Munroe Bergdorf

Munroe Bergdorf ( Beaumont; born 11 September 1987) and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2019 by the University of Brighton.

Early life Bergdorf was born and grew up in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. Bergdorf is of mixed ancestry, born to a Jamaican father and an English mother.

Around the same time that Bergdorf was transitioning, she co-founded nightclub Pussy Palace. On her social media, she stated: "Thank you L'Oréal Paris for giving me this platform. I hope it reaches another little eight-year-old trans girl and makes her feel a little more hopeful and a little less scared about her future, than what was installed in me when I was her age."

Racial controversy

In February 2017, Bergdorf stated that "all white people as a group are brought up racist", stating: "most of y'all don't even realise or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of colour." Bergdorf attracted further public attention following an article in The Daily Mail highlighting Facebook comments that she had made, which included the claim that all white people were guilty of "racial violence" and that the white race was "the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth." In response to Bergdorf's comments, L'Oréal dropped her from their campaign on 1 September 2017.

In September 2017, the UK-based Illamasqua hired Bergdorf as the face of its Beauty Spotlight campaign, which concerned gender fluidity. In a statement, the company described Bergdorf as embodying "diversity and individuality; she is not scared to be truly herself." Bergdorf shared on Instagram a number of abusive messages she received on that platform following her appointment.

Activism The same month she was hired by Illamasqua, Bergdorf recited Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise" for a short film directed by Bec Evans and Laura Kirwan-Ashman.

In February 2018, she was appointed as an LGBT adviser to the Labour Party,

she has made frequent appearances as a guest commentator on ITV's Good Morning Britain and This Morning.

In June 2019, Bergdorf was stripped of her role as an ambassador for Childline two days after being appointed, when journalist Janice Turner and others questioned her suitability for the post by accusing her of having modelled for adult magazine Playboy. Turner also called Bergdorf a "porn model". In response, Bergdorf denied ever participating in porn, and stated that it was wrong to demonize persons that do in any case.

In February 2021, Bergdorf deleted her Twitter account, releasing a public statement asking when social media companies will "clamp down" on transphobia. Bergdorf stated: "No one should have to endure even a fraction of the abuse that I am exposed to and have to put up with on a daily basis," and concluded that she was "tired of being a punching bag. Twitter is not a safe app for transgender people."

She participated in a plea to end the Gaza genocide in 2024 and the Together For Palestine concert in 2025.

Writing and other ventures In 2023, Bergdorf published her book Transitional. In 2025, she published her book Talk to Me.

Bergdorf presents Queerpiphany on MTV UK.

Bergdorf hosts the podcast The Way We Are.

Bergdorf's documentary, Love & Rage, premiered in the UK in June 2025.

Honours and recognition In July 2019, Bergdorf was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Brighton in recognition of her campaigning for transgender rights.

In November 2021, Bergdorf was recognised as British Community Trailblazer at the fifth annual Gay Times Honours celebration in London. She was presented the award by Ellie Goulding and also featured as one of the cover stars for the Honours edition of the magazine. Having been named Changemaker of the Year in 2018 by Cosmopolitan UK,

In November 2023, UN Women named Bergdorf as its first UK Champion.

In 2025, she was featured on the cover of Glamour UK''' as one of the Women of the Year'', alongside others including Bel Priestley, Danielle St James, Mya Mehmi and Shon Faye.