Munroe Bergdorf is a prominent British activist, model, and writer, currently working as a public speaker, author, and campaigner, with partnerships across media, fashion, and social justice organisations. As the first UK Champion for UN Women, she uses her platform to advocate for racial and gender equality, drawing deeply on her own experiences as a mixed-race, transgender woman. These intersecting identities have shaped Munroe’s unwavering commitment to creating inclusive and equitable spaces. Her speaking engagements cover a range of impactful topics, including mental health and wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, race, LGBTQ+ issues, empowerment, fashion, future building, and paving the way forward, with a strong emphasis on the lived realities of marginalised communities.
Munroe’s career began in fashion, where she made headlines in 2017 as the first transgender model in the UK to be signed by L’Oréal. Although her role was controversially cut short after she spoke out about systemic racism, this marked a turning point in her public trajectory. Instead of stepping back, Munroe leveraged the attention to become a powerful voice in activism. She appeared in the 2018 Channel 4 documentary, What Makes a Woman, was appointed as an LGBT Advisor for The Labour Party, and became an advocate for UN Women UK. Her early appearances as a commentator on programmes like Good Morning Britain and This Morning further established her as a leading voice on identity, equity, and justice.
Her achievements are both extensive and influential. In 2019, she delivered a viral TEDx Talk titled The Capitalisation of Diversity and Commercialisation of ‘Wokeness’ and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Brighton. She was named Changemaker of the Year at the 2018 Cosmopolitan Awards, and has been recognised by Glamour twice: as a Gamechanger and Beauty Gamechanger of the Year, in addition to being a TIME Magazine Next Generation Leader in 2020. In 2021, she received the GAY TIMES Honour for British Community Trailblazer, and in 2023, she was longlisted for the Polari Prize for her memoir, Transitional: In One Way or Another, We All Transition, which was also named one of Waterstones’ Best Books of 2023. Her most recent book, Talk To Me (2025), continues her mission to encourage honest, transformative dialogue.
Munroe’s speaking work is rooted in authenticity, challenging audiences to address uncomfortable truths around race, gender, and identity. Whether discussing the mental health toll of discrimination, the intersectionality of marginalised identities, or the role of fashion and media in shaping social norms, her talks are insightful and empowering. With her emphasis on racial equality at the heart of her work, Munroe is frequently hired for her ability to catalyse meaningful change, inspire inclusive leadership, and pave the way forward for future generations.
