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Bloom followed in the footsteps of Brazil's Valentina Sampaio, who last year became the first transgender woman to appear in the issue.

\"Leyna, she walked on that set and she owned it,\" said MJ Day, editor-in-chief of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. \"And that's what I want for every woman to feel in their life, like they have a seat at the table. They have a right to be there.\"

Bloom said her path wasn't easy, as she faced homelessness throughout her life.

\"PHOTO:
CraSH/MediaPunch/IPx via AP, FILE
PHOTO: Leyna Bloom attends The Trevor Project's TrevorLIVE LA 2019 on Nov. 17, 2019 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
>

\"It wasn't homeless to be homeless ... I knew that this was what I needed to do to get to where I needed to be,\" Bloom said. \"I still had the dream. The dream was feeding me when I was starving in my body.\"

Bloom said visibility is key to progress.

Meet @leynabloom — the first Black and Asian American transgender woman making a historic splash in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. @JujuChangABC has the story. https://t.co/pfr4aEsV7s

— Good Morning America (@GMA) March 16, 2021

\"We need to constantly remind ourselves to protect those people in our society that are destined, that are different, that are beautiful uniquely themselves to go out and do what they're destined to do which is to challenge society to make it better for everyone else,\" Bloom said.

\"PHOTO:
Dave Bedrosian/Geisler-Fotopress via AP, FILE
PHOTO: Leyna Bloom poses for photographers during the 72nd Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2019 in Cannes, France.
>

Bloom said her father is her superhero because as a single dad, he supported her every step of the way.

Bloom also has tons of praise for NBA star Dwyane Wade, who she said reached out to her with words of wisdom and encouragement. Wade is the parent to a transgender daughter.

Watch Juju Chang's exclusive interview with Bloom tonight at 12:35 a.m. ET on ABC's \"Nightline.\"

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