5 Trans Latinx Stars Making Us Proud

Caitlyn Jenner is the center of a documentary releasing Tuesday. Netflix just released a new trailer for their documentary series Untold which focuses on the most historic and controversial moments in the history of sports. The series, which premiered in August 10, releases new episode every week: episode one centered around the talked about 2004 NBA game in Michigan which sparked an incident between players and fans, while episode two focused on world famous boxer Christy Martin and the troubles she had to face in her life as she rose to the top of her game. The show is expected to drop three more episodes until September 7.

The new trailer released by Netflix showed that the next episode is focused on one of the most famous transgender women in the world today, Caitlyn Jenner. The Olympic gold-medalist turned reality TV icon turned politician will be the center of the documentary when Netflix drops the episode next Tuesday, August 24. Aptly titled Untold: Caitlyn Jenner, the episode explores her journey towards earning the coveted gold medal in the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games and then turning into a reality TV and media personality, and as an LGBT rights advocate. It will also tell the story of Jenner’s acceptance of her own gender and identity, her eventual decision to transition to becoming a woman, and her relationship with her world-famous children.

Caitlyn Jenner has been a trailblazer for many historic feats achieved by transwomen stars. Many transgender Latinx personalities have been doing the same, paving the way for the future trans actors, trans actresses, and trans entertainers. Here is a list of five trans-Latinx stars and personalities who have made monumental feats throughout their blossoming and continuing careers.

MJ Rodriguez

The Afro-Puerto Rican actress is famous for being the lead start in FX series Pose portraying the loving but fierce, determined, and talented Blanca Rodriguez-Evangelista who is the mother of the House of Evangelista. MJ Rodriguez recently made headlines for making history as the first transwoman actress to be nominated in a major acting category in this year’s Emmy Awards. MJ is nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her stellar performance in the last season of Pose. The actress is also an accomplished singer and performer, starting her career in musical theater productions such as Rent playing the role of Angel Dumott Schunard where she won a Clive Barnes Awards. In June this year, MJ also released her first single “Something to Say.”

Rodriguez is nominated along with Pose co-creator and another Latin artist Steven Canals, who shared in a guesting in The Q Agenda how different trans and queer people sowed the seeds for the series Pose and inspired him to write and pitch the idea to Ryan Murphy.

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Indya Moore

MJ Rodriguez’s Pose co-start Indya Moore is a native of New York who has a Haitian, Puerto Rican, and Dominican ancestry. Much like their co-star, Moore is one of the breakout stars of the series, playing the sweet and charming character Angel Vasquez-Evangelista. Recently, Indya Moore starred in the 2021 psychological horror film Escape Room: Tournament of Champion, while they are set to star in the upcoming horror television series Magic Hour. Aside from their works as an actor, Moore is also a trans activist outspokenly advocating for the trans community and their meaningful inclusion and representation, as such their social media accounts are filled of insights related to trans activism as well as being a Latina. In 2020, the Latina Actress was named by Queerty as month the fifty heroes who are leading the United States towards equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people.

Zoey Luna

Newcomer trans Latina Zoey Luna actress starred in the supernatural horror film The Craft: Legacy, a sequel to the supernatural teen flick The Craft which premiered 24 years ago, which follows four witches who unites to experiment with witchcraft to see how powerful they can be. Luna played the witch and member of the coven Lourdes who, at the start of the film, casted a spell on one of the school bullies. According to the actress, the film underwent a rigorous and diverse casting process, however, the Hollywood newbie beat out other trans actors competing for the role. More acting roles are sure to come for the trans actress.

Daniela Santiago

After spending most of her working career as a dancer in Madrid, Barcelona and Ibiza night clubs, the newcomer and formerly unknown actress Daniela Santiago starred in the 2020 HBO limited series Veneno which portrays the life of Spanish bombshell and trans icon La Veneno. Santiago, of course, played the titular character as they both shared the dynamic personality, bold presence, striking features, and vivacious nature. Since the release of the series, Santiago’s life was never the same, as she has constantly been in demand for campaigns such as for Roberto Cavalli, and will be starring in more films.

Carmen Carrera

Originally appearing in the third installment reality TV competition RuPaul’s Drag Race finishing in sixth place, the Puerto Rican and Peruvian Carmen Carrera is a famous model, burlesque performer and actress, as well as being a transgender rights activist. Carmen Carrera has appeared in various magazines, including appearing in the fifth anniversary cover of the famous Candy Magazine alongside thirteen famous and trailblazing transgender women including actress Laverne Cox and fellow model Isis King.