glossy, more powerful, this new skin, this unique creation. It takes a lot of courage and strength to be who you are. Upon entering an ultra privileged professional world, you have to keep in mind that you can lose anything at any time.
YET, SOMEBODY MANAGED TO BE A TRANS IN A HUGE COSMETICS COMPANY. HE HAD THE STRENGTH TO BE WHO HE IS, AND COMPLETELY TURNED INTO A GORGEOUS WOMAN WHO SUCCESSFULLY MADE IT TO THE TOP BECAUSE, SHE WORTH IT.
It is not talked about enough, but the transgender cause is a decade’s fight. More than 3000 transgendered people were killed last year in the USA. Even if there are exceptions, such as the famous star called Laverne Cox from Orange is the New Black TV show, or the model Inès Rau. Becoming a Trans has a high price.
TRANS IS THE NEW TABOO. EVEN IN THE FANTASTIC FASHION WORLD WHERE ALMOST EVERYBODY IS GAY.
Then, instead of speaking about this sensitive topic in order to alleviate its fears, playing with society and trying to move on from this incredible new search for identity, it is necessary to forget all about this and have a good red lipstick at the end.