In October, Townhall reported how men’s magazine Maxim Australia included a biological male who identifies as a woman in a recently-published list of its 100 top “fine and fierce femmes” for 2023. Actress Margot Robbie was listed as No. 1.
Coming in at No. 92 on the list was Dani Laidley, who is a male. Laidly is a former Australian rules football coach and athlete and began “transitioning” in 2020.
#92 of top 100 hottest 'women' in the world according to Maxim magazine in Australia
— Riley Gaines (@Riley_Gaines_) October 19, 2023
How did we get to a point where companies/institutions/publications can do this with no fear of backlash? pic.twitter.com/GBhJAIzzLY
This week, reports broke that an Australian swimsuit company, Moana Bikini, used a male model to promote a women’s swimsuit.
Bikini company sparks backlash after man models women’s bathing suit https://t.co/nui0lwuFjZ pic.twitter.com/jhEl0xVLJL
— New York Post (@nypost) January 22, 2024
Moana Bikini shared a video of the model, Jake Young, wearing the suit, which costs $99.
“OBSESSED WITH THIS LOOK,” the company wrote in the caption.
Many users pointed out that the company should not be using a male model to promote women’s swimwear, pointing out that this is the latest attempt to erase women (via New York Post):
“Is that a man? I thought you were about empowering women?” one Instagram user commented.
“Men seem to be trying to take over everything women hold sacred. Our safe spaces, our identity and now our fashion.”
“Sorry but Moana, this is not how you empower women,” another wrote. “This is once again giving men the power over us and saying they do it better.”
A third said the video was “bad advertising if the target audience is women.
“A man wearing a piece designed for women… not going to make most women want to buy it.”
According to Young’s Instagram profile, he goes by “he/him” pronouns. But, his posts show him donning women’s clothing and swimwear.
The Post pointed out that Young defended his modeling gig, claiming that “there are many different types of women. Women with different anatomy to what you consider ‘normal.’”
“I am not a woman nor have I ever claimed to be. This post is simply empowering a minority and I’m forever grateful for that,” he reportedly added. “Your hate is a reflection of your own insecurities, not mine.”
In a statement to Daily Mail, the company doubled-down on its decision to use Young to model women’s swimwear.
“If Jake in our bikini upsets you that much we feel as though this may be a ‘you’ problem,” the company said.
“We find it quite absurd that people would cherry-pick this one individual post from our 13 years of business to make a wild statement about us not being empowering to women,” it continued. “Moana Bikini are — and have always been — one of the most inclusive and empowering brands in existence. This is not only in terms of our size and style range for women, but — most importantly — in our love and acceptance of all races, ethnicities, body shapes and sizes, genders and sexual orientations.”