WASHINGTON (SBG) — Model and actress Lenya Bloom has made history as the first transgender woman featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit issue. The 27-year-old spoke out on Twitter following Sports Illustrated announcing her debut.

"This moment heals a lot of pain in the world," Bloom said in a Twitter post on Monday. "We deserve this moment; we have waited millions of years to show up as survivors and be seen as full humans filled with wonder."

Back in March, Bloom became the first trans woman of color, and just the second transgender model to be featured in the swimsuit edition. Last year, the magazine featured Valentina Sampaio, a Brazilian model who was the first trans woman to appear in the issue.

Bloom, who is Black and Filipino, has been making headlines for years. In 2017, she became one of the first openly trans woman of color featured in "Vogue: India", as well as the first trans model to walk the runway at New York Fashion Week.

The theme for this year’s swimsuit edition is “Opening Eyes, Speaking Truths and Changing Minds.” The magazine’s senior writer, Jordi Lippe-McGraw, wrote an article announcing the model’s debut back in March, as well as her subsequent selection as one of this year’s cover models.

“ [Bloom] is legendary in the world of activism, strikingly gorgeous and has an undeniable sense of self that shines through the minute she walks on set” Lippe-McGraw said on the magazine’s website.

“Her presence as the first trans woman of color to be in our issue is a result of her lifetime dedication to forging her own path that has led to acceptance, love and change...We are honored to have her in this year's issue and understand the effect it will have on so many others” he went on to say.

Bloom will be featured alongside tennis star Naomi Osaka, and rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

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