When Allure magazine first asked Laverne Cox if she’s interested in participating in a nude photo shoot for its May issue, the “Orange is the New Black” actress suddenly became unusually shy.

She admitted that she initially said no. Though she thought about it, she eventually said no again. However, she told the magazine that she realized she’s a transgender, black woman, who she felt participating, could contribute something extremely powerful for the various communities she represents.

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And it really did.

The beautiful black and white photo shows Laverne, baring almost all—with her arm and leg tastefully placed over her sensitive body parts. She joins other stars including Sandrine Holt and “Furious 7” actress Jordana Brewster for the photo spread, who all talked candidly about their bodies.

Laverne, who’s recently cast to play a transgender attorney for a still unnamed new CBS show, also told the magazine that she’s hoping her love for her image and body will encourage other black and transgender women to love and accept their bodies as well.

She said that, in life, people often “try to cover and hide,” but it does not work. She explained that many black women are not usually told they are beautiful unless they follow certain beauty standards and continued to say that transgender women never get told they’re beautiful, so she’s hoping that seeing her as a black and transgender woman, loving her image and everything about it might serve as an inspiration to others.

“There’s beauty in the things we think are imperfect. That sounds very cliché, but it is true,” she added.

But Laverne, who was recently included in TIME magazine’s Most Influential People along with Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and Emma Watson, shared, that aside from posing to inspire and encourage people, she also decided to join for her own personal reason and that is to please herself and make her happy.

She said frankly, “I honestly just want to make myself happy most, and if other people like it, then that’s great.” But what if they don’t like it? “Then I’m still happy,” she responded.

TagsLaverne Cox, Allure Magazine, transgender