Allure Features a Luminous Laverne Cox in Their Annual Nudes Issue

Joined by Jordana Brewster, Nicole Beharie of Sleepy Hollow, Katheryn Winnick of Vikings and Sandrine Holt of Terminator Genisys, Laverne Cox is in Allure’s latest Nude issue in all her naked glory.

Last year’s issue was a bit of a snoozefest, but the purpose of Allure’s annual naked issue is an admirable one: to allow women to see themselves in a more romantic setting than naked women usually are in men’s magazines. While the other actresses look perfectly nice this year, Cox clearly shines above the rest, though she says she originally turned down their offer to appear.

“Even more then for me, I think for a lot of members of the various communities I represent—I am a black transgender woman—I thought this could be a really powerful thing for those communities that I represent,” she said in a behind the scenes video.

“Thanks to everyone at @allure magazine for making me feel so comfortable taking off my clothes for the camera for your May issue,” she added later on Instagram, before also sharing her appearance in Time’s 100.