Trace Lysette
Trace Lysette is another Hollywood star who had already carved out a successful career in showbiz before coming out publicly as transgender. In fact, her debut TV appearance as Lila in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit made history in 2013, when she became one of the first trans people to appear in a non-trans speaking role on primetime television.
It wasn’t until 2014 that she came out publicly as trans, with her starring role as trans yoga teacher Shea on the Amazon series Transparent—and has since gone on to become one of Hollywood’s most celebrated stars.
Lea T.
Model and activist Lea T. was already a household name for her work in both fashion and the LGBTQ+ advocacy before she was named the face of Redken cosmetics in 2014.
This was especially significant as she became the first openly transgender model to be the face of a major global cosmetics brand campaign.
“I love working with Redken because they appreciate all kinds of beauty,” the model said to Harper’s Bazaar. “They believe in the individuality of the person, and I think that’s really important.”