33 transgender celebrities who broke barriers

Hailing from present-day Bosnia-Herzegovina, Andreja Pejić has modeled for both women's and men's clothing. Pejić has been featured on the covers of Elle, Marie Claire, and GQ and became the first transgender model profiled by Vogue in 2015. In addition to becoming one of the most prolific transgender models in the world, Pejić has appeared as a guest judge on "Britain's Next Top Model" and acted in 2022's "Daliland" and "The Other Me."

Actor Asia Kate Dillon is the first nonbinary performer to portray a major role in an American television show, playing Taylor Mason in "Billions." They have been nominated for several Critics Choice Television Awards and co-starred in "John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum." Their presence in film and television has helped observers learn about the nonbinary experience and the use of singular they/them pronouns, resulting in such awards ceremonies as the MTV Awards making some of their categories gender-neutral and inclusive.

For several decades in the 20th century, Billy Tipton was one of the most accomplished jazz musicians of his time. As a bandleader and a pianist, Tipton toured the country and released several successful albums. Tipton, assigned female at birth, changed his gender presentation in the early 1930s to fit the "jazz band image" at the time; his status as a trans man was unknown until after his death and was a surprise to even his closest friends and family.

One of the most prolific coming-out moments from a celebrity in the modern era was that of Caitlyn Jenner, who is a long-retired gold medalist decathlete. Jenner's transition sparked publicity and wide discussions about the transgender experience, and she would win accolades such as the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY Awards for sharing that of her own.

Best known for playing Ryan Shaver on Netflix's hit series "13 Reasons Why," Tommy Dorfman came out as a transgender woman in July 2021. Even before publicly announcing her transition, Dorfman had long been an outspoken activist for the LGBTQ+ community and earned the GLAAD Rising Star Award in 2017. Dorfman has since continued to act and made her Broadway debut in 2024's "Romeo + Juliet," portraying both Tybalt and the Nurse.

 As the child of Sonny Bono and Cher, Chaz Bono has received media attention since early in life. Before his transition, tabloids outed him as a lesbian, and he began his social and medical transitions in earnest during the late 2000s. Chaz has since been a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and advocate. He proceeded to share his story in a 2011 documentary film, "Becoming Chaz," and later competed in "Dancing with the Stars," both of which helped to spur conversation about transgender people. 

Swimmer Schuyler Bailar made history in 2015 when he became the first openly transgender athlete to compete on an NCAA Division 1 men's team. While swimming for Harvard University, Bailar appeared on "60 Minutes" to discuss his transition and raise awareness of issues faced by transgender athletes. Since graduating, Bailar has continued his mission of educating others about the transgender community—he published a best-selling book about gender diversity in 2023 and frequently speaks at college campuses across the country.

Before her successful acting career, Candis Cayne performed as a drag queen in the early 1990s. She then began to appear in film and on television, including some projects by RuPaul. By 2007, Cayne had a spot on the television show "Dirty Sexy Money," becoming the first transgender actor to portray a recurring transgender character on prime time television. Since 2023, Cayne has hosted the gardening reality show "Candis Cayne's Secret Garden" and in 2024, she teamed up with writer Danna Davis to launch the trans-focused production company Mary, It's Mary Productions.
 

After the release of the 1981 James Bond film "For Your Eyes Only," in which model Caroline Cossey appeared as an extra and a modeling gig for Playboy, British tabloids outed Cossey as a transgender woman. While the incident severely upset her, Cossey continued her modeling career and fought for trans rights in the U.K., with her efforts reaching all the way to the European Court of Human Rights.

Transgender athletes have always faced difficult battles within their fields due to the gender-separated nature of many events, but triathlete Chris Mosier has instigated change in sports. Through Mosier's challenging the International Olympic Committee policy, he was able to participate in the Duathlon Age Group World Championship Race and many events afterward. Mosier was the first transgender man to compete in Olympic trials with other men, and he was the first transgender athlete to participate in the "Body Issue" of the now-defunct ESPN The Magazine.

In the 1950s, Christine Jorgensen was the first known person to undergo sex reassignment surgery, identifying as a woman some years after her service in World War II. With her wit and cadence, Jorgensen became profiled in the news and advocated for transgender people while also acting and performing. As a spokesperson for transgender people, Jorgensen has remained an influential figure even decades after her death—the play "The Christine Jorgensen Show" made its Off-Broadway debut in 2024, recounting Jorgensen's story for modern audiences.

Now-retired MMA fighter Fallon Fox struggled with her gender identity for most of her early life, eventually receiving reassignment surgery. After becoming an MMA fighter in the women's division, Fox came out as transgender, which led to controversy and debate over whether or not she would be allowed to compete against other women. While her career has ended, outlets like Outsports deemed Fox the "bravest athlete in history."

Giselle Loren Lazzarato Getty, known professionally as Gigi Gorgeous, was one of the earlier makeup artists building a following on YouTube in the late 2000s. She initially identified as a gay man before coming out as a transgender woman in 2013. In August 2016, she was detained at the Dubai International Airport due to her transgender status and social norms in the United Arab Emirates, which sparked calls for equal protection and reform in anti-transgender laws. Getty continues to publicly share aspects of her life as a transgender woman, including her journey to parenthood with her husband Nats Getty.

As the first transgender person to appear on the cover of a major British magazine, Hari Nef has used her modeling and acting career to speak out about trans issues. Along with her work in fashion and modeling, Nef is also a writer; her work has appeared in publications like Vice and a sex-advice column. Her most familiar work in film and television includes appearances on the TV show "Transparent," the 2018 film "Assassination Nation," and as Doctor Barbie in the hit 2023 movie "Barbie." Nef is slated to play Candy Darling in a forthcoming biopic of the '70s icon.

Model Hunter Schafer has repped several prominent labels, including Tommy Hilfiger and Coach. In 2019, Schafer captivated audiences with her role on HBO's "Euphoria," in which she co-stars as the love interest of Zendaya's protagonist. A few years later, she made her blockbuster debut in 2023's "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes," followed by roles in the 2024 films "Cuckoo" and "Kinds of Kindness." Off-screen, Schafer has become a prominent LGBTQ+ activist, though she's also been vocal about her desire to avoid being pigeonholed into transgender roles.

Actor-model Jamie Clayton found herself drawn to the Netflix show "Sense8," as it featured a transgender woman character written by transgender writers. Clayton portrayed Nomi Marks in the series and would go on to land several TV shows, films, and video game projects, including "The Snowman," "The Neon Demon," "Designated Survivor," and "Mass Effect: Andromeda." In the docuseries "Equal," Clayton even portrayed transgender icon Christine Jorgensen.

Seeing a significantly young and prominent trans person in the media is important for other trans children who may be going through a difficult time, and Jazz Jennings was able to offer that representation. Jennings was diagnosed with gender dysphoria at the early age of 5, and since transitioning, she has made multiple media appearances to speak about her challenges on shows like "20/20" as well as on the Oprah Winfrey Network. Since then, Jennings has launched a number of initiatives and charities supporting transgender children.

Born in 2001, Josie Totah is one of the youngest out transgender performers in the entertainment industry. After appearing on the Disney Channel show "Jessie," Totah would go on to receive praise for her performance in the 2016 film "Other People." It wasn't until 2018 that she came out as a transgender woman. She's since appeared in projects like Peacock's "Saved by the Bell," which she also helped produce.

While at George Washington University, Kye Allums was part of the university's women's basketball team. While playing on the team, he came out as a trans man and played one more season, becoming the first openly gay transgender athlete to play in NCAA Division I sports. After graduating, Allums traveled the country and acted as a public speaker, sharing his own experiences and advice on how to handle bullying toward trans youth.

Best known for writing and directing the "Matrix" films, Lana and Lilly Wachowski both came out as trans women in 2010 and 2016, respectively. The "Matrix" films have been pointed out for containing trans allegories, and the duo has continued to be inclusive in their works, especially with their Netflix series "Sense8." Lana and Lilly also directed "Speed Racer," "Cloud Atlas," and "Jupiter Ascending." Lana has since directed 2021's "The Matrix Resurrections" by herself, while Lilly will make her solo directorial debut on the forthcoming feature "Trash Mountain."

Punk rock star Laura Jane Grace is the founder, lead singer, and guitarist of the band Against Me! She is one of the few openly transgender punk rock artists in the industry, coming out as a trans woman in 2012. To reflect on her identity, Against Me! independently released a well-received concept album entitled "Transgender Dysphoria Blues" in 2014. She wrote about her punk rock experiences and decision to transition in a 2016 memoir and remains a staple in the punk scene today. She released her latest EP, "Give Me an Inch," with the Mississippi Medicals in 2024.

Quite possibly the most famous trans celebrity is actor and activist Laverne Cox, primarily known for her role on the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black." Cox has the distinction of being the first transgender performer nominated for an Emmy in an acting category. She went on to be the first transgender actor with a series regular role on a broadcast network for her work on CBS' "Doubt." As an activist, Cox is credited with having a large role in the national discussion about transgender people in the United States.

Actor Nava Mau caught audiences' attention with her scene-stealing role in the 2024 Netflix hit "Baby Reindeer." Mau's performance earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, making her the first Latina trans actor to score a nod in the category. Though Mau didn't win the award at the September 2024 ceremony, her emotional red carpet interview with Laverne Cox before the Emmys quickly went viral. During the conversation, Mau expressed her hope that "we continue to get to be all that we are as trans people on screen."

At only age 20, actor Yasmin Finney played a major transgender character in the 60th-anniversary special for the popular British sci-fi show "Doctor Who." Finney, who was nominated for a Children's & Family Emmy Award for her role on "Heartstopper," plays Rose Noble, the daughter of the Doctor's companion Donna Noble, and her gender identity plays a pivotal role in the climax of one of the episodes. After Finney made waves with her role, "Doctor Who" has since employed additional trans actors to play roles on the series.

Best known for her role on FX's "Pose," Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is the lead woman actor in what is the largest transgender cast in a television show to date. In 2021, Rodriguez became the first transgender woman nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. The following year, Rodriguez made another meaningful leap for trans representation in the entertainment industry by claiming the Best Actress trophy at the Golden Globe Awards, making her the first trans woman actor to win the honor in the history of the awards. In addition to appearing in series like "Loot" and "American Horror Story," Rodriguez has also recently branched out into music, releasing her debut album, "33," in 2024.

Better known by the stage name Left at London, Nat Puff is a singer-songwriter and internet personality. She is best known for her viral videos on Vine and her parodies of musicians and comedians while also being an accomplished musician in her own right for her "Transgender Street Legend" albums. Since her social media presence has grown, she frequently shares fundraising campaigns for a number of struggling transgender individuals.

In response to the increasing number of right-wing video essays on YouTube, Natalie Wynn, best known by her online name ContraPoints, began producing elaborate counterargument video essays on the platform. Her videos are known for their detail in terms of both her nuanced arguments and her intricate production and costume design. She remains one of the most-followed leftist YouTubers, alongside Hbomberguy and Philosophy Tube, both of whom have campaigned for trans equality and the latter who came out as a trans woman in 2021.

Popularly known as NikkieTutorials online, Nikkie de Jager is an online influencer and makeup artist with over 1 billion views on YouTube. For her work, she's received accolades from Forbes and the Teen Choice Awards, and in early 2020, she came out as transgender. Later that same year, she had the distinction of serving as the online host of "Eurovision: Europe Shine a Light," which replaced the traditional Eurovision Song Contest due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As one of the few out trans men actors on Broadway, Hennessy Winkler has already amassed a number of impressive stage credits. One of Winkler's biggest successes was winning the role of Will Parker on the "Oklahoma!" national tour. While Winkler continues to adjust his performances and vocals due to his transition, his vocal range was one of the factors leading to his being cast in the ensemble of the 2023 "Sweeney Todd" revival, his first Broadway role.

Television actor Brian Michael Smith had identified as male since his early childhood, even playing football for the boy's team in high school. Smith studied acting and film production at Kent State University; after a few minor roles on shows including "Girls" and "Person of Interest," Smith got his big break in "Queen Sugar" as transgender police officer Antoine Wilkin and later became a series regular on Fox's "9-1-1: Lone Star."

Before transitioning, Elliot Page starred in a number of films, including "Hard Candy," "X-Men: The Last Stand," and "Juno," the last of which garnered Page an Oscar nomination. Page came out as a trans man at the end of 2020, with Netflix even retroactively changing his credit through all of his previous films to reflect his name. Page's character on "The Umbrella Academy" series also transitioned to mirror his real-life experience. Less than a year after Page returned to the silver screen for his first male film role, Time named him one of the most influential people of 2024.

Writer Janet Mock has written two memoirs detailing her experiences as a Black and Kanaka Maoli trans woman. After writing for several outlets such as People and HuffPost, Mock established a career in television writing and production. Mock was a producer for the show "Pose," which featured the largest cast of transgender performers, while writing and directing several episodes. Mock has since collaborated with "Pose" co-creator Ryan Murphy as a director or writer for "The Politician," "Hollywood," and "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story."

Swifties entranced by the music video for Taylor Swift's song "Lavender Haze" likely discovered model Laith Ashley for the first time. A trans model and activist, Ashley grew up in Harlem and came out as transgender in 2013. After posting pictures on Instagram, he got the attention of "Orange Is the New Black" celeb Laverne Cox, and Ashley began modeling for several brands, such as Calvin Klein, and was featured in stories published by British GQ, Vogue France, and Out magazine. Playing Swift's love interest in a music video has renewed public interest in the model's career.

Additional writing by Cu Fleshman. Story editing by Carren Jao. Copy editing by Paris Close.