Cora Harrington
Being open about her sexuality has led Cora Harrington’s career along two different trajectories. “In terms of my industry — intimate apparel — which is often very conservative, being out has resulted in increased isolation and more alienation, as my vocal queerness and calls for inclusion frequently make companies uncomfortable,” the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Lingerie Addict tells GO. “However, with regards to my work — my book, my website, my social media presence — being out helps, because people know I am part of the community. I’m not ‘dabbling’ into it. I don’t speak about LGBTQ+ issues because it’s ‘trendy’ or Pride Month.” The Lingerie Addict, the world’s largest digital lingerie magazine, reshapes the presentation of lingerie to be more body positive and inclusive, embracing models of all shapes, identities, and abilities. Its success has made Harrington a leading authority on intimate apparel and is breathing new life into the conservative industry. Harrington is also the author of “In Intimate Detail: How to Choose, Wear, and Love Lingerie,” which was published by Ten Speed Press in 2018. Her career, she tells GO, gives her the opportunity not only to share her love of intimate apparel but also to get others to see it from a new — and transformative — perspective. “Lingerie is powerful because it allows you to express who you truly are — to fully embrace your identity — even if you can’t do so publicly yet,” she says. “Particularly for the LGBTQ+ community, we often feel left out of discussions about lingerie, of lingerie advertising, of the products available. I hope, through my work, that I’m able to connect people with the options that allow them to fully realize who they are.” —RK
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