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Gigi Gorgeous

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Gigi Gorgeous
Lazzarato speaking at the Trans Day of Visibility celebration in San Francisco, March 2017
Born
Gregory Allan Lazzarato

(1992-04-20) April 20, 1992 (age 32)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Other names
  • Gregory Gorgeous
  • Gigi Lazzarato
Occupations
  • YouTuber
  • model
  • actor
Years active2008–present
AgentSelect Management Group (LA)
Spouse
​
(m. 2019)​
YouTube information
Years active2008–present
Genre(s)Fashion, makeup, vlogs
Subscribers2.79 million
Total views502 million
100,000 subscribers2012
1,000,000 subscribers2014
Last updated: March 2, 2021

Gigi Loren Lazzarato Getty[1] (born Gregory Allan Lazzarato; April 20, 1992),[2] known professionally as Gigi Gorgeous Getty,[1] is a Canadian YouTuber, socialite, actress, and model.

In 2008, Lazzarato began uploading video blogs onto streaming platform YouTube as Gregory Gorgeous.[3] Her videos achieved popularity and established an online following. During the following years, Lazzarato uploaded regularly to the channel along with creating and starring in the reality program The Avenue (2011–2013). Following a brief hiatus, she gained media attention after coming out as a transgender woman in 2013, and began going by Gigi Gorgeous.[4][5] During 2014, Lazzarato personally documented her gender transition through social media profiles, notably through videos revolving around cosmetic procedures, which obtained viral status. In 2016, an incident involving Lazzarato being deported from Dubai due to her status as a transgender woman resulted in widespread media coverage. Lazzarato was the subject of This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous (2017), a Barbara Kopple-directed documentary that followed life going through gender transition. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and went on to have a limited theatrical release and several accolades including a Streamy.

Besides personality work, Lazzarato has dabbled in acting and modeling work. Her performance credits include starring in fellow YouTuber Shane Dawson's short film I Hate Myselfie (2015) and its sequel, along with guest appearances in television series Project Runway All Stars, Me and My Grandma, Good Work, and Trailblazers, amongst others. Through modeling, Lazzarato has appeared on the covers of Paper and Fashion, been featured in spreads for Galore, Kode, Refinery29, and Out and served as a frequent muse of August Getty Atelier. In 2019, she authored the book He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes From My Transgender Journey.

Early life

Gigi was born Gregory Allan Lazzarato,[6][7] the child of Judith Lazzarato (née Belding) and David Lazzarato, a business executive who served as independent director of The Stars Group, chief executive officer of Craig Wireless, and chief financial officer of Alliance Atlantis.[8] She is of Italian, Lebanese, English and French heritage and she was raised in the Roman Catholic faith.[2][9][10]

As a young adult, Gigi was a nationally ranked diving champion.[9][11][12] Gigi's mother, Judith, died of leukemia on February 3, 2012, at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto.[13]

Career

2008–13: Beginnings on YouTube

Gigi operated a makeup tutorial YouTube channel that began in 2008 while in the eleventh grade, when a friend mentioned seeing a makeup video by Michelle Phan on YouTube.[14] Gigi first came out at age 16, identifying at the time as a gay male.[3][15] Since transitioning, her YouTube channel started to include more vlogs, fashion, and lifestyle videos.[16][17]

On January 18, 2011, Gigi announced The Avenue, a YouTube-based reality series. The show premiered on March 15 of that year on YouTube with distribution by Blip. The show's last episode aired on April 14, 2013.

2014–16: Gender transition and appearances

Gigi was awarded the LogoTV Trailblazing Social Creator Award in 2014 for being an advocate on behalf of LGBT youth. She frequently attends BeautyCon conventions to meet with fans and sit in on panels about makeup techniques and the cosmetics industry.[18] Gigi has modeled for designer Marco Marco, and walked in the 2014 and 2015 Marco Marco Fashion Shows.[19]

Gigi has used internet celebrity status to bring awareness to transgender issues, the LGBT community, and anti-bullying.[20][21] Her image was featured in a montage of transgender celebrities in the ABC 20/20 documentary about Caitlyn Jenner's transition.[22][23]

In early 2015, Gigi starred in fellow YouTuber Shane Dawson's debut short film I Hate Myselfie as Amber. Gigi later reprised the role of Amber in I Hate Myselfie 2.[24]

In June 2015, it was announced that Gigi had teamed up with singer Miley Cyrus and had joined Cyrus' Happy Hippie Foundation's Marie Claire "#InstaPride" campaign.[25] The campaign included a series of photos and an announcement by Cyrus that they were working on a secret project. The project later turned out to be a spread in the magazine Marie Claire featuring them both.[26][27] Gigi signed a partnership with 'Too Faced Cosmetics' in which Gigi starred in the cosmetic commercial film "Better Than Sex" which premiered on July 9, 2015. At the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, Gigi, along with a group of drag queens, introduced Miley Cyrus for the debut performance of Dooo It! from Cyrus's new album Miley Cyrus and her Dead Petz.

She appeared on Entertainment Tonight as a special guest that same month.[28] Gigi was featured in Kylie Jenner's app "Kylie", that features several make-up tip videos.[29] On September 18, Gigi won the Streamy Award for "Best Beauty Series".[30] It was announced on October 7 that she would star in Adam Lambert's video for her song "Another Lonely Night".[31][32]

2016: Dubai incident

On August 9, 2016, Gigi was detained in the United Arab Emirates. Her passport was taken by airport officials and immigration officers at the Dubai International Airport. She was denied entry to Dubai for "imitation of women by men", as the government does not recognize Gigi's gender as legitimate, even though, according to Gigi, "The gender on my passport states female and not male." The "imitation of women by men" is illegal in the UAE, and violators can face up to a year in jail.[33] She was released after being detained for five hours.[34][35]

The "#JusticeForGigi" hashtag surfaced on Twitter, with fans and supporters calling for Gigi's release and a reform in anti-LGBTQ laws.[36] It was not the first time a transgender person had been detained in Dubai. In 2014, two Brazilian transgender women were also detained and had their passports taken.[37] Before leaving Dubai for Sweden, Gigi responded to the incident by calling for equality and legal protections for LGBTQ people.[38]

2017–present: This is Everything

In January 2017, the documentary This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous, starring Gigi, directed by Barbara Kopple, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.[39] On June 11, Gorgeous watched the documentary with Katy Perry on Perry's four-day livestream event, Katy Perry Live: Witness World Wide.

In June 2017, Gigi was named to the Time magazine list of the 25 most influential people on the Internet.[40]

In 2019, Gigi published a memoir, titled He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes From My Transgender Journey.[41] In October 2019, Gigi announced a makeup collection coming out with Ipsy in November 2019. The collection features various beauty products related to makeup.

Personal life

In October 2014, Gigi began dating Cory Binney, the half-brother of drag queen Alaska Thunderfuck, after meeting at a club. Their relationship was on and off until they broke up in May or June 2015. The break-up inspired one of Gigi's most viewed videos titled "Single Life (My Break Up)", a music video to "What the Hell" by Avril Lavigne. It is now one of Gigi's top 5 most viewed videos of all time with 7.5 million views. They got back together in July 2015 before permanently splitting in November 2015.[42][43] Gigi, who had previously identified as a gay man[3] and then later bisexual,[44] came out as a lesbian in a YouTube video on September 14, 2016.[45] Gigi began dating Nats Getty, an heir and member of the Getty family, shortly after meeting him at Paris Fashion Week while working as a model for Getty's brother, August Getty.[46] In March 2018, Getty proposed to Gigi at the Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte in France.[47] On July 12, 2019, Gigi and Getty married in a private ceremony at Rosewood Miramar Beach in Montecito, California.[48] Guests at the wedding included Ariadne Getty, Caitlyn Jenner, Teri Hatcher, Moj Mahdara, Justin Tranter, Bonnie McKee, Grace Helbig, Hannah Hart, and Trisha Paytas.[7] The couple were given toasts by Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, and Governor Gavin Newsom of California.[7] On April 9, 2021, Gigi identified herself as pansexual, after releasing a YouTube video, explaining how she "didn't fall in love with Nats because of his gender, but the person that he is."[49]

Gigi is a practicing Roman Catholic and describes herself as religious.[50]

Transition

Gigi came out as a transgender woman in December 2013. Since then, she has undergone electrolysis, tracheal shave, hormone replacement therapy, facial feminization surgery, rhinoplasty, and breast augmentation.[51] On March 8, 2014, Gigi legally changed her name to Gigi Loren Lazzarato.[6]

In a September 2015 issue of People, Gigi credited "transgender model and performing artist Amanda Lepore and the death of my mother for sparking my transition."[52]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes Refs.
2015
 I Hate Myselfie Amber Short film
Better Than Sex Gigi Short film [53]
I Hate Myselfie 2 Amber Short film [54]
2017 This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous Herself Documentary [39]

Television

Year Title Notes Refs.
2009 The Campus Lead role; 7 episodes
2010 MTV'S The After Show [55]
2011–2013 The Avenue 21 episodes
2013–2015 Celebrity Style Story Host; 13 episodes
2013 The Listener Episode: "The Blue Line"
Project Runway All Stars Episode: "#Nina'sTrending"
2014 Trailblazers Award ceremony
PopSugar TV Episode: "Talks Beauty Tips and Fashion At BeautyCon LA"
2015 About Bruce TV special
Good Work
Access Hollywood 3 episodes
Daily Share
MTV Video Music Award Award ceremony
Entertainment Tonight
VH1's Streamy Awards Award ceremony
FOX News 1 episode
The Marco Marco Show Recurring role; 3 episodes
Beauty TV Episode: "Glowing with Gigi Gorgeous"
Bro'Laska Episode: "Cory's Tips for Getting Swole"
What's Trending Episode: "Gigi Gorgeous Talks Trans Rights and LGBT Equality" [56]
Help, My Face Is Fucked! Recurring guest; 4 episodes
PerezHiltonTV Episode: "Behind The Scenes of Gigi Gorgeous' Photoshoot"
GLSEN Respect Awards Award ceremony
2016 Gigi Gorgeous's Love Letter
Nightcap Episode: "The Horny Host" as Herself
American Music Awards Award ceremony
Thread of Man Documentary short
2017 Me and My Grandma Episode: "Elderboo"
Access Hollywood Guest appearance
Shane and Friends Episode: "Gigi Gorgeous"
Daily Pop Guest appearance
Not Too Deep with Grace Helbig Episode: "Gigi Gorgeous"
Katy Perry Live: Witness World Wide House guest
Last Week Episode: "Last Week I Snuggled Puppers"
2018 Undivided Attention Host
2020 Upload Vogue interviewer
2021 Canada's Drag Race Guest Judge - Season 2 Episode 6 "The Sinner's Ball"
2023 Hell's Kitchen Uncredited guest diner; Episode: "Just Bring the DARN Fish!"

Music videos

Year Title Artist Role Notes
2015 "Another Lonely Night" Adam Lambert Priestess
2018 "Aileen" Willam Belli Aileen Wuornos
2019 "Do Not Disturb" Steve Aoki, Bella Thorne The Countess
"God Control" Madonna Herself
2024 "Days of Girlhood" Dylan Mulvaney Girl at Pool

Awards

Year Category Award Recipient Result
2014 Trailblazing Social Creator Logo TV Awards
Herself
 Won
2015 Best Beauty Series Streamy Awards
2016 Best Beauty Series Nominated
2017 YouTuber of the Year Shorty Awards Won
Best Feature Streamy Awards This Is Everything
Best Documentary Nominated
Most Compelling Living Subject of a Documentary Critics' Choice Awards
Herself
(for This Is Everything)
 Won
2019 United Award Streamy Awards
Herself
 Won

References

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  3. ^ a b c Auriemma, Adam (January 23, 2013). "'The Avenue' Star Gregory Gorgeous: Trapped in the YouTube Closet?". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
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  56. ^ Gigi Gorgeous Talks Trans Rights and LGBT Equality – VidCon 2015. YouTube. August 2, 2015.
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