Miley Cyrus Launches 'InstaPride' Campaign to Celebrate Transgender Individuals

Outspoken and free-spirited Miley Cyrus kicked off a new campaign in promotion of her Happy Hippie Foundation. Joining forces with Instagram, the Bangerz singer launched a photo sharing app called "InstaPride" to celebrate transgender and "gender expansive" people.

The InstaPride app saw its debut on social media platforms with the help of Leo Sheng, a 19-year-old film student who has documented his personal journey of transitioning. "The most obvious theme of my page is my transition from female to male," Sheng wrote in an Instagram blog post. "For me, a picture really does say a thousand words." Sheng also noted that Cyrus ran the photo shoot and acted as photographer to help detail his personal experiences and thoughts on self-image.

"I used to be afraid to share photos that I took, let alone pictures of myself from any period of my life," Sheng wrote. "But, I've learned how powerful sharing can be whether it's your story or just something that means a lot to you. My photos mean a lot to me - all of them. I share them without apologies. I love to see how far I've come and what I've accomplished. If there's anything that the last few years have taught me, it's that living an unapologetic existence is the most freeing thing you can do." Cyrus' latest campaign follows up the triumph of her Facebook partnership, which included the talents of Cyrus and notable musicians performing for Backyard Sessions, notes Rolling Stone. Enlisting the help from companions and colleagues Ariana Grande, Joan Jett and Against Me!'s Laura Jane Grace, they raised an abundance of awareness for the Happy Hippie Foundation. The foundation's major ambition is to assist vulnerable homeless youth, including those who identify within the LGBT community.

Tags

Miley Cyrus