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My Joy List: Munroe Bergdorf

The activist, model, and British Vogue contributing editor finds joy in signature scents, debuting her new book, and more.

Munroe Bergdorf

Read when you’ve got time to spare.

Munroe Bergdorf is a trailblazing model, fashion industry darling, and broadcaster extraordinare. She’s made history on catwalks and magazine covers, and has recently added “author” to her multi-hyphenate job title. Her new book, Transitional, explores the universality of transition, viewing the trans experience as one expression of this wider, essential human process we all go through in different ways: “We all transition. It’s what binds us, not what separates us.”

When she’s not writing, hosting podcasts or TV shows, or dreaming up her next campaign, Munroe finds joy in simple, everyday pleasures, like her five pets and the sunshine alternative that gets her through the gray U.K. winters.

Photo by Mariano Vivanco.

Transitional : In One Way or Another We All Transition

Munroe Bergdorf: “This year I released my first book, Transitional. It took four years to write and I’m so proud of what it has become. It’s a book about change, growth and celebrating difference, written from the perspective of a trans person, but for everyone to read.”

Reptile Eau de Parfum

MB: “This is my absolute favourite fragrance. I’ve never smelt anything like it before. Every time I wear it, I always get asked about it. It’s definitely become my signature scent over the past year or so.”

Rhitrition+ Vitamin D Daily Oral Spray

MB: “This has been such a staple in my morning routine over winter. It’s great for your immune system, cardiovascular health, bone density and hormone balance. We get the vast amount of our vitamin D from sunshine, so living in the UK, this comes in very handy.”

My Pets

MB: “I have three dogs—Teddy, Luther and Harry—and two cats—Gigi and Marsha. Looking after five pets whilst also having a busy schedule is a task and a half, but they help to keep me in a routine and stop me from overthinking when I’m overwhelmed or depleted.”

Diptyque Bais Candle

MB: “I consider this to be the scent of my home. It instantly relaxes me whenever I’m around it. I take small jars of it to burn in hotel rooms when I’m traveling to help me settle in.”

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Munroe Bergdorf

Munroe Bergdorf is an internationally renowned activist, model, Author and broadcaster. Appointed as British Vogue Contributing Editor in 2022 and a UN Women Changemaker since 2019, Munroe is a proud ambassador for gender variant and transgender youth charity Mermaids, a founding consultant of L’Oreal Paris’ UK Diversity and Inclusion Board and host of the critically acclaimed podcast The Way We Are for Spotify. She fronts MTV hit show Queerpiphany and her highly anticipated debut book Transitional was published by Bloomsbury on 16th February 2023. She has also spoken at international institutions from Oxford University to the United Nations Headquarters.

Munroe’s media career to date includes bylines and editing roles such as LGBTQ+ editor at Dazed Beauty, plus writing credits across British Vogue, Grazia, i-D, Evening Standard and The Guardian.

As a model, Munroe has worked with a range of brands including Mulberry, Gypsy Sport and The Blonds and has covered a range of media titles including British Vogue, TIME, TeenVogue, Hunger, Stylist, Time Out London, Attitude magazine, GLAMOUR, Gay Times, and GQ Style. She also made history appearing as the first trans cover star of Cosmopolitan to celebrate their 50th anniversary.

Awards and accolades for Munroe include – Glamour ‘Beauty Gamechanger’ 2022, TIME Magazine Next Generation Leaders 2020, Glamour ‘Gamechanger’ 2020, Attitude ‘Hero of the Year’, Gay Times Honours 2021, Honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of Brighton and much more.