Debra L Rothenberg/FilmMagicOxygen is getting ready to strut its stuff. The network has ordered Strut, a new reality series from Whoopi Goldberg, that follows a group of transgender models from Slay Model Management breaking down barriers in the world of fashion. Slay Model Management is the world's first exclusively transgender modeling agency.
"Strut follows a group of inspiring and resilient trailblazers who are working to change the modeling industry, and the world around them, by simply being true to themselves," Rod Aissa, executive vice president of original programming and development at Oxygen Media, said in a statement. "These individuals will empower viewers as they live their lives fully and unapologetically, despite facing many obstacles throughout their journey."
The series is set to premiere later this year.
"This show is important right now, because for all of the positive advances the community has made and continues to make, transgender is still a hot-button word that gets people hysterical," Goldberg said. "People tend to focus on the stereotype instead of the person, and this series will give viewers a unique opportunity to spend time with real people who are struggling with the same challenges we all face as we make our way through the world. You may even be surprised to discover that you have been seeing and interacting with transgender men and women in ways you didn't even realize!"
Goldberg, Tom Leonardis, Stephanie Noonan Drachkovitch and Bobby Sizemore are all on board as executive producers.
(E! and Oxygen are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)