Many of her Instagram photos show her with another woman—as tall, as sleek and as fashionable. They are dolled up at some event or shoot, capturing their OOTDs in front of the mirror, or sharing a playful, intimate moment with the rest of the world—much like any pair of pretty BFFs you’d see on social media.
However, their beauty and sophistication aren’t half as fascinating as the fact that these women are neither sisters nor best friends; they are an unconventional yet happily married and much celebrated couple that made headlines a year ago due to an unexpected revelation.
Last year, Angelina Mead King—formerly known as alpha-male race car connoisseur and business magnate Ian Angelo King— came out as a transgender woman and her wife, international model and host Joey Mead King, showed her full support.
It’s been a year after Angie, through Instagram, was forced out of the closet. But Joey’s hand clasped hers firmly as she stepped out, and family, friends and followers embraced her transition, giving the LGBTQ community cause for celebration.
A year after the revelation, the couple appears happier and tightly bound more than ever, in full scrutiny and admiration of anyone and everyone.
In an Instagram update posted on July 2, Angie shared her sentiments on her journey, saying, “Exactly a year ago I was outed by @instagram, uncertain of what was to unfold. I was ready to move on and change careers. Today I am out, I am proud and truly grateful on how positive things have turned out. Hopeful my journey paves the way for others like me by continuing to create awareness and knocking down stereotypical connotations of what it means to be transgender.”
Angie’s coming out was a victory for the couple as much as it was a celebration for the LGBTQ community. It became a channel for overflowing support, and breeding ground for acceptance. It also opened doors to new opportunities.
Angie and Joey have been invited to support women-centered and gender-bending campaigns, gracing events left and right. They even headlined a retail fashion campaign for women’s month in March, with emphasis on the concept of fashion for every woman. The couple has been interviewed a few times and their story was featured on a TLC special just last month.
Joey has admitted that while she supported Angie’s cross-dressing from the start—a habit that would continue for a few years and bring them to LGBTQ pride conventions overseas—she wasn’t immediately equipped to accept that her husband wanted to live as a woman for the rest of their married life.
Angie and Joey defied convention and broke boundaries when they lived the life they wanted as a married couple who chose to fight for their love.
Angie’s clothes and appearance may have changed, but her habits remain the same. She is still into luxury cars, drives fast ones, and runs successful business ventures. If there is one thing that hasn’t changed after a year, though, it’s her love for her wife, Joey, and the love she gets in return.
If you think about it, Joey is traditionally a man’s name, and Angie, a woman’s; but it really doesn’t matter because they are equals, two beautiful women with common passions and a lifetime to share. With a life of fame, glamour, luxury and unconditional love, the Kings are indeed on top of the world—strutting in heels as they conquer it. Love is love, and love has won.