PHOTO: Victor Boyko/Getty

Ines Rau at Vogue’s 95th Anniversary Party in 2015

Playboy’s newest issue will be one for the history books for more than one remarkable reason.

The first is the fact that its cover model will be none other than Playboy’s founder Hugh Hefner, who died on Sept. 27 at the age of 91. It will mark the first time a man has graced the cover of the magazine without a woman by his side.

But perhaps more significantly the issue will also contain a pictorial and centerfold Playmate feature with its very first transgender model. And that honor will go to French model Ines Rau.

As People explained, 26-year-old Rau was photographed by Derek Kettela for the spread, in which she rocks a simple white bra and matching lace panties, along with sexy but understated white socks and sneakers.

And while the Playmate title is new this isn’t Rau’s first time being photographed for the revered men’s magazine. She previously appeared in its May 2014 “A-Z Issue,” in a spread titled “Evolution.” That spread, People explained, was all about celebrating the world’s shifting acceptance of differing gender identities.

“It’s how I celebrated my coming out, actually,” Rau told Playboy in an accompanying interview. “I took that chance, and then I signed with an agency.”

And even for someone as strong and confident as Rau, living as her true self didn’t come easily. As she told Playboy, “I lived a long time without saying I was transgender. I dated a lot and almost forgot. I was scared of never finding a boyfriend and being seen as weird. Then I was like, You know, you should just be who you are. It’s a salvation to speak the truth about yourself, whether it’s your gender, sexuality, whatever. The people who reject you aren’t worth it. It’s not about being loved by others; it’s about loving yourself.”

Now, as a model who has broken barriers in high fashion in campaigns for Balmain and in the pages of Vogue Italia, Rau is without question a woman worth taking advice from.

“… The advice I have for girls is to chill,” she said. “Don’t pressure yourself. Embrace yourself and be proud of who you are with your imperfections. It’s all in the mind, you know?”