Transgender people have been making history, breaking barriers, and changing lives for decades. From Hollywood to Washington, D.C., trans individuals are stepping into the spotlight and showing the world what courage and authenticity look like.
Their stories inspire millions of people, especially young people who may be searching for role models who look and live like them. Get ready to meet 16 incredible transgender stars who are making a real difference right now.
1. Laverne Cox
Few names shine as brightly in the fight for trans rights as Laverne Cox. She became the first openly transgender person nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category, thanks to her powerful role as Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black.
Cox was also the first trans person to grace the cover of Time magazine. Her wax figure at Madame Tussauds proves she has truly made her mark on history.
2. Elliot Page
Elliot Page came out as transgender in December 2020, and the world took notice. Known for starring in films like Juno and the hit series The Umbrella Academy, he quickly became one of Hollywood’s most visible trans men.
His openness about his journey gave countless young trans people the courage to be themselves. Page continues to advocate loudly for trans youth, reminding everyone that living authentically is one of the bravest things a person can do.
3. Hunter Schafer
Hunter Schafer walked into living rooms across America playing Jules in Euphoria, and audiences immediately connected with her raw, emotional performance. Before acting, she was already turning heads as a model and LGBTQ+ activist who sued the state of North Carolina over anti-trans bathroom laws.
Schafer brings a fearless energy to both the runway and the screen. Her presence in fashion and television is pushing trans representation into bold, exciting new territory for younger generations.
4. Janet Mock
Janet Mock turned her personal story into a movement. After publicly coming out in a Marie Claire article in 2011, she wrote the New York Times bestselling memoir Redefining Realness, which opened many people’s eyes to the trans experience.
As a writer, director, and producer on Pose, Mock became the first transgender woman of color to write and direct a television episode. Her work behind the camera is just as groundbreaking as her voice on the page.
5. Sarah McBride
Sarah McBride made history when she was elected as a Delaware state senator, becoming the highest-ranking transgender elected official in United States history. Back in 2016, she was already making waves as the first transgender person to speak at the Democratic National Convention.
McBride’s calm, determined approach to politics shows that trans people belong in every room where decisions are made. Her career is proof that representation in government can genuinely change people’s lives for the better.
6. Indya Moore
Playing Angel Evangelista on Pose launched Indya Moore into the national spotlight, and they have not slowed down since. In 2019, Time magazine named them one of the 100 most influential people in the world, a well-deserved recognition for someone rewriting what it means to be seen on television.
Moore is openly transgender and non-binary, using their platform to challenge outdated ideas about gender. Their presence in fashion and media continues to inspire a whole new generation of young people.
7. Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson is a legend.
A Black, trans feminine activist and drag artist, she is widely credited with playing a key role in the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, the event that helped launch the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.
Along with Sylvia Rivera, she co-founded STAR, an organization that housed and supported homeless LGBTQ+ youth. Johnson’s legacy reminds us that trans women of color were at the very heart of the fight for equality, long before it became a mainstream conversation.
8. Sylvia Rivera
Sylvia Rivera did not wait for permission to fight for her community. Of Puerto Rican and Venezuelan descent, she was a fierce trans activist who stood on the front lines at Stonewall and never backed down from demanding equal rights for trans people.
Rivera co-founded STAR alongside Marsha P. Johnson, providing food, shelter, and support to homeless queer and trans youth.
Even when the broader LGBTQ+ movement tried to push trans people aside, Rivera kept showing up and speaking out.
9. Chaz Bono
Growing up as the child of music legends Sonny Bono and Cher put Chaz Bono in the public eye from a very young age. When he came out as transgender in 2009, his story reached millions of families who may never have encountered trans issues before.
Bono wrote the book Transition and produced an Emmy-nominated documentary called Becoming Chaz. He has spent years advocating for equal rights, showing that no matter your background, living as your true self is always worth it.
10. Caitlyn Jenner
Before she became one of the world’s most recognized transgender women, Caitlyn Jenner won an Olympic gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Montreal Games. Her public transition in 2015, shared through a widely watched interview with Diane Sawyer, brought trans identity into millions of homes overnight.
Whatever one thinks of her politics, there is no denying that her story sparked countless conversations about what it means to be transgender. Jenner’s transition was a cultural turning point that changed the media landscape significantly.
11. Jazz Jennings
Jazz Jennings has been sharing her story since she was very young, making her one of the most publicly documented transgender individuals in history. Her TLC reality show, I Am Jazz, has given millions of viewers an honest look at what growing up transgender actually feels like.
Beyond television, Jazz co-founded the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation to support trans youth and their families. Her openness and courage have helped countless young trans kids feel less alone in their own journeys.
12. Lynn Conway
Lynn Conway changed the way computers work, and most people have never heard her name. While working at IBM in the 1960s, she developed a revolutionary approach to computer processor design.
Later, alongside Carver Mead, she co-created the Mead-Conway VLSI chip design system, which became the foundation for the silicon chips inside every modern electronic device.
Conway began her gender transition in 1968 and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2023. Her scientific legacy is extraordinary by any measure.
13. Rachel Levine
Dr. Rachel Levine holds a title that no transgender person had ever held before: four-star admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, making her the first female admiral in that branch’s history.
In 2021, she was confirmed by the Senate as Assistant Secretary for Health, making her the highest-ranking openly transgender government official in American history.
Levine’s career in public health spans decades. Her groundbreaking appointments send a powerful message that trans people can lead at the very highest levels of government.
14. Dylan Mulvaney
Dylan Mulvaney turned a personal journey into a global conversation. Her “Days of Girlhood” video series on TikTok, which documented her first year of transition, attracted over 10 million followers and sparked both celebration and controversy across the internet.
Mulvaney has used that massive platform to spread awareness about trans life in a way that feels refreshingly honest and often joyful. She has received numerous awards for her advocacy work, proving that social media can be a genuinely powerful tool for change.
15. Michaela Jae Rodriguez
When Michaela Jae Rodriguez won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Pose, she made history as the first transgender woman ever to win that award. The room erupted, and for good reason.
Her portrayal of Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista was nothing short of breathtaking.
Rodriguez has spoken passionately about the importance of trans stories being told on screen. Her win was not just personal; it was a landmark moment for the entire trans community worldwide.
16. Kim Petras
Kim Petras has been making pop music on her own terms since she was a teenager in Germany. In 2023, she became the first openly transgender woman to win a Grammy Award, taking home Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Unholy,” her smash hit collaboration with Sam Smith.
Her success on the global charts proves that trans artists can absolutely dominate mainstream music. Petras brings a bubbly, fearless energy to everything she creates, and her Grammy win is already a permanent part of music history.