MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • On Trend
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • On Trend
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

After Posting Transphobic Comments Online, Model Carissa Pinkston Lied About Being Transgender

After posting transphobic comments online - by Grace Back
  • 31 Jul 2019
After Posting Transphobic Comments Online, Model Carissa Pinkston Lied About Being Transgender

20-year-old Carissa Pinkston - a model known for her fiery red hair and unique freckles - has seen her career saw in recent years. Pinkston has starred in high-fashion editorials for Marc Jacobs, Prabal Gurung, Edie Parker and even joined Rihanna's Savage x Fenty gang. But, everything would come crashing down for Pinkston after fans called her out for previously posting transphobic comments and then subsequently beginning a complex lie pretending to be transgender to "avoid the backlash". 

According to screenshots obtained by Twitter user @CeceliaJinks, Pinkston posted a few messages on Facebook in May under the name Rissa Danielle, writing, "Being Transgender does NOT make you a woman. It makes you simply Transgender." In another post, Pinkston doubled down on her comment. "Being Transgender does not make you a woman in a Transgender context according to gender and sex," she wrote. "This is how they want to be perceived. In a biological context there are Females and Males. This is the world in 2019."

cec🐝 on Twitter

Following the messages, Pinkston retracted her statements and issued an apology in which she also came out as transgender. "I wasn’t ready to come about it yet but today I got fired and I’ve been receiving hate mail and death threats ever since so I’m being forced to tell the truth,” she wrote in a note she posted to her Instagram. “I’m Transgender. I transitioned at a very young age and I’ve lived my Life as a female ever since. It’s been very hard to keep this secret but what I said about Trans-Women is a direct reflection of my inner securities and I have since come to realize that I am a Woman. WE ALL ARE!"

However, several models within the community and those close to Carissa believe she only "came out" to avoid any further backlash. Transgender model Aaron Phillip spoke out against Pinkston, writing, "imagine being a model who got exposed for being a raging transphobe/saying extremely transphobic shit in the past and then resorting to LYING ABOUT BEING TRANSGENDER ONLINE FOR CLOUT IN ATTEMPT TO SAVE YOUR CAREER...? i know this person irl and she is SO CISGENDER?? Y’ALL I-?"

Pinkston posted another note to her Instagram, this time admitting to lying about being transgender and apologising for her comments.

carissa pinkston

"I apologise for any transphobic remark I've ever made towards the Trans community," she wrote in a screenshot of the note taken by another Twitter user. "I panicked and I thought if I came out as Trans that I could somehow make things better for myself but it appears I've only made things worse. I'm truly sorry. I'm only 20 and I'm human. I make mistakes but I refuse to let them define me. I hope you all can forgive me and move on from this because I'm so much more than this incident and I'm not a coward."

Pinkston deleted all the posts and has now returned to promoting her recent fashion work.

Grace Back
Grace Back
Grace Back is a journalist and was formerly the Digital Culture Editor across ELLE and marie claire Australia. When not stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll, you'll find Grace with her head in a good book.

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

Meet Playboy's Newest Playmate, Transgender Model Ines Rau

Meet Playboy's Newest Playmate, Transgender Model Ines Rau

5 Reasons We're Obsessed With Aussie Model Victoria Lee

5 Reasons We're Obsessed With Aussie Model Victoria Lee

Meet Eileen Gu, The Freestyle Skier Who's Got Everyone Talking At The Winter Olympics

Meet Eileen Gu, The Freestyle Skier Who's Got Everyone Talking At The Winter Olympics

The 12 Indigenous Australian Models Taking Over The International Fashion Industry

The 12 Indigenous Australian Models Taking Over The International Fashion Industry

{headline}

{headline}

Bambi Northwood-Blyth On Her Modelling Career And Living With Diabetes: "It’s A Full-Time Job On Top Of A Full-Time Job"

Bambi Northwood-Blyth On Her Modelling Career And Living With Diabetes: "It’s A Full-Time Job On Top Of A Full-Time Job"

Meet The Families Fighting For Trans-Rights

Meet The Families Fighting For Trans-Rights

10 Transgender Celebrities Who Are Breaking Down Barriers

10 Transgender Celebrities Who Are Breaking Down Barriers

{headline}

{headline}

Samantha Harris On Racism, Recognition And Respect

Samantha Harris On Racism, Recognition And Respect

J.K, Rowling Is Under Fire Defending A Woman Fired For Transphobic Comments

J.K, Rowling Is Under Fire Defending A Woman Fired For Transphobic Comments

Lara Worthington Confirms She’s Pregnant With Her Third Son!

Lara Worthington Confirms She’s Pregnant With Her Third Son!

Victoria Passes 'Momentous' Birth Certificate Reform

Victoria Passes 'Momentous' Birth Certificate Reform

These Are the Beauty Rules Lila Moss Always Follows

These Are the Beauty Rules Lila Moss Always Follows

Dilone On Embracing Individuality And Why Everybody Should Take A Break From Social Media

Dilone On Embracing Individuality And Why Everybody Should Take A Break From Social Media

Exactly What Models Read In Their Spare Time

Exactly What Models Read In Their Spare Time

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
MarieClaire Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Elle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • beautyheaven
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Marie Claire