Laverne Cox Poses Nude for Allure

'Seeing a black transgender woman embracing and loving everything about her body might be inspiring for some folks.'

Photo: Norman Jean Roy/Allure

Orange is the New Black star Laverne Cox bared her soul and then some for Allure's annual nude issue. For the actress and activist, however, the shoot represented more than celebrating what her mama — and modern science — gave her.

She tells the mag:

"I said no initially, thought about it, and said no again. But I'm a black transgender woman. I felt this could be really powerful for the communities that I represent. Black women are not often told that we're beautiful unless we align with certain standards. Trans women certainly are not told we're beautiful. Seeing a black transgender woman embracing and loving everything about her body might be inspiring for some folks. There's a beauty in the things we think are imperfect. It sounds very cliché, but it's true."

In what I hope becomes a trend, Cox joins Aydian Dowling in showing us the importance of trans people not only being visible, but being in charge of their visibility and how they are seen.

Related | Aydian Dowling May Become First Trans Man on Cover of Men’s Health

Just as Dowling posed nude to show how some parts of his body now represent everything he is rather than what he wasn't, Cox's decision was also a personal celebration.

"I honestly just want to make myself happy most, and if other people like it, then that's great," she told Allure. "If they don't, then I'm still happy."

Here's some behind the footage from Allure's nude issue, featuring Laverne and other gals dusting off their birthday suits.

Les Fabian Brathwaite — nude from the clavicle up.