Transgender Man Could Be Men's Health's Next 'Ultimate Guy'

If he maintains his significant lead Men’s Health’s “Ultimate Guy Search,” 27-year-old Aydian Dowling could be the magazine’s first transgender cover model. He spoke with People about the “outpouring of encouragement” he’s received since entering the competition.

“It’s phenomenal, the amount of support it’s gotten – how many people have re-Tweeted and re-blogged and re-posted and liked and shared and commented and voted…I think I would have laughed if someone said that in five years I was going to be in a competition to be on the cover of Men’s Health magazine.”

Dowling currently has nearly three times the votes of the contestant in second place, and is excited to represent the transgender community in such a high-profile contest.

“I want to break the stereotype of what a man should or shouldn’t be,” he says. “I think it would blow minds. I think it would be so affirming to young kids who are lost right now and depressed to see somebody on a magazine, to see if I can do it, they can do it too.”

Voting for “The Ultimate Guy Search” will continue through June 15, and the winner will appear on the November 2015 issue of Men’s Health.