Transgender model who first found success as a woman reveals he books even more high-profile gigs as a man, admitting 'male modeling is easier because you don't have to try as hard'

  • Casil McArthur, 17, started modeling at age ten as a little girl but always suffered gender dysmorphia
  • Last year, the Colorado native began taking testosterone and found a new agency that would represent him as a male
  • He's booked gigs for Calvin Klein and Saint-Laurent, as well as a 16-page feature in W Magazine
  • Casil opened up about the difficulties of transitioning and learning to model differently as a man 

By Carly Stern For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:28 EST, 8 September 2016 | Updated: 15:34 EST, 8 September 2016

A Colorado teenager who started modeling as a little girl is now finding real success in the fashion world — as a young man.

Transgender fashion star Casil McArthur, 17, has booked gigs for Calvin Klein, Milk Makeup, and Saint-Laurent since his transition, and hopes to one day be able to call himself a supermodel.

The Estes Park, Colorado, native told the Denver Post all about his budding career, and how he hopes to use his platform to reach other LGBTQ kids.

High fashion guy: Casil McArthur, 17, has found success in the modeling world as a young man

High fashion guy: Casil McArthur, 17, has found success in the modeling world as a young man

Busy: He's done work for Calvin Klein, Milk Makeup, and Saint-Laurent

Busy: He's done work for Calvin Klein, Milk Makeup, and Saint-Laurent

Making moves: However, he grew up female and decided to start transitioning last year
Making moves: However, he grew up female and decided to start transitioning last year

Making moves: However, he grew up female and decided to start transitioning last year

Casil started modeling as a female at age 10, and then went under the name Dani Rose. But he struggled with gender dysphoria for a long time, something he only felt able to address as he got older.

Last year, he decided he no longer wanted to model — as a female. Instead, the teen decided to transition, and began taking testosterone in December.

'When it comes to your identity, you know when you know,' he said. 

'I would not have gone through what I have gone through for something I was not sure about. I’m simply telling people that in my opinion, you will only get the highest quality out of life if you are who you are.'

Of course, it wasn't an easy road. Casil suddenly had acne for the first time in his life because of his new facial hair, and he experienced menopause. Even when it came to modeling, there were challenges.  

That's new: He started taking testosterone, which gave him acne for the first time and facial hair

That's new: He started taking testosterone, which gave him acne for the first time and facial hair

Adapting: Casil said he's had to learn how to model differently as a man, since the poses are different

Adapting: Casil said he's had to learn how to model differently as a man, since the poses are different

'It’s not difficult, but guys pose differently, and they have to do different things,' he explained in an interview with W magazine this summer. 

He's since gotten the hang of it, though, and feels more comfortable in his new body. Casil has even found further success as a model.

Luckily, when he first told his agency at the time about his plan, they were supportive and helped him sign with another agency that represented men.

He has since gone on to land a 16-page spread for W magazine — for the September issue, shot by photographer Steven Meisel — and another shoot for Re-Edition Magazine. 

Changes: When he was younger, he went by the name Dani Rose (left)

Changes: When he was younger, he went by the name Dani Rose (left)

Dani Rose was signed to several agencies (pictured at Fashion Week in September 2013)

Dani Rose was signed to several agencies (pictured at Fashion Week in September 2013)

For the better: However, Casil said he feels more comfortable in his body as a male

For the better: However, Casil said he feels more comfortable in his body as a male

'Male modeling is a lot simpler because you don’t have to try as hard, but it’s definitely difficult for male models because they’re always expected to have such strong, muscular and sculpted bodies. 

'Personally for me, it takes a lot of dedication,' he told the Denver Post.

For now, though, Casil is still balancing the modeling world with the 'real' world, and still lives in his hometown in Colorado, where he is homeschooled. When he books a gig in New York City, he flies out.

And while the modeling world has been mostly accepting, he still deals with some of the challenges facing anyone who is transgender.

Get it right: He said that some people still misgender him, which he finds frustrating

Get it right: He said that some people still misgender him, which he finds frustrating

Standing up: Casil also hopes to be a role model for LGBTQ kids and thinks it's unfair that they often have to hide

Standing up: Casil also hopes to be a role model for LGBTQ kids and thinks it's unfair that they often have to hide

'It's super difficult for me not to shake people sometimes,' he said. 'While I have patience, it doesn’t give people permission to misgender me or throw my identity under the bus. 

'Because that still happens — people will misgender me and I'll correct them, and they'll be like, "Well, I'm still getting used to it." And it's like, "No, I've been this way for awhile."'

He hopes, too, to be a role model and provide a voice for those who don't feel they have one. 

'I don’t think it’s fair that kids who are like me, kids who are in the LGBTQ community, kids who are different, have to hide,' he said. 'It’s not fair that we have to feel so unsafe in this world. Kids are supposed to be protected by older generations.'

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