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Yasmin Benoit

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Yasmin Benoit
Benoit in 2020
Born (1996-06-10) 10 June 1996 (age 28)
Reading, Berkshire, England[1]
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Model
Modeling information
Hair colorBlack
Eye colorBrown

Yasmin Benoit (born 10 June 1996) is an English lingerie and alternative model. She is also an asexual and aromantic activist.[2][3][4]

Early life

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Benoit is of Trinidadian, Jamaican, and Barbadian descent.[5] She attended Reading Girls' School and Padworth College.[6] At a young age, Benoit knew she was not interested in anyone sexually or romantically.[7][8] She chose to attend an all-girls school to avoid conversations about sexual intercourse and relationships.[7][9] Benoit came across the term asexual in high school, but she did not identify with it until later in life.[9]

Benoit has a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from St Mary's University, Twickenham and a Master of Science in Crime Science from University College London.[10][11]

Modeling career

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Benoit began modeling at age 16, focusing her efforts on alternative fashion despite the industry's emphasis of Eurocentric beauty standards. Her first modeling breakthrough was in 2015 with Scottish brand CRMC. She later modeled with Love Sick London, Dethkult Clothing, Seduced By Lilith, Kuki London, Pin Up Girl Clothing, and Teen Hearts.[12][13]

In March 2018, Benoit collaborated with African-American-owned gothic fashion brand, Gothic Lamb.[14]

Activism

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Benoit appeared in a BBC Three documentary on asexuality, but was critical of the experience, claiming the way the documentary framed asexuality was a misrepresentation.[15] She later appeared in a Sky News documentary on asexuality in February 2019.[16] Regarding her work as a lingerie model whilst being asexual, she told Sky News, "I'm literally here to show off the clothes and make it look good. I'm not trying to sell myself, I'm trying to sell a product."[17] This led her to found the hashtag #ThisIsWhatAsexualityLooksLike in 2019.[18]

Benoit wrote for publications including HuffPost UK and gave talks at events and universities, including the University of Cambridge, the UK Asexuality Conference in 2018, Reading Pride, King's College London in February 2019, and National Student Pride.[19] In collaboration with Asexual Visibility and Education Network (AVEN), Budweiser, and Revolt London, Benoit hosted the first asexual-themed bar at Pride in London in 2019.[20] She joined the board of directors of AVEN that October.[21] In a December 2019 issue of Attitude titled "The Activists", Benoit became the first openly asexual woman to appear on the cover of a UK magazine.[22][23]

In early 2020, Benoit worked with England Unwrapped to interview asexual people.[8] The episode was originally broadcast on BBC Radio Berkshire and later published on BBC Sounds.[24] She co-founded International Asexuality Day (April 6) in 2021,[25] and in 2022, launched an asexual rights initiative—known as the Stonewall x Yasmin Benoit Ace Project—in partnership with Stonewall.[26][27]

In June 2023, Benoit became the first openly asexual person to be a grand marshal for the NYC Pride March.[28]

Benoit was a consultant for the final season of Netflix's Sex Education. Following the release of the season, Benoit expressed disappointment that scenes involving an asexual character—especially those dealing with "the intersections of race, privilege, and acephobia"—had been cut or changed in editing.[29][30]

Recognition

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In 2018, Aislin Magazine wrote, in "the predominantly White alternative branch of modeling, [Benoit has] become one of the UK's most prominent Black alternative models."[19]

In 2021, Benoit was given an Attitude Pride Award.[31] In 2022, Benoit was nominated for a British LGBT Award in the category of Online Influencer.[32] In the same year, she was awarded Campaigner/Influencer of the Year by the Bank of London Rainbow Honours.[33]

Personal life

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Benoit is asexual and aromantic.[34][4][35] She came out in a video on YouTube in 2017.[36]

References

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  1. ^ Bennett, Freya (29 March 2016). "MEET: Yasmin". Ramona Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  2. ^ "BBC Radio 1 - Radio 1's Life Hacks Podcast, Asexuality with Yasmin Benoit". BBC. 12 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Attitude becomes first magazine to put an asexual woman on the cover". The Independent. 6 December 2019.
  4. ^ a b Kelleher, Patrick (25 February 2022). "This is what the world gets wrong about aromantic people". ThePinkNews.com. PinkNews. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ Yasmin Benoit (14 April 2020). "English aromantic asexual via Trinidad, Jamaica & Barbados! Where are my Black aces at? What's your heritage?". Retrieved 6 September 2020 – via Twitter. [dead link‍]
  6. ^ Mackley, Elizabeth (15 December 2019). "'I just figured it would kick in': What it's really like to be asexual in Reading". Berkshire Live. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  7. ^ a b Marsh, Stefanie (8 August 2020). "We're The Asexuals: Let's Not Get Physical". The Times. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  8. ^ a b Boyle, Samuel (26 October 2020). "England Unwrapped - Me and my Asexuality". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  9. ^ a b Pantony, Ali (19 February 2021). "People Think I Must be Unlovable, Fussy or Mentally Ill. Here's What it Really Means to be Asexual and Aromantic". Glamour. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  10. ^ Jaffray, Chris (11 August 2019). "Lingerie model, 23, says she's never felt sexual attraction to anyone". Mirror. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  11. ^ Yasmin, Benoit (5 March 2019). "This is What Asexual Looks Like". Qwear. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  12. ^ "Black alternative model Yasmin Benoit fights her way into the industry". Afropunk. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  13. ^ Nicholle, Taja (10 December 2018). "An interview with black alternative UK model and activist Yasmin Benoit". Punk Black. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Black-owned goth brand collaborates with alternative model Yasmin Benoit for latest lookbook". Afropunk. 7 March 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  15. ^ Benoit, Yasmin (20 January 2019). "Why I Hate my BBC Asexuality Documentary". Lapp the Brand. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  16. ^ Jefferies, Beth (5 February 2019). "Emi Salida Stars in Sky News Asexuality Documentary". TenEighty. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  17. ^ "Life without sex - what is asexuality?". Sky News. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019 – via YouTube.
  18. ^ Benoit, Jasmine. "This Is What Asexuality Looks Like". Qwear Fashion.
  19. ^ a b "An Interview With Yasmin Benoit & Clara Josefine". Aislin Magazine. 28 December 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  20. ^ Sarrubba, Stefania (23 June 2019). "This asexual model is launching London's first asexual club for Pride". Gay Star News. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  21. ^ Yasmin Benoit (2 October 2019). "I'm proud to announce that I'm officially on the Board of Directors of AVEN (@asexuality)! It's an honour to join forces with such an incredible organization. 💜 It's a pretty great way to start #BlackHistoryMonth too!". Retrieved 17 February 2020 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Boatner, Cameren (12 December 2019). ""Attitude" Becomes First UK Magazine Featuring an asexual Woman on Cover". South Florida Gay News. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  23. ^ Gallagher, Sophie (6 December 2019). "Attitude becomes first magazine to put an asexual woman on the cover". Independent. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  24. ^ "Meet the Activist Debunking Asexuality Stereotypes". Paper Magazine. 22 November 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  25. ^ Benoit, Yasmin. "About". Yasmin Benoit.
  26. ^ "Stonewall x Yasmin Benoit Ace Project". Stonewall. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  27. ^ Baska, Maggie (6 April 2022). "Stonewall launches groundbreaking project to stamp out acephobia". PinkNews. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
  28. ^ "Pride profile: I will be the first asexual grand marshal at NYC's Pride March". The Independent. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  29. ^ Monteil, Abby (2 October 2023). "'Sex Education' Asexuality Consultant Says Much of the Show's Ace Storyline Was Cut". Them. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  30. ^ Iftikhar, Asyia (2 October 2023). "How Sex Education season 4 let down asexuals with the character of O". PinkNews. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  31. ^ James, Alastair (11 June 2021). "The asexual activist dispelling myths around lack of sexual attraction". Attitude. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  32. ^ "Top 10 Online Influencers 2022". British LGBT Awards. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  33. ^ Noyce, Eleanor (2 June 2022). "The Bank of London Rainbow Honours Crowns Yasmin Benoit, UK Black Pride and Mermaids". DIVA magazine.
  34. ^ Benoit, Yasmin (14 February 2021). ""A Romantic Partner Won't Complete Me, Because I Was Born Complete": How Identifying As Asexual & Aromantic Brought Me True Freedom & Happiness". British Vogue. Condé Nast Publications. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  35. ^ Jaffray, Chris (5 March 2019). "The + in LGBTQ+: An Interview with Yasmin Benoit, Asexual Activist and Model". The Nopebook. Archived from the original on 1 November 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  36. ^ Benoit, Yasmin (11 August 2018). "I'm Asexual, And I'm A Lingerie Model. Here's How I Balance The Two". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
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