Trans activist, model and content creator Gialu is all about empowering and helping other people become their most authentic selves. But how does Gialu tackle things like summer pressures and expectations, and what’s their relation to body hair?
Do you feel pressured to be silky smooth during the summer?
I used to for sure. Not anymore… I mean sometimes I catch myself checking if anyone could be looking at my body hair in a judgy way... then I realise that I care about how others look at me and not actually about my body hair.
Yeti, full on dolphin or that sultry sexy 3-day stubble - what’s your summer go-to style?
Legs: dolphin
Private area: switching (just like me - queer joke)
Arms & face: Wannabe Yeti, got on wish
Summer = freedom. Does shaving feel like a free choice to you?
More and more. It’s a slow process. Regarding summer and sex, I’m still learning to love my body hair and stand by it. Fake it till you make it is my way to go. I learned a lot from people who don’t shave at all and embrace body hair positivity on the internet. They inspire me.
What would you tell your teen self about body hair if you had the chance? No time machine available (sry), but in theory.
That they don’t have to be embarrassed about it. That society wants them to be. If others start pointing out the body hair of other people in a negative way… don’t join them. It doesn’t make you “cool” to behave like the bully “cool kids”. The real cool kids are the ones who don’t give a f** about the opinion of others and just are themselves.
Do people comment when you choose (or simply forget) to shave?
They used to. Now I surround myself with friends who would not. But working as a model it can be difficult. Certain clients expect you to shave or otherwise, you don’t get the job.
Does the media influence the way you feel about your body hair?
Yes for sure (see above).
Does the media influence the way you feel about shaving?
It used to a lot. I mean, shaving for female bodies was created to double the profit and that was done by making women (AFAB - assigned female at birth) feel embarrassed about their body hair - so they would buy razors. There has never really been a real need to shave.
Have you seen any change in attitudes towards body hair recently?
It’s going to be my first summer with unshaved armpits and a wannabe moustache :)
