Since the early 2000s, the number of transgender celebrities in the public eye has increased exponentially. This is likely due in part to the growing acceptance of the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as the increasing visibility of transgender people in the media. Here are 40 transgender celebrities who are making a huge impact in the world today.
Caitlyn Jenner
Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, is one of the most high-profile transgender celebrities in the world. She came out as transgender in 2015 and has since been an outspoken advocate for the transgender community. In 2017, she was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People.
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox is an actress, producer, and LGBTQIA+ advocate. She is best known for her role on the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, in which she plays a transgender woman. Cox is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award.
Janet Mock
Janet Mock is a writer, director, and producer. She is best known for her work on the FX series Pose, which tells the story of the African-American and Latino LGBTQIA+ community in New York City in the 1980s. Mock is the first openly transgender woman of color to land a major writing deal with a major television network.
Chaz Bono
Chaz Bono is an actor, writer, and musician. He is the only child of entertainers Sonny and Cher. Bono came out as a lesbian in 1995 and began transitioning to male in 2008. He legally changed his name and gender in 2010.
Andreja Pejic
Andreja Pejic is a model and actress. She is best known for her androgynous modeling, which landed her on the cover of Vogue magazine in 2011. Pejic came out as transgender in 2014 and underwent gender confirmation surgery the following year.
Isis King
Isis King is a model, actress, and fashion designer. She was the first transgender woman to compete on the reality television show America's Next Top Model. King has also appeared on the shows The Bold and the Beautiful and All My Children.
Jamie Clayton
Jamie Clayton is an actress and model. She is best known for her role on the Netflix series Sense8, in which she plays a transgender woman. Clayton is also an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Amiyah Scott
Amiyah Scott is a model and actress. She is best known for her role on the television series Star, in which she plays a transgender woman. Scott is the first openly transgender woman to be cast in a major network television series.
Carmen Carrera
Carmen Carrera is a model, actress, and reality television personality. She is best known for her appearance on the third season of the reality television show RuPaul's Drag Race. Carrera came out as transgender in 2012 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Lea T
Lea T is a Brazilian fashion model, actress, and television personality. She is best known for her work with the fashion house Givenchy. T came out as transgender in 2010 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Caitlyn Frisina
Caitlyn Frisina is a model and actress. She is best known for her role on the television series The L Word, in which she played a transgender woman. Frisina is the first openly transgender woman to be cast in a major network television series.
Candis Cayne
Candis Cayne is an actress, dancer, and performance artist. She is best known for her role on the ABC television series Dirty Sexy Money, in which she played a transgender woman. Cayne is the first openly transgender woman to have a recurring role on a major network television series.
Jazz Jennings
Jazz Jennings is a transgender teenager, YouTube personality, spokesmodel, and LGBTQIA+ rights activist. She is best known for her work with the transgender youth advocacy organization Gender Infinity. Jennings came out as transgender at the age of five and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Geena Rocero
Geena Rocero is a model, television host, and producer. She is best known for her work as a producer on the Emmy-winning HBO documentary series Born This Way. Rocero came out as transgender in 2014 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Hari Nef
Hari Nef is a model, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role on the Amazon Prime Video series Transparent, in which she plays a transgender woman. Nef is the first openly transgender woman to be signed to a major modeling agency.
Isis Taylor
Isis Taylor is a model and actress. She is best known for her work with the transgender youth advocacy organization Gender Infinity. Taylor came out as transgender in 2012 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Kylar Broadus
Kylar Broadus is a lawyer, lobbyist, and transgender rights, activist. He is the founder of the Trans People of Color Coalition. Broadus came out as transgender in 1993 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Laith Ashley
Laith Ashley is a model and LGBTQIA+ rights, activist. He is best known for his work with the transgender youth advocacy organization Gender Infinity. Ashley came out as transgender in 2014 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Lana Wachowski
Lana Wachowski is a film director, screenwriter, and producer. She is best known for her work on The Matrix trilogy. Wachowski came out as transgender in 2012 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Lee Daniels
Lee Daniels is a film and television producer, director, and screenwriter. He is best known for his work on the Fox television series Empire. Daniels came out as gay in 2014 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Lilly Wachowski
Lilly Wachowski is a film director, screenwriter, and producer. She is best known for her work on The Matrix trilogy. Wachowski came out as transgender in 2016 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Mara Keisling
Mara Keisling is the founder and executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality. She is a leading voice in the transgender rights movement. Keisling came out as transgender in 1999 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Nicole Maines
Nicole Maines is an actress and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her role on the CW television series Supergirl, in which she plays a transgender woman. Maines is the first openly transgender woman to play a transgender character on television.
Rebecca Root
Rebecca Root is an actress and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her role on the BBC television series Boy Meets Girl, in which she plays a transgender woman. The root is the first openly transgender woman to play a transgender character on television.
Scott Turner Schofield
Scott Turner Schofield is an actor and transgender rights, activist. He is best known for his role on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, in which he plays a transgender man. Schofield is the first openly transgender man to play a transgender character on television.
Ser Anzoategui
Ser Anzoategui is an actor, director, and producer. They are best known for their work on the Amazon Prime Video series Vida, in which they play a transgender woman. Anzoategui is the first openly transgender Latinx person to play a transgender character on television.
Trace Lysette
Trace Lysette is an actress and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her role on the Amazon Prime Video series Transparent, in which she plays a transgender woman. Lysette is the first openly transgender woman of color to play a transgender character on television.
Tyler Ford
Tyler Ford is a model, writer, and LGBTQIA+ advocate. They are best known for their work as a contributing editor for Teen Vogue. Ford came out as agender in 2016 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Xavier Dolan
Xavier Dolan is a Canadian actor, director, screenwriter, and editor. He is best known for his work on the films I Killed My Mother and Mommy. Dolan came out as gay in 2010 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Yance Ford
Yance Ford is a film director and producer. He is best known for his work on the documentary film Strong Island, which tells the story of the murder of his brother. Ford came out as transgender in 2016 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Zoe Leonard
Zoe Leonard is a photographer, artist, and LGBTQIA+ rights, activist. She is best known for her work on the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Leonard came out as a lesbian in the early 1990s and has since become an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Aydian Dowling
Aydian Dowling is a model, YouTuber, and LGBTQIA+ rights, activist. He is best known for his work as the editor-in-chief of the transgender men's lifestyle magazine Original Plumbing. Dowling came out as transgender in 2007 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Balian Buschbaum
Balian Buschbaum is a retired German pole vaulter. He is best known for his work as an LGBTQIA+ rights activist. Buschbaum came out as transgender in 2007 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Brendan MacFarlane
Brendan MacFarlane is a Scottish actor and transgender rights, activist. He is best known for his work on the soap opera Hollyoaks, in which he plays a transgender man. MacFarlane is the first openly transgender man to play a transgender character on television.
Buck Angel
Buck Angel is a filmmaker, speaker, and transgender rights activist. He is best known for his work as an adult film producer and director. Angel came out as transgender in 1998 and has since become an outspoken advocate for the transgender community.
Claudia Charriez
Claudia Charriez is a model and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her work as a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Top Model. Charriez is the first openly transgender woman to compete on the show.
D'hana Perry
D'hana Perry is an actress, model, and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her work as a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Top Model. Perry is the first openly transgender woman of color to compete on the show.
Gisele Alicea
Gisele Alicea is a model, actress, and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her work as a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Top Model. Alicea is the first openly transgender Latinx woman to compete on the show.
Isis Valentino
Isis Valentino is a model, actress, and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her work as a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Top Model. Valentino is the first openly transgender woman of color to compete on the show.
Jari Jones
Jari Jones is a model, actress, and transgender rights, activist. She is best known for her work as a contestant on the reality television show America's Next Top Model. Jones is the first openly transgender African-American woman to compete on the show.