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.
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.
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.
Marsha P. Johnson
Marsha P. Johnson rose to prominence in the battle for trans acceptance, as well as in her fight for awareness about HIV within her community. She made her mark as a staunch activist dedicated to challenging social norms. Marsha was also known as a popular drag performer in the underground ball scene and even one of the performers in Andy Warhol's "Factory."
Johnson's name has resurfaced in recent years in a string of documentaries about her life and impact on the Stonewall Uprising, an event that later became the inspiration for the annual Pride Parade. A lot of the footage depicts her performances as well as interviews with her peers talking about her passions and beliefs. Marsha P. Johnson died in 1992, but her passing is still a mystery.
Holly Woodlawn
Holly Woodlawn was born Haraldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez on October 26, 1946, and hailed from Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico. Her chosen name was a combination of Audrey Hepburn's character "Holly" from "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and an episode of "I Love Lucy." Just by that alone, it's clear that Woodlawn was enamored by the entertainment world.
At just the young age of 16, Holly journeyed to the Big Apple in the hopes of being an actress. Her memory "A Low Life in High Heels" gives the account of her survival on the street as a high school dropout. Woodlawn landed some film roles, including "Scarecrow in a Garden of Cucumbers," "Women in Revolt," and "Alibi. " She also founded the Holly Woodlawn Memorial Fund for Transgender Youth.