PROFILE DETAILS
NAME: Lea T
REAL NAME: Leandra Medeiros Cerezo
AGE: 45 years old (as of 2026)
Gender: Female
weight: Information not publicly available
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Birthdate: February 19, 1981
Birth Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
NET WORTH: Estimated $1 million – $5 million
Salary: Information not publicly available (Per-campaign basis)
MAIN INCOME SOURCE: Fashion Modeling and Brand Endorsements
Profession: Fashion Model and LGBTQ+ Rights Activist
RELIGION: Catholic (Raised in a devout Catholic household)
FAMILY: Toninho Cerezo (Father), Rosa Medeiros (Mother)
PARENTS: Toninho Cerezo and Rosa Medeiros
SPOUSE: Information not publicly available
CHILDREN: Information not publicly available
CAREER: 2010 – Present
Nationality: Brazilian-Italian
SOCIAL PROFILES: Instagram (Verified), Facebook (Verified)
What is Lea T Net Worth and salary?
As of early 2026, Lea T’s net worth is estimated to be between $1 million and $5 million. Her wealth is primarily derived from her decade-plus career as a high-fashion supermodel and her status as a global brand ambassador.
A significant portion of her earnings comes from her historic multi-year contract with Redken, where she became the first openly transgender model to front a global beauty campaign. Additionally, her work as a “muse” for Riccardo Tisci led to lucrative campaigns with Givenchy and Burberry. While her exact annual salary is not public, top-tier models of her caliber typically command six-figure sums for major international campaigns and runway appearances.
Early Life
Lea T was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, into a high-profile family. Her father is the legendary Brazilian footballer Toninho Cerezo. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Italy, where her father played for major clubs like Roma and Sampdoria. Growing up in Italy, Lea was immersed in European culture while maintaining her Brazilian roots. She was raised in a traditional, devoutly Catholic environment, which initially made her journey toward self-discovery and transition a complex familial challenge.
Before fame
Before becoming a household name in fashion, Lea T lived a relatively private life in Milan. She pursued academic interests, including studying veterinary medicine, before finding her path in the creative arts. Her entry into fashion was not through traditional scouting but through her friendship with designer Riccardo Tisci. She initially worked as his personal assistant and fit model, providing the creative spark that would eventually lead to her becoming the face of his most iconic collections.
Awards
- Forbes “12 Women Who Changed Italian Fashion” (2015): Recognized alongside industry titans like Miuccia Prada.
- BBC 100 Women (2020): Named as one of the most influential and inspiring women globally.
- Gay Times Honour for Fashion (2019): Awarded for her pioneering visibility in the LGBTQ+ community.
- Time Magazine: Recognized as a “Health Hero” for her advocacy for transgender healthcare and visibility.
Personal Life and Relationships
Lea T has been open about her identity as a transgender woman and has identified as bisexual in various interviews. She underwent gender reassignment surgery in Thailand in March 2012. While she has been linked to various figures in the fashion and art worlds, she keeps her romantic life highly private. As of 2026, there is no public record of a spouse or long-term partner.
Family life
She is the daughter of Toninho Cerezo, one of Brazil’s most celebrated midfielders. Her relationship with her father was famously strained following her transition, a rift that was heavily publicized by Brazilian tabloids. However, over the years, the family has reconciled, with Toninho publicly expressing his unconditional love and support for his daughter. She remains close to her mother, Rosa, whom she has cited as her primary beauty icon.
Associated with
- Riccardo Tisci: Her long-time collaborator and the designer who gave her the “T” in her professional name.
- Kate Moss: The two famously shared a cover for LOVE magazine in 2011, a landmark moment for trans visibility.
- Naomi Campbell: A peer and supporter within the high-fashion circuit.
- Marina Abramović: A close friend and collaborator in the world of performance art.
Real Estate
Lea T maintains a nomadic lifestyle, splitting her time between Milan, Italy, and Brazil. While she owns property in her native Brazil, specific details regarding her real estate holdings are kept private for security reasons. She has frequently expressed a preference for living close to nature, often spending months in remote coastal villages in Brazil.
Net Worth History
- 2010–2013: Rapid growth following her Givenchy debut; estimated net worth reached $500,000.
- 2014–2018: Peak commercial earnings following the Redken global contract and Olympic appearance; net worth surpassed $1.5 million.
- 2019–2026: Diversification into activism, speaking engagements, and high-end luxury campaigns (Burberry, Desigual), maintaining a steady net worth in the $3M–$5M range.
Trivia
- The “T” in her name stands for Tisci, a tribute to her mentor Riccardo Tisci.
- She made history at the Rio 2016 Olympics as the first transgender person to participate in an opening ceremony, leading the Brazilian delegation.
- She is a strict vegetarian and an advocate for environmental conservation.
- Before modeling, she considered a career in veterinary medicine because of her deep love for animals.
- She is fluent in Portuguese, Italian, and English.
BIOGRAPHY
Executive Summary
Lea T (Leandra Medeiros Cerezo) is a transformative figure in the global fashion industry, recognized as the world’s first transgender supermodel to achieve mainstream luxury success. Born in 1981 to Brazilian football icon Toninho Cerezo, she spent her formative years in Italy, a dual heritage that would later define her sophisticated and international aesthetic. Her career began in 2010 when she was cast as the face of Givenchy by Riccardo Tisci, a move that challenged the industry’s rigid gender norms and sparked a global conversation on inclusivity.
Throughout the 2010s and into the 2020s, Lea T transitioned from a fashion “muse” to a global icon of activism. Her 2014 appointment as the face of Redken was a watershed moment, marking the first time a transgender woman fronted a global cosmetics campaign. Beyond the runway, she has utilized her platform to address the systemic violence and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in Latin America. Her participation in the 2016 Rio Olympics opening ceremony further cemented her status as a cultural pioneer.
As of 2026, Lea T remains a highly sought-after talent, balancing high-fashion campaigns with her role as a vocal advocate for human rights and environmental sustainability. Her legacy is defined not only by her striking beauty and professional milestones but by her courage in navigating a public transition under the intense scrutiny of the global media. She continues to be a primary reference point for diversity in fashion, proving that identity and artistry are inextricably linked.