Benjamin Melzer
German model and activist
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Key Takeaways
- Benjamin Ryan Melzer is a German model, transgender activist, and blogger.
- In April 2016, he became the first transgender man in Europe to appear on the cover of a men's fitness magazine.
- Biography Melzer was born and raised in Oer-Erkenschwick, a suburb 40 minutes's commute from Düsseldorf.
- The same year, he starred in PETA's "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign alongside Lamers.
- After watching a documentary film about transgender actor Chaz Bono when Melzer was 18, he realized he had been experiencing gender dysphoria.
Benjamin Ryan Melzer is a German model, transgender activist, and blogger.
He has modeled in German magazines Der Tagesspiegel, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Der Spiegel, and Focus.
In April 2016, he became the first transgender man in Europe to appear on the cover of a men's fitness magazine. This was the European edition of Men's Health.
Biography
Melzer was born and raised in Oer-Erkenschwick, a suburb 40 minutes's commute from Düsseldorf.
In 2016, he starred in a modeling shoot for Diesel and About You alongside Dutch model and trans woman Loiza Lamers.
The same year, he starred in PETA's "I'd rather go naked than wear fur" campaign alongside Lamers.
Gender transition
Mezler stated that he knew there was "something special" about himself at 3 years of age, but lacked information to classify this as childhood gender dysphoria. After watching a documentary film about transgender actor Chaz Bono when Melzer was 18, he realized he had been experiencing gender dysphoria.
Five years later, at age 23, he decided to begin his medical transition, which included masculinizing hormone therapy and 11 surgeries. His entire family was supportive, including his 89-year-old grandmother, and his mother, who came to the clinic every day to bring him food as he recovered. He has called top surgery "the most important surgery for all trans men"; right after his healing process was over, he went to a public pool and jumped into the water with just shorts on, which he described as "the best".
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