Ines Rau Is Playboy's First Transgender Playmate: 'Nudity Is A Celebration Of the Human Being'

Ines Rau has become the first openly transgender Playmate in Playboy magazine’s 64-year history. While Rau previously appeared in a May 2014 issue, the French model will grace the coveted centerfold spot in the November/December issue, a special 100-page tribute to the late Hugh Hefner.

“When I was doing this shoot, I was thinking of all those hard days in my childhood,” Rau recalls. “And now everything happening gives me so much joy and happiness. I thought, Am I really going to be a Playmate—me? It’s the most beautiful compliment I’ve ever received. It’s like getting a giant bouquet of roses.”

Rau has appeared in Vogue Italia and W magazine, and has walked the runway for top designers like Balmain.

Rau also commented on Playboy’s return to featuring nude models: “Nudity means a lot to me, since I went through a transition to get where I want to be. Nudity is a celebration of the human being without all the excess. It’s not about sexuality but the beauty of the human body, whether male or female.”

Check out a couple shots from the shoot below.