Gender-Bending Icons From the World

Hello, sweeties! Welcome back to the girliest blog on the web! Today we will talk about femininity and bending the gender rules. If you haven’t guessed by now, we will talk about gender-bending and total icons that pushed and continue to do so! Of course, we will be centering on male-to-female idols that you might or not have heard of.

In my life, I have found these individuals not only fascinating but also inspiring. Because we all have to deal with society’s standards from time to time. And these can be quite an obstacle to overcome to accept and love ourselves just the way we are. Without further ado, on to it!

What Is Gender Bending?

Gender-bending refers to challenging traditional gender roles and expectations by presenting oneself as a different gender through behavior, clothing, or other forms of self-expression. This can be done for artistic, political, or personal reasons and may involve blurring the lines between traditionally masculine and feminine characteristics and behaviors. Being assigned male at birth and having an intense desire to express your inner femininity can be quite a harsh road in most places. Even with a loving and accepting family, in many locations means, we are relegated to certain specific environments to develop professionally. This is why I find barrier-breaking icons important: they help us put things in perspective. Sadly, the most relevant examples fall under the artistic category. On the bright side, they also have a powerful reach that makes many eat their words and force them to rethink their view of the world.

James Charles

James Charles is an American internet personality, makeup artist, and beauty influencer. He first gained notoriety on social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube, where he would post makeup tutorials, product reviews, and transformation videos. Amazingly, in 2016 he became the first male ambassador for CoverGirl cosmetics! A pretty groundbreaking achievement! Of course, with said success in the fashion world, Charles has faced controversy over the years. Criticism over his approach to makeup and the beauty industry, as well as several scandals, have drawn attention to his personal life and conduct. Sadly, it seems that no matter what you do, you can be a target of naysayers when a certain level of popular influence is achieved. Nevertheless, he continues to be a major influence in the beauty community, and his work inspires and influences millions of people worldwide.

Pabllo Vittar

Pabllo Vittar is a Brazilian drag queen, singer, and LGBTQ+ activist. Vittar rose to prominence in Brazil after releasing their single “Open Bar” in 2016. Since then, they have become one of the most successful and well-known drag queens not only in Brazil but also in all of Latin America! With a strong and powerful stage presence, flamboyant fashion sense, and unique musical style that blends elements of different genres, they are a force to reckon with! Vittar has become a cultural icon in Brazil and is considered one of the current generation’s most influential and important drag performers. They still carry the flame of the drag sisters of the past! In addition to their music and performance career, Vittar is an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+. With many hits on every music platform, you shouldn’t go by without listening to some of their tunes!

Amanda Lear

Amanda Lear is a French singer, songwriter, actress, and model born in Vietnam and raised in France. But she lived and worked in Italy in the 1970s and 1980s. She rose to prominence in the 1970s as a model and became known for her androgynous appearance and flamboyant style. Amanda Lear is a highly enigmatic figure and has cultivated a mysterious and enigmatic persona throughout her career. She had even kept what year she was born from her husband! Amanda is on this list because one of the facts that she kept to herself is what gender she was assigned at birth too! Throughout her career, Amanda Lear has been known for her boundary-pushing fashion choices and androgynous appearance. She has been considered a gender-bending icon in pop music and had the chance to mingle with none other than Salvador Dalí!

Roberto Bolle

Roberto is an Italian ballet dancer who has been described as a “male icon of grace and beauty”. He is considered a gender-bending icon in dance. He has been praised for his fluid, graceful movements and androgynous style. His performances often challenge traditional gender norms in the world of dance. In many ways, Roberto Bolle’s androgynous style and graceful movements challenge traditional ideas about masculinity. He has been a major influence on many other dancers worldwide. Also he has helped to push the boundaries of what is considered “masculine” not only in the world of dance but in general too! He is considered a gender-bending icon because of his unique style and impact on the dance world. And he continues to do so for many!

Zachary Scuderi

Also known as Sneaky, he is a professional gamer and Twitch streamer. He is best known for playing League of Legends and is widely acclaimed as one of the world’s best at that. Sneaky has become famous for his crossplays of popular characters from various franchises. Video games, anime, films, and comic books, no popular media escapes his impressive reach! Sneaky’s cosplays have been praised for their creativity, accuracy, and attention to detail. He has been recognized as one of the top crossplayers in the cosplay community! And quite influential at that! He continues to be a major figure in the cosplay community. He is widely respected and admired for his talents and creations. I strongly suggest you go on and follow him on Instagram and Twitch!

These are some of the greatest gender-bender icons that we haven’t talked about in previous posts. Let me know in the comments below if you want to read more about other avant-garde gender-defying personalities. You can now check this link to read more about these needed influencers regarding gender and traditional norms! Do you know of others I might have overlooked? Leave a comment and tell me about it! Take care, sweeties!