Dubai Didn't Allow Me Into Country Because I'm Transgender, Says Model

Dubai: Canadian model Gigi Gorgeous has shared an emotional post on Instagram after airport personnel in Dubai detained her for several hours because she is transgender.

The model, who candidly documented her transition on YouTube, described the ordeal as "one of the scariest moments of my entire life", reports people.com.

"After being detained and held at the Dubai airport for over five hours, this was the moment my baby came to rescue me," Gorgeous captioned a photograph embracing friend Nats Getty.
 She continued: "Yesterday was one of the scariest moments of my entire life and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone. How you can be denied entry somewhere just because of who you are is seriously disgusting and also very scary. This further proves the need for change."

The 24-year-old model added that she was "safe and sound and happy" and on her way to "somewhere much more accepting".

Gorgeous shared that the immigration officer in Dubai said: "I was told you are transgender. You cannot come into the country."

Gorgeous was born Gregory Allan Lazzarto, but she changed her name to Gigi Loren in 2014 and says that is the name that appears in her updated passport.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)