“I really don’t view myself as the first but as the next. The next model to break a barrier, the next model to have these uncomfortable conversations, the next model to be unapologetically myself.
“I am so grateful to be a part of a group of finalists who all represent completely different messages, yet have the same goal, to further inclusivity.”
‘Inclusivity means so much more than just checking boxes’
Freese first applied for Swim Search, which scouts for new swimwear talent, in 2019, and says he was dealing “with a lot of confusion” at the time.
“I was confused about my identity, my gender, and really where I was going to go,” he said.