Amanda Lepore
As an iconic performing artist and model, Amanda Lepore got her foot in the door of New York’s crazy nightlife as a Club Kid member. Lepore then caught the attention of famous photographers like Ruben Van Schalm, David LaChapelle, and Terry Richardson, who were instrumental in creating her voyeuristic style exhibitions.
Lepore has also proved her savvy business skills through her involvement with successful investments in brands and various collaborations such as Swatch and CAMP cosmetics. Lepore has made plenty of appearances on reality TV. In 2020, she made a cameo on an episode of Season 12 of “The Real Housewives of New York City.”
Alexis Arquette
Alexis Arquette came from the Arquette family, so that already says something about her acting chops. Back in the day, going by their birth name Robert, Arquette had roles in movies such as "Pulp Fiction," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and "Of Mice and Men," among others. Arquette was a poet, activist, acting teacher, and even a therapist.
Her trans identity came to the forefront when she began performing as a female impersonator under the pseudonym Eva Destruction. In 2014, Arquette completed her gender reassignment surgery. You can see her transition story in the 2007 film "Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother." Tragically, Alexis Arquette passed away due to complications related to HIV in 2016.
Candis Cayne
Candis Cayne started out in the underground New York City nightclubs and drags scene in the ‘90s and officially came out six years later. But her real rise to fame happened on ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money," where she landed a recurring transgender role on the hit show.
Cayne has expressed that she never really intended on being a transgender role model, just a happy human being. Well, she certainly is both. Over the last few years, Cayne has continued her smooth transition into the world of fictional TV, making appearances in shows such as "Grey's Anatomy," "Transparent," and "The Magicians," to name a few.
Erika Ervin
Professionally known as Amazon Eve, Erika Ervin was born on February 23, 1979, and is known as a successful model, actress, and fitness trainer. You might remember her from "American Horror Story: Freak Show" and "American Horror Story: Apocalypse." At six feet and 8 inches tall, Ervin will certainly catch your eye.
As someone who has battled with both her gender and her weight, Ervin is now a strong advocate for body positivity. While she isn't the most prolific performer on the Hollywood circuit, she does appear in films from time to time. In 2022, she starred alongside Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff in the movie "The Price We Pay."
Janet Mock
It generally takes an entire movement to make a change, but now and again, along comes an individual that really shakes things up. And a prime example of this phenomenon is the one and only Janet Mock. And TV host, filmmaker, and activist aren't the only things she is known for.
She even wrote a New York Times Bestseller by the name of "Redefining Realness" and a second memoir called "Surpassing Certainty." Aside from her thriving literary career, Mock is the driving force behind the mega-successful "Pose." The writer, director, and producer of the show became the first transwoman of color to be hired as a show-runner for a TV series.