Raya Martigny
Model, actress and activist
“No one can guess what you need, so feel free to express it, with respect and generosity.“
For several years now, Raya Martigny has been pushing the boundaries of fashion and representation. A native of La Réunion, she has made a name for herself in Paris and abroad, walking runways and appearing in campaigns for the greatest brands. During an exclusive meeting, she told us about her journey and projects.
You are a model, an actress, a queer activist and a source of inspiration for many: how do you juggle all these different roles?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
I’m very committed to my ideas and dreams. Everything is constantly evolving, but nothing changes drastically. Over time, I’ve learned to manage these different aspects of my life. Some of them are my passions, others have unexpectedly popped up into my life. There are so many important things to learn and pass on. When I feel like it’s time to share, to create, to give or to receive, I feel something stirring inside me – so I just go for it.
Queen Size, the short film by Avril Besson in which you play Marina, a woman on her way back to La Réunion, has been nominated for the César Award for Best Fiction Short Film. Can you tell us a little more about this venture?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
Avril is an amazing director, she’s very funny and her sensitivity bled into her film. I barely knew India (Hair) before filming, we had only met once. But we were both very excited to get to know each other during this experience.
The filming was crazy! Carrying a mattress in the streets of Paris with a perfect stranger is the kind of ridiculous challenge I could take up in real life, and I love unexpected challenges. Having to carry something so heavy somehow facilitated the filming: we really bonded over the struggle. We shared genuine moments and made unforgettable memories.
Charlie and Marina appear to have absolutely nothing in common, and yet this unlikely duo ends up working out. What did you like or notice about their relationship?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
I don’t think they have nothing in common, quite the contrary actually. They’re both going through hard times and they bonded over it. Marina is mourning her life in Paris, and Charlie just lost her grandmother. They both need to share their emotions, to be with someone, to not be alone during these defining moments. They don’t expect the same things from life, but maybe because they’ve never thought it could be any different. In a way, their meeting allowed them to broaden their horizons.
We can’t help but notice that there is a parallel between Marina and Raya. How are they similar or different?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
Marina is a multifaceted person, and the feature film will explore in detail. But in the short film, I was already seeing myself in her. Marina was inspired by a friend of Avril, and I can’t wait to meet her in person. Just like Marina, I am very sensitive and empathetic. I like to help out, I am wild and fierce, and I love a good adventure. I am a fighter and more importantly, I deeply love life. Ah, there is another common trait that we share: if you invite me over, I’ll come with all my things… and stay for three days!
Your native island, La Réunion, is a place where LGBTQIA+ representation is still a work in progress. Requeer, an association that you sponsor, has been working on this topic for a while now. Can you tell us about the association’s activities and your role?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
The work carried out by the Requeer association is invaluable. Thanks to Requeer, the first ever LGBTQIA+ center of the Indian Ocean was inaugurated in Saint-Denis de La Réunion. Over the past four years, they set up events such as the Visibility Walk, voguing balls, safe spaces, talks and exhibitions, making the whole community thrive on the island. I go back every year to carry out projects with them and think about how we can continue to expand our visibility. My boyfriend and I have been working for over four years on “Kwir Nou Éxist”, a photographic archive and research project on the history of queer and Creole people in La Réunion. It’s the first initiative of its kind on the island, and we hope it will inspire other island territories to do the same. This year, the exhibition is scheduled to travel between La Réunion, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, and we’re very proud of it!
Your journey has undoubtedly become a source of inspiration. What advice would you give to queer people in Reunion and elsewhere?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
Make things happen, even with limited resources. Work together, exchange ideas, ask for advice. No one can guess what you need, so feel free to express it, with respect and generosity. Everybody’s journey is different. Feeling different is a strength. Allow yourself to feel, to connect with yourself, and create an imaginary world in which others can come and take what they need.
You walked the runway at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, wearing a jumpsuit designed by Gilles Asquin. Being on that stage, as a trans woman and alongside so many other queer figures, is bound to have a strong impact. How did it feel to be part of such a global event?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
As a child, I never really watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics. This one was on a Sunday: my suitcase was packed for Greece, my plane was at 2 a.m. and the ceremony was scheduled to end around midnight. I only had one thing in mind: do my part in style and go on vacation. I was feeling calm. Gilles, my team at GO-SEE and I were thoroughly prepared. It was a powerful moment, but at the time, I didn’t really realize its importance.
It was only later that I fully understood its impact. A friend of mine had never spoken to his parents about his homosexuality. His father, already quite old, would probably never have known if the excitement of seeing me on TV hadn’t overwhelmed my friend. He felt his son’s happiness so keenly that they were finally able to talk about it. Since then, he’s lived without any secrets, without shame, without anything to hide. And that alone made it all worthwhile.
We all have role models, sometimes they are famous celebrities, sometimes they are unassuming but essential people around us. Who are the people, relatives or icons, who have inspired you and helped you grow?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
First, there is my mom, the most beautiful woman in the world. Then, there’s my lover, who supports me everyday. And finally, there are those who have moved me, inspired me, guided me, whom I’m in love with in some way: Honey Dijon, Stefano Pilati, Sophie, Mathias Garcia, Hans Bellmer, and many others. I carry a little piece of them with me, every day.
After winning over the fashion world, you’re heading for a successful career in film. Where do you see yourself in a few years’ time? Do you have any future projects or collaborations you’d like to tell us about?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
I want to learn, travel, write and make films. There are lots of projects coming up over the next few years, but to tell you about them now would be to spoil the surprise…
With Fashion Week Fall-Winter 25-26 just days away, if you had to relive a particular show or moment from a previous season, which would it be and why?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
I always talk about the same memory, but it was such a memorable moment: Jean Paul Gaultier’s last show before he retired. It was the show I’d dreamed of since I was 10, a celebration of fashion, freedom and spectacle.
But there are also those encounters that stick with you… Like the one with Debra Shaw. She was sitting down, looked me up and down and said, “I can’t believe they found someone with legs longer than mine.” We’ve been friends ever since, and she’s such a genuine and kind woman. Or when Naomi Campbell asked me to open her show in New York because, according to her, I was the only one with a walk powerful enough for an opening. Sorry girls, that’s what she said…
You have a strong bond with Courrèges and the Maison’s artistic director, Nicolas Di Felice, whose creations you often wear. What is it about his vision and work that particularly appeals to you?
RAYA MARTIGNY :
I’m struck by his talent, his loyalty, his generosity. He does things very differently. He makes his friends work, he makes those he loves dance, he’s cool! He has remained true to his values, and this is a central element of his work. It’s all very organic. For me, it’s one of the most pleasant success stories of the entire fashion industry.
Interview by Say Who
Photo credits: Alex Black, Erik Cesla, Jacqueline Landvik
