The Woman Behind
Transgender Jesus
Meet Fashion model
Rain Batingana
By Larry Olsen
The Woman Behind
Transgender Jesus
Meet Fashion model Rain Batingana
By Larry Olsen
Passion of the Crust is a provocative new installation
by artist Cosimo Cavallaro.
Available now at ChocolateJesusMelts.com, the three-hour performance piece features a life-sized chocolate sculpture of a transgender Jesus placed atop a heated aluminum plate, where it slowly melts before the audience’s eyes. The gradual dissolution symbolizes transformation, vulnerability, and the impermanence of physical form, while also reflecting the fluidity of identity and the constant evolution of the human experience. As the figure softens and collapses, the work challenges viewers to confront ideas of acceptance, mortality, rebirth, and the ways society attempts, and ultimately fails, to erase marginalized identities.
Filmed by seven cameras, the performance unfolds to the hypnotic strains of Maurice Ravel’s Boléro, whose steady crescendo mirrors the sculpture’s slow and mesmerizing unraveling.
Transgender fashion model Rain Batingana served as the muse for the sculpture. Cavallaro created the work using a silicone mold of Batingana’s nude body and a laser scan of her face.
We spoke with Rain about being the muse for the world’s first transgender Jesus.
What was your initial reaction when artist Cosimo Cavallaro approached you about serving as the muse for
Passion of the Crust?
Rain Batingana: I had a Zoom call interview with Cosimo and his wife, Sarah, and they were explaining the concept of the project about an art sculpture. Initially, I thought that it’s an interesting, bold, and provocative idea, and it’s something I never thought of doing. I felt elated that they chose me as the muse because they could have chosen another person. I remember Cosimo saying that God found his way to find me.
This project reimagines the figure of Jesus through a transgender lens. What made you say yes to being part of something so bold and potentially controversial?
Rain Batingana: How could I say no to this beautiful, powerful, chocolate-melting transgender Jesus? I think it’s very unique, intriguing, and one of a kind.
Given the history of controversy surrounding Cosimo Cavallaro’s previous projects like My Sweet Lord, were you concerned about public outcry, or did that add to the importance of participating?
Rain Batingana: I think anything involving a transgender individual will always be controversial, whether it’s politics, healthcare, or sports. I think it is timely and necessary, given the fact that the transgender community is being targeted repeatedly. It’s crucial we create spaces for dialogue and understanding. That’s what I hope to contribute to.
The sculpture was created using a mold of your body and a scan of your face. What was that process like, both physically and emotionally?
Rain Batingana: That process was wild! Imagine being in an operating room minus the doctors. I was surrounded by professional artists. I was wearing a robe and nothing else. Physically, it was pretty intense. Having a full body mold done is no joke, but Cosimo’s team made it as comfortable as possible.
Emotionally, it was surreal to see my own form take shape as a representation of trans Jesus. It felt vulnerable but also empowering, like I was giving the project a piece of myself to share with others.
The piece explores themes of vulnerability, transformation, and impermanence. How do those ideas connect to your own journey as a transgender woman?
Rain Batingana: Vulnerability was a huge part of my transition, having to confront and share my truth with others, even when it felt scary. Transformation is what trans identity is all about—constantly evolving and becoming who I am. I think that’s something trans people understand deeply: the idea that identity can shift and change over time. Creating this piece felt like channeling all those feelings into something tangible.
Passion of the Crust will be unveiled on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia. What significance does that timing hold for you?
Rain Batingana: In a world that is already filled with division, unveiling Passion of the Crust on IDAHOBIT is a powerful statement about inclusivity being a fundamental aspect of true democracy. It’s like saying that LGBTQ+ voices are essential to the democratic conversation and that love and acceptance should be at the forefront of our societal values. It’s a bold move that can help spark conversations, challenge societal norms, and promote inclusivity.
The work engages directly with faith and identity. What conversations do you hope it sparks, especially among people who may struggle to reconcile the two?
Rain Batingana: I grew up Catholic, and my faith, beliefs, and values are intact. I pray and go to church. My identity shouldn’t be a hindrance, nor should it be an issue. As St. John of the Cross beautifully said, “In the evening of life, we will be judged on love alone.”
This project exists at the intersection of art, religion, and activism. What do you believe it represents for the trans community right now?
Rain Batingana: This project is very important now more than ever. We live in a chaotic world where there is too much noise
and division. Trans Jesus may melt back to its original form, but our existence will never be erased. I firmly believe we are all God, and we are all worthy of God’s love simply because we exist.
As the sculpture slowly melts during the live performance, symbolizing transformation, what do you hope audiences ultimately take away from witnessing that process, and from your role in it?
Rain Batingana: I hope people walk away with a sense of connection—a sense that we’re all in this together. It’s a reminder that we all evolve, and that’s okay. And for me, being part of it is a testament to the power of art to heal and uplift, especially for a community that is often marginalized.
Chocolate Jesus Melts presents Passion of the Crust is available for viewing at https://chocolatejesusmelts.com
