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Valentina Sampaio and Alex Consani -

The controversial Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show finally returned in October 2024 after a six-year hiatus. The line-up included women from a range of ethnic backgrounds, as well as more variation in body type. What's more, the first-ever trans models took to the runway for Victoria's Secret. Valentina Sampaio, a Brazilian 27-year-old, and Alex Consani, an American 21-year-old, both walked proudly at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York. “This moment is one I will cherish for a lifetime,” Sampaio told People. "I can’t believe I’m here,” said Consani. 

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Rikkie Valerie Kollé -

Trans model and actress Rikkie Valerie Kollé was crowned Miss Netherlands in July 2023, meaning she became only the second openly transgender woman to participate in the Miss Universe pageant, following Ángela Ponce who won Miss Universe Spain 2018 and became the first openly trans contestant at Miss Universe that same year.

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Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee -

Alex Newell and J. Harrison Ghee became the first non-binary performers to win in the featured and lead acting categories at the Tonys in 2023. Newell won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for 'Shucked,' while Ghee won for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for 'Some Like It Hot.'

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Elliot Page -

Elliot Page bravely came out to the world in December 2020 as transgender, and surprised himself by becoming a major high-profile trans icon. He opened up about his post-transition experience in an interview with Esquire. "I can't overstate the biggest joy, which is really seeing yourself," he explained. "I know I look different to others, but to me I'm just starting to look like myself. It's indescribable, because I'm just like, there I am. And thank God. Here I am." Page revealed that he worried he'd never feel peace before his transition, when he lived with the constant sensation of wanting to flee his own body. He now feels the joy and peace he never thought was possible. "When I say I couldn't have ever imagined feeling that way, I mean that with every sense of me."

Page also has the unique perspective of a public figure who came out as gay and later came out as trans. Those coming out experiences were drastically different. "Transphobia is just so, so, so extreme. The hatred and the cruelty is so much more incessant," he revealed. Thankfully, Page has also received a great deal of love and support from many people and is happy to be living openly as his true self. 

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Kim Petras -

Kim Petras made history with her and Sam Smith's Grammy win for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their popular song 'Unholy.' “Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras announced from the stage to huge applause and standing ovation. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I can be here tonight,” she continued. She may have been referring to the likes of electronic music composer Wendy Carlos, who earned Grammys as a trans woman back in the ’60s. Petras went on to thank the late trans pop genius Sophie, who predicted she'd win a Grammy, and gave a shout-out to Madonna for fighting for LGBTQ rights.

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L Morgan Lee -

The Tony Awards have overlooked transgender performers throughout its over 75-year history, but L Morgan Lee made history as the first openly transgender person to be nominated in a Tony acting category, recognized in the Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical category for her role as Thought 1 in 'A Strange Loop.' The groundbreaking musical by Michael R. Jackson, about a queer Black man trying to write a musical about his life, earned 11 total nominations, including Best Musical. It was the most recognized production of the 2021-2022 Broadway season at the 75th annual awards show. “I can't stop crying,” Lee wrote on Twitter after the news of her nomination was announced.

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Talisa Garcia -

Talisa Garcia landed a breakthrough role as Disney's first trans actress to appear in a Lucasfilm show. (Lucasfilm is the production company responsible for creating the 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones' franchises and was acquired by Disney in 2012.) Garcia was cast to play the queen and mother in the TV series 'Willow,' based on the 1988 movie of the same name. Though not a major role, the casting choice is still a milestone for Lucasfilm. Disney only cast their first trans actor in an animated movie in 2021, with Patti Harrison appearing in 'Raya and the Last Dragon.'

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Ivory Aquino -

Ivory Aquino joined the cast of the now-shelved 'Batgirl' flick as Alysia Yeoh, the best friend of Barbara Gordon/Batgirl, who was to be played by Leslie Grace. Aquino is known for her work in the LGBTQ rights miniseries 'When We Rise' (2017) in which she played trans rights activist Cecilia Chung. The addition of a transgender actress playing the first openly trans character in a live-action DC film would have been a huge milestone for her career and the trans community. 

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Mj Rodriguez -

Mj Rodriguez, who made her TV debut with her fierce portrayal of house mother Blanca Rodriguez on FX's  'Pose,' made history as the first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe. The star earned the award for Best Actress in a TV Drama, which is also the first Golden Globe win overall for the series, which premiered in 2018. Rodriguez reacted to her historic win with a little speech on Instagram Live and said, "This is for the LGBTQAI, Black, Latina, Asian [communities], the many multi beautiful colors of the rainbow… This is not just for me, this is for y'all. This is the door that opens for y'all.”

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Mj Rodriguez -

Mj Rodriguez also became the first ever trans woman to be nominated for an Emmy in the lead drama actress category. Rodriguez told Variety, “A moment like this extends and opens and elongates the possibilities of what’s going to happen and I believe the Academy is definitely making it possible and their eyes are more than open." 

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Dr Rachel Levine -

Dr. Rachel Levine, the US assistant secretary for health, was sworn in on October 19, 2021, as the first transgender four-star officer in the country's history, making her an admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. She's the highest-ranking openly transgender official in the US, and during her swearing-in speech she said, "May this appointment today be the first of many more to come, as we create a diverse and more inclusive future," while paying tribute to other LGBTQ+ individuals who came before her.

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Laurel Hubbard -

New Zealand named Laurel Hubbard to its women's weightlifting lineup for the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo, making her the first openly transgender athlete to ever compete in the world-famous games. "I am grateful and humbled by the kindness and support that has been given to me by so many New Zealanders," Hubbard said in a statement on June 21, 2021. Though she failed to register a lift in the women's super-heavyweight +87 kg category, she soaked up the historic moment and bowed to the crowd before making her way off the stage.

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Quinn -

Quinn is a midfielder for the Canada women's national soccer team who made history as the world’s first trans nonbinary athlete to compete in any Olympic games. If that weren't enough, they are also the first-ever trans nonbinary athlete to win an Olympic medal! 

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Leyna Bloom -

In March 2021, Bloom became the first trans woman of color to appear in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit. A few months later, made history yet again as the first ever transgender cover star for Sports Illustrated's 2021 Swimsuit Issue. She wrote on Instagram: "This historical moment is important to #girlslikeus because it allows us to live and be seen. Many girls like us don’t have the chance to live our dreams, or to live long at all. I hope my cover empowers those, who are struggling to be seen, feel valued. Let me be a messenger guiding us to a future of respect and appreciation for all women in all forms and from all walks of life." 

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Kataluna Enriquez -

Kataluna Enriquez was crowned Miss Nevada USA on June 27 and simultaneously made history as the first openly transgender woman, and transgender woman of color, to win the title. That means the beauty queen also became the first transgender woman to compete in the 2021 Miss USA pageant. She took to Instagram to celebrate her victory and wrote, "My community, you are always in my heart. My win is our win. We just made history. Happy pride." 

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Caitlyn Jenner -

Caitlyn Jenner may be the most famous transgender woman in the world. As a member of the Kardashian-Jenner family, she used her public platform to announce her identify and new name on the cover of Vanity Fair. She played a very brave role in creating conversations about transitioning and trans rights in the mainstream media.

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Laverne Cox -

Laverne Cox is best known for her role as Sophia Burset on the hit Netflix show 'Orange Is the New Black.' Cox is a dedicated advocate for the trans community and has made history multiple times. She was the first openly transgender woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine, as well as the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for acting.

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Janet Mock - Janet Mock is a prolific writer and TV host who was the first transgender woman to write and direct an episode for television, as well as the first transgender woman of color to sign a major deal with Netflix. Her 2014 memoir 'Redefining Realness' was a New York Times bestseller.

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Chaz Bono -

Chaz Bono is the transgender son of Cher and Sonny Bono. As a child, he appeared on his parents' show 'The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour.' He made a very public transition at the age of 41 and documented his journey in the film 'Becoming Chaz.'

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Candis Cayne - Candis Cayne started out as a drag performer in New York in the early '90s and went through her transition in the mid-90s. With her role in the show 'Dirty Sexy Money,' she became the first transgender woman to play a recurring transgender character on primetime TV.

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The Wachowski Sisters - The Wachowski Sisters are an incredible powerhouse in the film industry. They are the writers and directors of the historic 'Matrix' film series, as well as other hits such as 'Cloud Atlas' and 'V for Vendetta.' The sisters are both transgender women who transitioned later in life. Lana Wachowski was one of the first openly trans directors in Hollywood.

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Jamie Clayton -

Speaking of the the Wachowski Sisters, Jamie Clayton played the main role of a computer hacker in the Netflix sci-fi series 'Sense8.' The show was groundbreaking for its LGBTQ representation, and Clayton has gone on to be a trans rights activist in Hollywood. 

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Alexandra Billings - Alexandra Billings may be best known for her role as Davina in the hit show 'Transparent,' but she has also appeared in several other series such as 'How to Get Away with Murder' and 'Grey's Anatomy.' Billings was one of the first transgender actresses to play a transgender character on TV, with her role in the 2005 television movie 'Romy and Michele: In the Beginning.'

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Jen Richards -

Jen Richards is an actress who created and starred in the web series 'Her Story,' which follows the dating lives of several trans and queer women. It was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2016. She has also acted in hit shows like 'Nashville' and 'Tales of the City.' She founded The Trans 100, an award that celebrates excellence in service to the transgender community.

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Dominique Jackson -

Dominique Jackson plays the iconic role of Elektra in FX's series 'Pose.' Her performance was so strong that she has been cast as an actual goddess in the show 'American Gods,' and fans are calling for her to be given the role of Storm in the next 'X-Men' movies. Jackson has also written a book chronicling her personal journey called 'The Transexual from Tobago.'

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Asia Kate Dillon - Asia Kate Dillon is a trans and non-binary actor who played a role on the Netflix series 'Orange Is the New Black,' but they are best known for their role as Taylor Mason on the show 'Billions.' Dillon was the first non-binary person to play a non-binary character. They made headlines in 2017 when they spoke out about the gendered award categories at award shows like the Emmys.

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Tracey Norman - Tracey Norman is model who was extremely successful in the 1970s. She modeled for Clairol and her face appeared on the cover of their hair dye boxes, until she lost her contract after they discovered that she was transgender. She joined the New York ball scene where she became a legend, and after New York magazine did a profile on her in 2015 she signed a new contract with Clairol! She is seen as a pioneer in the trans community.

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Hunter Schafer -

Hunter Schafer is a trans woman who went from being a model and activist to an actress when she was cast as Jules in HBO's 'Euphoria.' Her role was significant as it showed a trans teen who was at peace with their gender identity, but struggling with other complex issues.

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Josie Totah - Josie Totah is a young actress who played many male roles, such as Michael in Mindy Kaling's 'Champions,' before announcing she was transgender in 2018. In 2021, she took on one of the leading roles in the new 'Saved by the Bell' reboot and has reportedly worked to include authentic trans stories in the show.

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Chelsea Manning -

Chelsea Manning rose to fame as a whistleblower who was jailed for sending thousands of documents from the US government to WikiLeaks. She began her transition in prison, and since being released by President Obama in 2017 she has continued to use her platform to fight for transgender rights, data privacy, and even ran for Senate.

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Nicole Maines -

Nicole Maines is a rising young actress who made history by playing the first ever transgender superhero on TV. She played the role of Nia Nal on 'Supergirl' from 2018 to 2021 and her character also made a special appareance in the TV series 'The Flash'.

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Alex Blue Davis -

Alex Blue Davis has appeared on several shows such as 'NCIS' and '2 Broke Girls,' but his most groundbreaking role was on 'Grey's Anatomy.' He played transgender doctor Casey Parker, the first transgender character on the show.

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Jazz Jennings - Jazz Jennings is a young transgender woman who has been in the spotlight as an advocate since she was a child. Appearing on TV talk shows from the age of six, she has also published a book called 'I Am Jazz,' starred in a TLC reality show of the same name that shares her experiences, and co-founded the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation.

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Candy Darling -

Candy Darling was a famous transgender icon in the 1960s and 1970s, made famous by her roles in the Andy Warhol films 'Flesh' and 'Women in Revolt.' She was also a muse for the band The Velvet Underground.

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Isis King -

Isis King is a model and actress who appeared on 'America's Next Top Model' as the first transgender contestant on the show. She was the first transgender woman to do a campaign with the brand American Apparel, and recently played the role of Marci in the Emmy-nominated show 'When They See Us.'

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Elliot Fletcher -

Elliot Fletcher is a young actor who has played numerous transgender characters on TV shows like 'Shameless' and 'The Fosters.' He is one of few trans actors to have recurring roles on TV and is continuously paving the way for artists in the trans community.

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Carmen Carrera -

Carmen Carrera is a model who appeared on 'RuPaul’s Drag Race' in 2012, where she called out the show for its use of transphobic language. She began her transition that year and has remained in the public eye. Her wedding to her long-term partner was shown on VH1's 'Couples Therapy,' making it the first trans woman's wedding broadcast on television.

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Brian Michael Smith -

Brian Michael Smith is a transgender actor who has been appearing in hit shows like 'Gossip Girl' and 'Girls' since 2011. He came out as trans in 2017, having previously played cis-gendered male roles. He's a testament to the fact that cis-gendered roles should be more open to trans actors.

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Jenna Talackova - Jenna Talackova is a Canadian model who made headlines in 2012 when she fought to maintain her place in the Miss Universe Canada competition after she was disqualified for not being a “natural born woman.” She hired famed lawyer Gloria Allred and convinced pageant owner Donald Trump to change the rules. She won the prize for Miss Congeniality that year, but her success in progressing trans rights was much greater.

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Caroline Cossey -

Caroline Cossey was a highly successful model in the 1970s and 1980s. She worked with Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, and also landed a Playboy cover. She was even a Bond girl in the film 'For Your Eyes Only.' She was outed as a transgender woman by a British tabloid in 1982, but made a comeback in 1991 with another spread for Playboy.

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Lea T. - Lea T. is a Brazilian transgender model who has hit many milestones for transgender women in the fashion industry. In 2014, she became the face of Redken, making her the first openly trans woman to front a global cosmetics brand.

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Chella Man -

Chella Man is an exceptional new star on the rise. The actor, model, and YouTuber is famous for sharing his experiences as a transgender, deaf, genderqueer, Jewish person of color. He gained greater fame when he got the role of Jericho in the show 'Titans' in 2019.

Sources: (Insider) (22 Words) 

For more inspiring stories, discover some of the Black LGBTQ icons who made and are making history.

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