Openly trans in 1989, Connie Fleming made her Paris modeling debut and history on a Thierry (Manfred) Mugler runway.
Connie is a multi-hyphenate: illustrator, model, runway coach, also known as The Door Bitch in the New York club scene. She has become an advocate for trans-healthcare following her experience with breast cancer.
Growing up in Jamaica and then New York, Connie experienced violence in childhood - but was rebuilt as a teenager by developing her stage persona at Boy Bar. She became a fixture at the Paradise Garage where she was discovered by Steven Meisel. Connie is featured in a new documentary about that scene “Love is In the Legend”. And she has been seen in current day Mugler publicity campaigns and on recent Mugler and Rick Owens runways.
I talked to Connie while working on my documentary Carton d'invitation - I had wonderful memories of seeing her on the runways in Paris in the 80s and 90s - and it was important for me to ask what it all felt like for her.
To learn more about Connie follow her on Instagram @therealconniergirl
For more on my documentary project, visit @cartondinvitation on IG as well.
Original music for this podcast is by Ashley Rivera, Myla Carlos and Chloe Hsu.