British actress, model and influencer Bel Priestley shares her extraordinary journey of transition and rise in the entertainment industry with well over a million followers; rising to fame for her role in the series “Heartstopper” and her impactful presence on social media platforms like TikTok, Bel has become an influential voice for the transgender community and beyond.
Bel Priestley’s journey and career rise began with sharing her journey online, the model was one of the first trans girls in the UK to start sharing her story on social media, at 13 she realized she wanted to start transitioning and shortly after she came out. Bel Priestley says she often felt alone from that moment on but, thanks to the first make-up videos on YouTube, she was able to reconnect online with people with similar interests to hers.
During lockdown, when she began taking hormones and documenting her transition, Bel decided to quit her job as a cleaner and focus exclusively on social media to build a following, quickly becoming an icon of authenticity and representation.
The interview.
What is your relationship with fashion?
Well, it’s the only relationship that seems to be going well at the moment. Yep. Go ahead. I have a super creative job, in an incredibly challenging industry; but I think my first experience with creativity was right behind my bedroom door, when there was no one home, putting together clothes. I’ve always loved those moments! For me, fashion is so much more than clothes, it represents memories, emotions and moments in our lives. If you showed me a dress I wore, I could tell you what happened that day, who I was with and how I felt. Also, thanks to my job (the best in the world by the way), I wear some beautiful looks, which mean a lot to me. Overall, I can say that I have a really positive relationship with fashion and I will never stop feeling satisfied when I wear a dress!
If your essence, the most intimate and personal, could materialize in a dress, what would it be like?
If my most intimate and personal essence could materialize in a dress, it would be bold, long, flowing and sparkling. Simply because I feel more feminine in clothes with these characteristics. There is something so powerful about sparkle. Growing up, I would never have worn anything like that. At parties, I wanted to avoid as much as possible trouble, unpleasant comments from people, so I wore simple black dresses to go unnoticed. Today, being proud of being the woman I am, I can wear clothes that really make me feel confident, powerful and that allow me to express “my inner Cher”.
Cortesy of Press Office
Bel Priestley
Is there a success story of an LGBTQIA+ person in the fashion industry that has particularly inspired you, and why?
There are so many LGBTQIA+ people shining right now, empowering me and so many others in the world. However, if I had to choose one, it would definitely be Hunter Schafer. What a woman! She has normalized the trans female body so much. Following someone as beautiful, inspirational, and talented as her and speaking out about topics like tucking has allowed me and so many others to feel normal about topics that we almost always feel uncomfortable about. Her story and success are an incredible inspiration!
Cortesy of Press Office
Bel Priestley
Has fashion helped you express your gender identity and sexual orientation?
Absolutely! Often the biggest insecurities come from the outside, from how you look. In my case it came from the inside, from who I was as a person. Then, as I grew up I used my appearance to feel normal, to start that journey of self-acceptance. Everyone loves a nice dress, a nice hairdo, good makeup, and a great pair of heels! For me, fashion has often been the easiest way to feel good as a young trans woman!
How does your social media audience help you overcome challenges?
It happens every day! I am so grateful for everyone who follows me. To feel that no matter what, people support me is the most special thing to me. I am a young trans woman but also a girl who moved cities at 18, dropped out of college, had relationships and friendships end but also had so much fun. Friendships, they can be a nightmare, can’t you think? Relationships, they can be a nightmare too? Yes, often for me! But I have always had the support of the people who follow me on social media. Even recently, when I had a couple of surgeries, I have never felt so supported. So, thank you!
What do we need to be truly brave about today?
I always thought you had to skydive to become brave. But, in reality, there was a time when I had a series of mentally difficult days that even just getting up, brushing my teeth and taking a shower was brave. Try not to put pressure on yourself, you are always awesome!
What message would you like to send to Harper’s Bazaar readers?
Whatever you are doing today, take care of yourself! I am so grateful to have achieved some of my big goals at such a young age. But that doesn’t mean you have to, we all have our own journey and timelines. I am constantly comparing myself to others and focusing on the big goals that are coming up, and that’s okay. However, I think it’s really important to stop and just be grateful for what we have achieved and what we have! Be kind to yourself and others, please!
Cortesy of Press Office
Bel Priestley