Jackie Curtis
Born John Curtis Holder Jr., Jackie Curtis was, above anything else, an artist. She was also another one of Andy Warhol’s star performers, happy to get on stage and perform freely. Curtis was active on the theater circuit, performing in the Bastianos Theater, Pyramid, as well as a few other theaters around Manhattan.
The actress was praised for depicting powerful female roles that would transcend all stereotypes. However, that wasn’t her only talent. In later years Jackie Curtis went on to establish herself as a distinguished writer and poet and published a number of her pieces. Curtis sadly died in 1985 after a long battle with substance abuse.
Ian Harvie
While many on this list have been fierce political activists, Ian Harvie has contributed in his own unique way, and that is with comedy. What better way to raise serious issues after all? Harvie is considered to be one of the most groundbreaking transgendered comedians and even opened for mega comic Margaret Cho in the late 2000s.
He has dealt with very sensitive subjects relating to gender and identity, all with incredible humor. Both emotional and funny, his show told the story of his operations and awkward encounters throughout his transition that took place between the ages of 19 to 32.
Mimi Marks
During the '80s, Mimi Marks was considered one of the most beautiful transgender models in the world, which makes sense seeing as she was an extremely popular pageant queen, showcasing her beauty and grace around the country and was even flooded with offers from Hollywood. The model has been living as a woman since the young of 21.
The pageant queen even won Ms. Waterloo in 1986 and has since continued to join and win in Miss International Queen, Pattaya Thailand: The World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual Contest, and many more! Mimi Marks is a real game-changer and is believed to be the first transgender runway model in the world.
Sophia Lamar
Born Enrique Muñoz, this trans celebrity has been active in the New York City entertainment and LGBTQ cinema scene. It was, however, back home in Cuba, where Lamar made a name for herself in the Cuban underground scene in the '80s. Since then, the actress and producer has some credits to her name, such as "Adam Green’s Aladdin, "The Zanctuary," and "Candy Apple."
But more than that, Sophia Lamar has been the face of many big brands such as Levi’s and Trash & Vaudeville and once even for the NYU School of Medicine Center for AIDS Research. The activist and entertainer's celebrity status has undoubtedly helped create a platform for the trans community and the youth of today.
Octavia Saint Laurent
Known as Octavia Saint Laurent: Queen of the Underground, this model, actress, and activist was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 16, 1964. The performer is probably best known for appearing in "Paris is Burning," a beautiful and telling documentary about the underground ball scene in New York.
The activist also had an even longer name as she legally changed it to Heavenly Angel Octavia Saint Laurent Manolo Blahnik before ultimately going with Octavia Saint Laurent Mizrahi. Yep! That is one long name, and of course, fit for a queen. On May 17, 2009, the trans icon passed away, but her memory lives on.