Initial Modelling Career, Transition Journey & Rise to Stardom
Kian once mentioned that he did not pay much attention to gender differences as a child until the elementary school when students of his class were segregated into boys and girls for a sex education presentation. In an interview to Stephen Quinn on CBC's ‘The Early Edition,’ he said that it occurred to him why can’t he be just like a boy, do what the boys do and hang around with them.
Kian began modelling at the age of twelve. It all started after he attended a birthday party during elementary school, where he was mistaken as a model by a girl’s mother. The idea of modelling clicked his mind and he got permission from his mother to try his hand at modelling. He then signed with an agency and as they say, the rest is history. He went to Japan for a work at the age of 13 and thereafter travelled and worked in different places in Asia. After returning to Vancouver from a job in China, Kian, at that time a week short of his eighteenth birthday, began thinking seriously on undergoing transition. According to him, he could talk about this to his mother at 19. Initially, his mother, Lisa, struggle with the thought that her child wanted to go for transition, but she later supported Kian’s decision. She remained by his side in his journey to find his true identity, including going through hormone therapies and several invasive surgical procedures, such as removal of breasts and hysterectomy.
While Kian was about to go for the transition process, he was approached by a producer who wanted to document his transition process. He gave his consent and his transformation journey was filmed for a span of over three years, starting from the model’s first hormone treatment to his comeback in modelling, this time as a male model, walking the runway at the ‘Paris Fashion Week.’ Speaking on his return into modelling in a new avatar, Kian said that he was quite chilled out about the whole thing and looked forward to see how successful he can be by just being himself. With time, he succeeded in stealing the spotlight. In a telephonic interview with fashion-industry trade journal ‘Women's Wear Daily,’ Kian acknowledged the fact that his career flourished as a transgender model, garnering him lucrative offers compared to the time he modelled as a female. He walked the runway for ‘Louis Vuitton’ at the ‘Paris Fashion Week.’ The brand particularly chose transgender models for the show. Kian agreed that his changed avatar in the world of fashion, glitz and glamour have earned him more opportunities. He is happy about the fact and finds it significant enough to draw attention towards the transgender community, making it more visible across the globe.
In October 2018, the glass tunnel set of ‘Louis Vuitton’ sizzled when Kian stepped out for the brand’s spring ready-to-wear show, marking not only his debut on the international platform, but also his first appearance as transgender male model. He made history in March 2019 by walking the ramp for the brand and closing its women’s show, becoming the first male model ever to do so. Praising the brand, Kian mentioned that he felt quite respectful and comfortable with the arrangements it made for him, including giving him his own dressing room during their show. With time, he became an in-demand model for both men’s and women’s shows. Although lately several transgender female models have succeeded in carving a niche in the fashion industry, Kian has risen as the first trans male star in the world of modelling.
In January 2019, on the final day of the Paris men’s fashion week, Kian cat-walked in the fall women’s show for ‘Acne Studios’ as well as in the ‘1017 Alyx 9SM’ show that featured both male and female models. Earlier that week, he also modelled as a male for Balmain designer Olivier Rousteing’s show that featured both male and female models. In March, he walked the ramp during the women’s ready-to-wear shows of Colombian-born French designer Haider Ackermann and British fashion designer and couturier Alexander McQueen. He has also appeared on the covers of L’Uomo Vogue magazine and the British style magazine ‘Dazed,’ and also featured in the spring women’s ad campaign of ‘Vuitton.’
While Kian wants to do more of the men’s shows and is quite successful in his modelling career, he has plans to make it big in the world of cinema. He is also taking singing classes to pursue his childhood dream of becoming a singer.
Documentary on Kian�
The documentary on Kian, ‘Krow's TRANSformation,’ was premiered at the ‘Raindance Film Festival’ on September 18, 2019 and released in the US on September 28, 2019 at the ‘Palm Springs LGBTQ Film Festival.’ It was also screened in Spain at the ‘Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival’ in October 2019. It was directed by Gina Hole Lazarowich, who met him while Kian was doing a photo shoot, documenting the commencement of his hormone treatment three years ago. Starring Kian, Lisa Jacobsen, and Kas Baker among others, the documentary film was shot in Paris and Vancouver. It follows his transition journey from a female to a male and returning to modelling.
