Oxford Street in Sydney is Kalypso Finbar's runway, and anyone and everyone is her audience.
She's tall, slender and everything fashion houses have looked for in a model for decades, but as a transgender woman, she says, she never gets work.
"I already anticipated that it's not going to be an easy industry to get into but there's still a few barriers, you know," she told SBS News.
"There's a gender barrier that still exists, there's also still a bit of a racial barrier as well, so when you're black and trans, well that's a whole lot of barriers, honey."
Aspiring model Kalypso Finbar. (instagram.com/sissyinc) Source: Supplied
But Kalypso and her friends are fighting back, determined to prove wrong comments made by an executive from US fashion powerhouse Victoria's Secret recently.
Asked by Vogue last month about the diversity of the lingerie company's runway models, chief marketing officer Ed Razek said: "Shouldn’t you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I don’t think we should. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy."
He has since apologised for his comments, made ahead of its New York runway show being aired on 2 December, but for some it was too late.
Trans Pride Australia's Peta Friend says such comments could have a damaging effect on trans communities everywhere.
"That sort of negativity can really filter down to the more vulnerable," she said.
"There's a lot of people that really want to step into the light - they want to be fashion models, that want to work in the industry, they need to know that they're included, they need to know they're valued and that they can have a future in that industry."
The Victoria's Secret runway show is the most-watched fashion event of the year, with an expected audience of 800 million, but some in the trans community won't be watching this time.
Makeup artist Skye Paez, who has been working in Australian fashion for more than a decade, says the industry rarely reflects the diversity it often promotes.
"We're often behind the scenes so that's a different thing, altogether, just the same as gay guys have always been in the industry, but that doesn't mean actually showing them," she said.
Skye Paez has been a high-fashion make up artist for 13 years. (instagram.com/skyepaez) Source: Supplied
"[To be included would] makes us more visible and would include us in the beauty standard. That's the difference."
Skye's passion to make it as a luxury beauty artist, while being unapologetically herself, was the inspiration behind her younger sister Dannii's early transition at 14.
"I couldn't have done it without my older sister and her friends," she said.
Dannii said she had the role models, support and confidence to be her true self and transition before her sister Skye did, who eventually transitioned when she was 27.
Sydney transwoman Dannii Paez says she was confident enough to transition at 14 because she had role models. She wants others to have the same. Source: SBS News
"We just want to feel normal, not so different from society - [but] that's how Victoria's Secret made us feel," Danni said.
"They [my sister and her friends] made me feel like it was okay, like I was normal."
DJ Victoria Anthony already has a strong voice in Sydney's trans community, by hosting monthly shows featuring trans performers.
The comments from Victoria's Secret have inspired her to go one further, and she is considering opening an agency dedicated to representing transgender talent, which would be a first in Australia.
DJ Victoria Anthony says it's time for Australia to have an agency dedicated to representing transgender talent. (instagram.com/missvictoriaanthony) Source: Supplied
"I would look at it more so as something to help the community because we need to be recognised more. I think that it will give people hope to chase their dreams. I feel like it's the right time," she said.
Wentworth star Daniielle Alexis wanted to model as soon as she transitioned at 19, but said it was acting that helped her eventually gain modelling work.
"I got into modelling just after I transitioned and I remember thinking, 'this is all I want to do' but unfortunately it wasn't great timing... my transition was very hard which is typical," she said.
"I definitely wouldn't say it's easy to get modelling or acting work at all... It's just that Australia is a little bit more of a smaller community and so there's less work but that's definitely something we need to change."
Australian actress and model Daniielle Alexis stars in the hit series Wentworth. She revealed to the public last year that she was born a boy. Source: instagram.com/daniiellealexis
Founder of Australian modelling agency Bella Management Chelsea Bonner agreed, and said as Australia grows, so will the demand for more gender-diverse models.
"My advice for any trans man or woman, or anybody that identifies as any gender, is to find like-minded people, find your tribe," she said.
Bella Management has made waves in the industry for its representation of models like supermodel Robyn Lawley, and it's now making a name for its racially and gender-diverse models.
"Australia will absolutely catch-up. It's not even a matter of us being behind," she said.
"[But in the meantime] find agents and managers that will support and protect you and make sure you're heard as a human being and not just an object."
Kalypso Finbar wants to be the role model she never had growing up. (instagram.com/sissyinc) Source: Supplied
For many trans men and women, the chance to model isn't about the flashing cameras and beautiful clothes - it's becoming the role model they never had growing up.
"I didn't even know what 'trans' was growing up in Nigeria," said Kalypso, who has now lived in Australia for six years.
"I hate to sound like a cliche, but I've truly felt myself every day since [I transitioned].
"For me, to follow my dreams and eventually get there - it would be like a big old middle finger to everyone who said I couldn't."
