Generation Next: Krow Kian

When Krow Kian first agreed to participate in a documentary about his experience as a transgender man embarking on his process of gender confirmation, he had no idea that he would soon find himself on the covers of magazines and walking the runways of Louis Vuitton. Having worked as a female-presenting model throughout his teenage years, his return was a risky experiment in how accepting the industry would be, one that has proven wildly successful and offered the film, Krow's TRANSformation, broader visibility thanks to his new prominence. "It's been incredible to have that success and be able to use that to bring attention to the documentary and have a much wider audience," he says. "Whether they themselves are transgender or they know someone who's transgender, or even if they don't know anyone who's transgender but they're curious about what it means, being able to reach those people and normalize being transgender for them is really cool."

Now an outspoken advocate for transgender rights and visibility, Kian admits that he was initially hesitant when director Gina Hole Lazarowich suggested the film, understandably so given the intimate access required. Through doctor's visits, hormone treatments, and frank conversations with his mother and other transgender friends, Kian is bracingly candid about his fears, his vulnerabilities, and his struggles, offering a complex and comprehensive account of the changes both physical and emotional that he undergoes. "I thought about how much it would've helped if I had seen a movie like that about someone's transition process, being very informative and letting people know how the process works without feeling like it's being pushed in your face," he recalls about his decision. "It's about the medical aspects, where you can be like, 'Okay, that makes sense, I understand that.' I thought about how much that would've helped me and how much it could possibly help other people."

In the months since the film's début in September 2019, Kian has found himself playing the role of counselor to numerous transgender individuals from around the world who reach out through social media, pointing them towards local resources for advice or medical care and in extreme cases connecting them with Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian organization that helps LGBTQ+ individuals escape their homelands if they are at risk of violence of persecution. He acknowledges that the work can be at times daunting, but recognizes that, as the main subject of one of the most prominent documentaries on the transgender community in recent years, he might be the only place to which some people can turn. "Sometimes I do get a little overwhelmed and I need to take a break, but I think for the most part I handle it pretty well," he admits. "I knew that I would get some response from the documentary and then when I got into modeling I figured that that would give me a wider audience so I would have more responsibility to help out the people that reach out to me."

Along with his position as a champion for other transgender people, Kian also understands the role he plays as a prominent face of the community to educate others. His honesty and openness are vital tools for the work that still needs to be done on the path towards visibility, acceptance, and, someday, equality, a responsibility he carries with pride. "I think that having transgender people speak about their transition and explain the process, how they felt at specific moments, really resonates with people and helps them have a better understanding," he argues. "If you're not a little open to teaching, then it's hard for other people to learn."

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