Model and YouTube star Gigi Gorgeous said she was detained at the airport for more than five hours in Dubai, possibly because she’s transgender.
She posted about the experience Tuesday on Instagram. “Yesterday was one of the scariest moments of my entire life and I wouldn’t wish it upon anyone,” she wrote. “How you can be denied entry somewhere just because of who you are is seriously disgusting and also very scary. This further proves the need for CHANGE.” Gorgeous became widely known after documenting her transition on YouTube.
She posted an image of herself hugging Nats Getty. “After being detained and held at the Dubai airport for over 5 hours, this was the moment my baby came to rescue me,” she said.
Gorgeous said she was on her way to “somewhere much more accepting” and is “safe and sound and happy.”
The Canadian model elaborated on the incident to TMZ, saying an immigration officer told her, “I was told you are transgender. You cannot come into the country.” Gorgeous said her name on her passport is now Gigi Loren. Airport officials told TMZ she is listed as male and has a photograph of herself as a man on her passport, although Gorgeous denies this. The “imitation of women by men” is illegal in Dubai.
Gorgeous’ reps have not yet responded to The Hollywood Reporter‘s request for comment.
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