Representation has been a problem in every field, whether it is the arts or politics. Fortunately, times are changing, and more minorities are gaining representation in the media. In the last decade, there has been an improvement in the representation of gender minorities, such as transgender women, in media.
There is still much work to be done, but these beautiful transgender women are slowly breaking stereotypes and achieving well-deserved success.
1. Laverne Cox
Net worth: US$6 million
Everyone knows Laverne Cox as Sophia Burset from Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019), but she has many other accomplishments under her belt. Cox is the first transgender woman to be nominated for an acting Primetime Emmy Award and an Emmy Award.
She is also the executive producer for Laverne Cox Presents: The T-Word which won her a Daytime Emmy Award. In recent years, people are pushing for transgender actors to play transgender people in shows and movies. Laverne Cox was the first person to do that on the TV series Doubt (201). Aside from acting, Cox is also an outspoken advocate for LGBT+ rights.
2. Hunter Schafer
Net worth: US$4 million
Hunter Schafer is an American model, actress, and LGBT+ rights activist who rose to prominence after starring as Jules Vaughn in the HBO series Euphoria (2019-Present). In 2017, Teen Vogue listed Schafer in their 21 Under 21 list for her activism against the Public Facilities Privacy & Security Act.
Before working on Euphoria, Schafer worked with various renowned names like Prada, Thiery Mugler, Gucci, and Dior to name a few.
Schafer opened up about how she started transitioning while in ninth grade and had a “persistent need for femininity and expressing that—like ever since I was a teeny, tiny toddler.”
3. Isis King
Net worth: US$1 million
Isis King is an American model, fashion designer, and actress. King competed on America’s Next Top Model in 2008 and 2011. She was the first openly transgender person to compete on the show and gained widespread media attention.
King first rose to fame in 2007 when she appeared in the MNSBC documentary Born In The Wrong Body about the lives of transgender people in the United States. She also began transitioning in 2007.
Before her appearance on America’s Next Top Model, King was a runway model for seven years.
4. Nikita Dragun
Net worth: US$3 million
Nikita Dragun is a Belgian-American YouTuber, media personality, make-up artist, and model. Dragun joined YouTube in 2014 and started transitioning soon after. She was open about her transition on her channel, which led to more media attention.
In 2019, Dragun created her own line of vegan and cruelty-free beauty products called Dragun Beauty. In 2020, she starred in a Snapchat docuseries called Nikita Unfiltered which follows her search for love, success, and her experiences as a transgender woman.
As of now, Nikita Dragun has 3.58 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, 9 million followers on Instagram, and 14.3 million followers on TikTok.
5. Jamie Clayton
Net worth: US$1 million
Jamie Clayton is an American model and actress best known for her role as Nomi Marks in the Netflix series Sense8. Before starting her acting career, Clayton worked as a make-up artist. Aside from Sense8, she has appeared in various films and shows, such as Are We There Yet? (2010-2013), The Neon Demon (2016), and
In Sense8, Clayton plays a trans woman who is a social media activist and hacker. She claimed she was intrigued by the character since it was a transgender character created by transgender filmmakers.
6. Daniela Vega
Net worth: US$1.5 million
Daniela Vega is a Chilean actress and opera singer best known for her performance in A Fantastic Film (2017). The movie won an Academy Award and Oscar Award for best foreign language film.
Vega’s performance, in particular, received praise and critical acclaim. In 2018, Vega was also the first transgender person ever to be a presenter at the Academy Awards ceremony.
Although Vega suffered bullying at the hands of her classmate, her family was very supportive and encouraged her to pursue a career in the arts.
Before A Fantastic Woman (2017), Vega appeared in the music video for Manuel Garcia’s Maria (2014) and made her screen debut the same year. In 2019, Vega appeared in the first season of the Netflix show Tales of The City (2019).
7. Nikkie de Jager
Net worth: US$6 million
Nikkie de Jager, better known as Nikkie Tutorials due to her YouTube channel, is a Dutch make-up artist and social media personality. Jager rose to prominence in 2015 with a video titled The Power of Makeup. As of now, Nikkie’s YouTube channel has 13.9 million subscribers.
She has continuously been one of the most influential people in the YouTube beauty scene and has collaborated with brands like Maybelline, Marc Jacobs, and OFRA Cosmetics.
In 2018, Nikkie released an emotional video and came out as a transgender woman. She explained how she made the decision to do so because she was being threatened with a public outing.
8. Jazz Jennings
Net worth: US$0.5 million
Jazz Jennings is an American YouTuber, TV personality, spokesmodel, and LGBT+ rights activist. Jennings is one of the youngest people who have publicly come out as transgender and is currently 21 years old. She first received public attention in 2007 and had many high-profile interviews with Oprah Winfrey and Christine Connelly.
Jazz’s experience as a transgender teen has been publically documented over the years. In 2007, Jazz and her parents founded the TransKids Purple Rainbow Foundation. The organization serves to protect and assists trans youth.
9. Valentina Sampaio
Net worth: US$2 million
Valentina Sampaio is a Brazilian model and actress who rose to fame after working with Victoria’s Secret in 2019.
She was the brand’s first openly transgender model, and also the first transgender person to be featured on the cover of the 2020 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. She appeared on the cover of Vogue and was the first transgender person to do so.
In 2014, Sampaio started her modeling career with an undisclosed company that later fired her for being transgender. In 2016, Sampaio walked the runway for the first time during São Paulo Fashion Week and became one of L’Oreal Paris’ brand ambassadors soon after.
10. Angelica Ross
Net worth: US$3.5 million
Angelica Ross is an American businesswoman, actress, and transgender rights advocate. Ross started transitioning at the age of 19 with the help of a drag queen. She worked many jobs including waitressing and modeling but faced discrimination.
Ross gained fame in 2016 when she starred in a web series about transgender women residing in LA titled Her Story. This led to her most well-known roles to date in Pose (2018-2021) and
Aside from acting, Ross is a self-taught computer programmer. She is the founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises, a firm that provides employment opportunities in the tech industry to trans people.
11. Laura Jane Grace
Net worth: US$4 million
Laura Jane Grace is an American musician and the founder, lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist of the band Against Me!. Grace also started a solo project in 2016, titled Laura Jane Grace and The Devouring Mothers, and released her solo debut album in 2020.
She publicly came out as transgender in 2012 and is often noted as one of the most influential transgender punk rock musicians. Grace struggled with coming out for years and tried to subdue her identity until 2012.
12. Kim Petras
Net worth: US$4 million
Kim Petras is a German singer-songwriter who currently resides in Los Angeles. Petras came out as transgender at an early age and received significant media attention for speaking about her experience.
Petras began producing music in 2016 and worked as an independent artist till 2020. However, she started writing songs as a teenager and released a few singles in 2008 and 2009. Most recently, Kim Petras signed with Republic Records and released her EP Slut Pop (2022).
13. Andreja Pejić
Net worth: US$2 million
Andreja Pejic became one of the most recognized transgender models in the world after coming out in 2013.
Pejic made her runway debut in 2011 at Paris Fashion Week. Noted for modeling both masculine and feminine clothing, Pejic walked the men’s and women’s shows for Jean-Paul Gaultier.
Pejic’s work with numerous magazines includes covers for international editions of Elle, Harper’s Bazaar, and GQ to name a few. In 2018, Pejic also starred in the thriller film The Girl in the Spider’s Web.
14. Lea T
Net worth: US$5 million
Leandra Medeiros Cerezo, professionally referred to as Lea T, is a Brazilian-Italian fashion model. Often regarded as the muse for Burberry’s creative director Ricardo Tisci, the T in her professional name also stands for Tisci.
Lea T has been open about her experience as a transgender woman and is considered a revolutionary icon. When she became the face of Givenchy in 2011, media representation for trans people still had a long way to go. Tisci’s decision to work with Lea T paved the way for many other transgender models.
In 2015, Forbes magazine listed Lea as one of the 12 women who changed Italian fashion.
15. Janet Mock
Net worth: US$3 million
Janet Mock is an American author, producer, TV host, and transgender rights activist. Mock began her transition in her teens, using sex work as a means to fund her medical transition. Mock underwent gender confirmation surgery at the age of 18.
Mock graduated from New York University in 2006 and began working for People magazine soon after. She served the position for five years and then became a contributing editor for Marie Claire. Mock’s memoir Redefining Realness (2014) became a New York Times bestseller.
16. Candis Cayne
Net worth: US$500 Thousand
Candis Cayne is an American actress and performance artist. Cayne was a well-known name during the 1990s when she performed as a drag queen at various nightclubs in New York City. In 1996, Candis came out as transgender after realizing the term best defined how she felt.
Although Candis had her on-screen debut in 1995, she rose to prominence in 2007 for playing Carmelita on ABC’s drama series Dirty Sexy Money (2007-2009). Most recently, Cayne appeared in Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen (2020), a documentary about Hollywood’s image of transgender people and the impact of their stories.
17. Hari Nef
Net worth: US$1 million
Hari Nef is an American model, actress, and author. Nef began her acting career in 2015. She rose to fame for playing Gittel in the comedy series Transparent (2014-2019), which also earned her a SAG Award nomination in 2016.
Nef’s modeling career started in 2015 at New York Fashion Week where she walked the runway for Adam Selman, Echkaus Latta, and DEGEN to name a few.
Aside from modeling and acting, Nef’s writing has appeared in Dazed, L’Officiel, and Vice.
18. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez
Net worth: US$800 Thousand
Michaela Jae Rodriguez is an American actress and singer. Rodriguez attended various performing art schools in her younger years and was soon cast in the theater production of Rent as Angel Dumott Schunard. Her performance earned her praise and the Clive Barnes Award in 2011. In 2012, Rodriguez took a break to transition and took on small TV roles for a while after transitioning.
Rodriguez’s next noteworthy role came in 2017 with Pose (2018-2021). She played Blanca Evangelista and her performance garnered acclaim and recognition. It also resulted in an Emmy Award nomination and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Television Series Drama.
19. Leyna Bloom
Net worth: US$5 million
Leyna Bloom is a versatile performer who can model, dance, and act. Bloom is considered a revolutionary icon for transgender women in the entertainment industries.
In 2019, Bloom made history at the Cannes festival when she was the first trans woman of color to be cast in a leading role with Port Authority (2019).
Aside from acting, Bloom is also a well-known model and has worked with various renowned designers, such as Jeremy Scott and Tommy Hilfiger. In 2018, Glamour magazine named her one of “6 Women Who Are Changing Fashion.”
20. Carmen Carrera
Net worth: US$600 Thousand
Carmen Carrera is an American model, reality TV star, actress, and burlesque performer. She is best known for her appearance on the third season of RuPaul’s Drag Race and the spin-off series RuPaul’s Drag U.
Carrera made her acting debut on the popular CW series Jane The Virgin (2014-2019) and also appeared in Ricki and The Flash (2015). Aside from acting, Carrera has had a prolific modeling career, being featured in Vogue, Elle, and Glamour magazines.
Most recently, Carrera founded her own digital marketing agency called CC3 Entertainment to provide a platform for LGBTQ+ entertainers.
21. Geena Rocero
Net worth: US$5 million
Geena Rocero is a Filipina-American model and transgender rights advocate. She was born in Manila and competed in beauty pageants during her teenage years. Rocero moved to New York City in 2005 to pursue a modeling career. Since then, she has worked with Rimmel, Hanes, and various other brands.
In 2014, Rocero gave a TED talk in Vancouver, Canada, and came out as a transgender woman. Her talk explored themes such as womanhood, a sense of community, and purpose.
Rocero produced Beautiful As I Want To Be and Willing and Able with her media production company, Gender Proud. The films focused on trans people and their stories.
22. Ivory Aquino
Net worth: US$1 million
Ivory Aquin is a Filipina-American actress best known for her role as Cecilia Chung in the miniseries When We Rise (2017). Aquino moved to the United States as a teenager to study at the Berklee College of Music. However, she decided to pursue acting soon after since it was her childhood dream.
Aquino has had numerous stage roles including Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Desdemona in Othello, and Isabella in Measure for Measure with The Drilling Company in New York City. Aquino is set to star in the upcoming DC film Batgirl as Alysia Yeoh.
23. Erika Ervin “Amazon Eve”
Net worth: US$2 million
Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com
Erika Ervin is an American model, actress, and fitness trainer. She rose to prominence for her role as Amazon Eve on American Horror Story: Freak Show (2014). Before Freak Show, Ervin ventured into acting but was disappointed because of the roles offered due to her appearance.
She underwent gender confirmation surgery in 2004 and has spoken about her journey as a trans woman in various interviews. Ervin is best known for being one of the tallest women in the world; she stands at 6 feet 8 inches.
24. Gigi Gorgeous
Net worth: US$3 million
Gigi Loren Lazarrato Getty, professionally known as Gigi Gorgeous, is a Canadian YouTube star, actress, model, and socialite. Lazarrato started her YouTube channel in 2008 and began uploading videos while starring in The Avenue (2011-2013).
In 2013, Gigi came out as transgender and documented her transition journey on her YouTube channel. She was also the subject of the documentary This is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous (2017) about her transition.
Gigi is a passionate advocate for LGBT+ rights and has used her platform to increase awareness about the issues faced by the LGBT+ community.
25. Zion Moreno
Net worth: US$1 million
Zion Moreno is a Mexican-American model and actress. Her best-known roles include performances in the Netflix series Control Z (2020-Present) and the reboot of Gossip Girl (2021) that premiered on HBO Max.
Moreno came out as transgender to her parents in her teenage years and began transitioning while still in school. At 19, Moreno moved to New York City to pursue her modeling career. Moreno gave herself the freedom to experiment with acting and modeling, and soon grew to appreciate modeling more.
26. Dominique Jackson
Net worth: US$2 million
Dominique Jackson is a Tobagonian-American actress, model, author, and reality TV star. She rose to prominence for her role as Elektra Abundance on Pose (2018-2021). While growing up in her hometown, Jackson was relentlessly bullied and even experienced abuse, so she moved to the United States.
Aside from acting and modeling, Jackson is also the author of her autobiography The Transsexual from Tobago which details her struggles as a trans woman. Jackson’s story is a powerful testament to the determination and strength of trans women around the world.
27. Jen Richards
Net worth: US$1.5 million
Jen Richards is an American author, actress, producer, and activist. In 2016, Richards co-wrote, produced, and directed the Emmy-nominated web series Her Story. She also served as a co-producer on the series More Than T and the Trans 102 Series.
Aside from production, Richards has had a recurring role on Nashville (2012-2018) as Allyson Del Lago. With her casting, she became the first openly transgender person to appear on a CMT TV show playing the first transgender character. Richards also played Margo Fairchild in the HBO TV series Mrs. Fletcher (2019).
28. Trace Lysette
Net worth: US$1 million
Trace Lysette is an American actress who rose to prominence for her role as Shea in Transparent (2014-2019) and Tracey in the crime drama Hustlers (2019). She started working as a showgirl while still struggling with her gender identity. In 2014, Trace came out as transgender with her role in Transparent (2014-2019).
Trace’s most ground-breaking role was in Hustlers (2019), as it was the first time a trans actor was chosen to star in a major film alongside A-list celebrities. Since then, Lysette also appeared in music videos for prominent artists, such as Maroon 5, Cher, and Teyana Taylor.
Most recently, Lysette released her debut single SMB (2021) and hosted the podcast Harsh Reality: The Story of Miriam Rivera (2021).
