Weeks after trans activist Munroe Bergdorf stepped down from Labour's LGBT advisory board, she has alleged that she was the victim of stalking and rape.
In an series of Tweets yesterday, Bergdorf revealed that in a new Hunger magazine interview she talks about the abuse she claims to have suffered.
The model, who has recently undergone facial feminisation surgery, said in a candid tweet, 'In my final shoot before my facial feminisation surgery, I met up with @hungermagazine to speak about a different chapter of my life which span out of control after I was stalked over a six month period, then held against my will in my own bedroom and raped by a man I knew.'
The open letter was extremely difficult to write.
Quoting from her article she wrote:
'There's no one sentence that I can utter to victims of sexual assault. No one can make it better or make you forget,' she tells us. 'When I think back I just wish that I had told myself earlier to start being good to myself. To forgive myself because it wasn't my fault......Never blame yourself. Never. Rape is an abuse of power, it's not sex and if you feel like your power has been taken away from you, then it was abuse. I want to let victims know that there are people out there who will listen, and you are worthy of being listened to.'
Thankfully, the model is receiving what we imagine is much-needed support, with fans thanking her for sharing her story.
It was no doubt difficult for Bergdorf to make these allegations, particularly when she hasn't exactly had it easy on social media. The model previously made controversial statements about white supremacy, which lead to L'Oreal dropping her as a brand ambassador.
Only last week Burgdorf reposted horrible comments that trolls had made about her image as a child.
The 30 year-old reposted the abuse and concluded, 'That awkward child became a strong fearless woman. I think that there's a great beauty in that evolution, even if others don't.'
We certainly see a strong and fearless woman when we look at Bergdorf.
Daisy Murray is the Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, spotlighting emerging designers, sustainable shopping, and celebrity style. Since joining in 2016 as an editorial intern, Daisy has run the gamut of fashion journalism - interviewing Molly Goddard backstage at London Fashion Week, investigating the power of androgynous dressing and celebrating the joys of vintage shopping.
