{"id":42549,"date":"2023-12-26T07:00:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-26T06:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1947814"},"modified":"2023-12-26T09:44:51","modified_gmt":"2023-12-26T08:44:51","slug":"jaiyah-saelua-on-how-next-goal-wins-shines-a-light-on-faafafine-culture","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/jaiyah-saelua-on-how-next-goal-wins-shines-a-light-on-faafafine-culture\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaiyah Saelua on how Next Goal Wins shines a light on fa\u2019afafine culture"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saelua was the first\u00a0transgender football player to compete in a World Cup qualifier game. <\/p>

By Patrick Cremona\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 26 December 2023 at 06:00 AM<\/p>

\n\n

Perhaps the most interesting element of Taika Waititi\u2019s new film Next Goal Wins is the storyline revolving around Jaiyah Saelua \u2013 a member of the American Samoan football team who became the first\u00a0transgender player to compete in a World Cup qualifier game.<\/p>\n

Saelua is played in the film by first-time actor Kaimana who, like her, identifies as fa\u2019afafine \u2013 a recognised third gender identity that is traditional in Samoan and American Samoan culture.<\/p>\n

And, speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com<\/a> ahead of the film\u2019s release, Saelua highlighted how meaningful it was for this part of her culture to be shown on the big screen.<\/p>

\u201cKaimana\u2019s entire performance \u2013 just the fact that she\u2019s highlighted as a trans woman and as a fa\u2019afafine, that she\u2019s one of the lead female roles\u2026 I mean, that\u2019s huge in the industry,\u201d she said. \u201cWe don\u2019t see that at all. And, you know, it\u2019s groundbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Later in the interview, she said that she hoped the film would show audiences \u201cthat piece of my culture, that is the fa\u2019afafine and fa\u2019atane, my identity\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat we as a community have a binary system that is inclusive of our identities, and it\u2019s not black and white, that is male and female, and there\u2019s a myriad of identities that could fit in anywhere,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd it troubles no one to embrace people that are like that, like us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n