Sport
Football’s first fa’afafine: trans rights trailblazer Jaiyah Saelua on stardom and sisterhood – The Guardian
Fa’afafine athlete and advocate Jaiyah Saelua, and Kaimana, the fa’afafine actor who will play her in Taika Waititi’s latest film, find shared celebration in a uniquely Polynesian story
Jaiyah Saelua is a footballer first.
The first openly transgender woman and faafafine to compete in a Fifa World Cup qualifying match for men, she has become a global champion for the rights of transgender and faafafine athletes, and now – almost disbelievingly – finds her life portrayed in an upcoming Hollywood film, directed by Oscar winner Taika Waititi, to be released later this year.
But the game remains her primary and abiding love.
Jaiyah Saelua practices drills at Fagaalu Park America…
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