Yasmin Benoit is an English model, activist, and writer. She has promoted the visibility of asexuality, aromanticism, and of LGBTQ+people of colour and has worked as a lingerie and alternative model. As Aislin Magazine wrote, in "the predominantly White alternative branch of modeling, become one of the UK's most prominent Black alternative models."
Benoit began modeling at age 16, focusing her efforts on alternative fashion despite the industry's emphasis of Eurocentricbeauty standards. Her first modeling breakthrough was in 2015 with Scottish brand CRMC. Her gigs following that included Love Sick London, Dethkult Clothing, Seduced By Lilith, Kuki London, Pin Up Girl Clothing, and Teen Hearts. In March 2018, Benoit collaborated with African-American-owned gothic fashion brand, Gothic Lamb. 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. She later appeared in a Sky News documentary on asexuality in February 2019. 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." Benoit has written for several publications including HuffPost UK and given talks at several 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. In collaboration with Asexual Visibility and Education Network, Budweiser, and Revolt London, Benoit hosted the first asexual-themed bar at Pride in London in 2019. Benoit walked the runway in the London Queer Fashion Show that year. In October, she joined the Board of Directors of the AVEN. In a December 2019issue of Attitude titled "The Activists", Benoit became the first openly asexual woman to appear on the cover of a UK magazine. Benoit has an upcoming BBC Soundsradio series.
Personal life
Benoit is asexual and aromantic. "I may not be the first four letters, but I do not relate to the heterosexual experience in the slightest," she told The Nopebook in March 2019. She came out publicly in a video on YouTube in 2017 titled "Things Asexual Girls Don't Like to Hear", which began her journey as an activist. Benoit has opened up about her experiences as an asexual lingerie model. She also works to dispel myths and stereotypes regarding asexuality and aromanticism, whilst promoting the diversity of the asexual and aromantic communities and visibility for the voices within them.
