Gay lifestyle magazine Attitude is facing backlash after naming transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney as its ‘Woman of the Year’.
The American TikTok star, who documented her transition on the video-sharing platform last year, accepted the title at the Virgin Atlantic-sponsored awards event in London this week.
But critics slammed the decision, accusing the awards of ‘scoring women everywhere’ with prominent feminist campaigner Maya Forstater calling it an ‘insult’.
In her acceptance speech, Mulvaney said being honored with the gong “from a foreign publication” “means so much more to me.”
She said: ‘Some see me as the woman of the year, some see me as the woman of the year and some change because I only came out publicly online 560 days ago – and some people don’t see me at all’ not a woman.’
But Maya Forstater spoke to MailOnline and said: ‘It’s an insult to women. It’s hard to imagine anything more misogynistic than saying that no woman this year has achieved anything more significant through their work than a man who puts on a dress and undergoes cosmetic surgery.’
Transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney won Attitude magazine’s Woman of the Year award
The influencer – who came out as a transgender woman during the COVID-19 pandemic – posed in a gown with a billowing ruffled skirt
At one point, the social media personality switched out of the silver gown and into a see-through black dress
Winner: The TikTok star later posed in the Winners Room
In her acceptance speech, Mulvaney said being honored with the gong “from a foreign publication” “means so much more to me.”
Piers Morgan posted an image of Attitude’s magazine cover with Mulvaney on the front, writing on X: ‘Another ridiculous slap in the face of real women.’
TV personality Charly Arnolt also tweeted: ‘There are almost 4B women in the world, and of course Dylan Mulvaney wins ‘Woman of the Year’.
TalkTV presenter and NHS GP Dr Renee Hoenderkamp added: ‘It’s just gaslighting women everywhere.’
Others congratulated Mulvaney, saying she looked ‘stunning’ on the cover of Attitude magazine.
American TikTok star Mulvaney took the title this week after spending much of the first half of the year embroiled in controversy over her Bud Light partnership, which cost the beer company $400 million in sales.
In her acceptance speech, Mulvany added: ‘Here’s what I realized: No matter how hard I try or what I wear or what I say or what surgeries I get, I will never achieve an acceptable version of womanhood according to that hateful people standards do not.
‘But as long as I have the queer community that sees me for my truth, I’m going to be fine.
‘And I’m equally grateful that this title is happening in the UK and not only because I’m very attracted to your accents, but I because I came to London on holiday this summer after months of feeling isolated and when I arrived, I didn’t feel that baggage that I carried in the US and I didn’t feel like the trans beer girl.
‘I didn’t walk into rooms thinking that person hated me. I was just another girl walking around in a Burberry trench on my way to a West End musical.
‘I’ve romanticized this country as a safe place and as dangerous as it is for trans people right now, maybe it’s less about where we are and more about who we’re with – and when I’m surrounded by people like you, it’s still can be one of my safe spaces.’
She went on to say that “we’re all in this together” and thanked a list of people, including her mom, her stylists, her life coach, her agent and her best friend.
‘Some see me as the woman of the year, some see me as the woman of the year and some change because I only came out publicly online 560 days ago’
The dramatic dress also featured a beautiful jeweled mesh bodice with black straps
Some branded the decision ‘ridiculous’ and an ‘insult to women’, but others congratulated the winner and said she looked ‘stunning’ on the cover of Attitude magazine
The event at the Roundhouse in Camden, London, is being held in aid of the Attitude Magazine Foundation, which raises money for LGBT causes.
It was hosted by Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden and comedian Alan Carr on Wednesday.
Holden said: ‘Since being crowned Honorary Gay in 2017, it has always been a dream of mine to present the Attitude Awards and I couldn’t think of a better person to join me to host as my dear friend Alan Carr.
‘It is so important right now to stand together as one and embrace this beautiful diverse world we live in and accept everyone for who they are.’
Carr said: ‘It’s been a mixed year for our LGBTQIA+ family, some incredible progress has been made and yet some very upsetting setbacks have knocked us for six, which only makes the Attitude Awards even more important and necessary. ‘
In April, Mulvaney teamed up with Bud Light as part of their March Madness campaign and was gifted a can of light beer with her face on it – sparking outrage
Her Bud Light ad sparked corporate layoffs and stripped it of its longtime title of America’s favorite beer.
In April, Mulvaney partnered with Bud Light for their March Madness NCAA campaign and was sent a personalized can as part of the promotion.
The backlash caused Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, to lose $400 million in sales — as their total U.S. revenue fell 10.5 percent from the year before.
Mulvaney posted herself drinking Bud Light with the hashtag #budlightpartner, before joking that she didn’t know what sport she was promoting.
Since the fiasco, Anheuser-Busch has scrambled to cling to its reputation as an all-American company without distancing itself from the LGBTQ groups it has long supported.
The brand has not apologized for the campaign nor has it doubled down, with chief executive Brendan Whitworth attempting stern diplomacy in the few interviews he has agreed to since the fallout began.
Transgender influencer Mulvaney also won the gong for Breakthrough Creator at the 2023 Streamy Awards in August and used her speech as a chance to call out transphobia – before promising to toast her victory with a beer.