If you live for bold storytelling, fresh faces, and images that prompt you to reflect, at last, then you have probably witnessed the manner in which film and television have shifted. Hollywood has changed in the last decade with history-making performances and unapologetically inclusive storytelling. These are a few of the most powerful images that have placed trans and Black representation at the center.
10. Complex Characters, Not Stereotypes
Those days of flat, tokenized depictions are behind us. Trans and Black characters are now portrayed as multidimensional human beings with imperfections, wants, and full lives. Orange Is the New Black made us meet Sophia Burset, portrayed by Laverne Cox, not as a stereotype but as a mother, a hairstylist, and a survivor. Pose has also taught audiences that representation is about portraying all aspects of humanity—not just trauma.
9. The Gen Z Shake-Up: Euphoria
Euphoria didn’t come in—it blew up. Hunter Schafer’s Jules is riveting: stylish, confident, and marked by her individuality, not her identity. The show’s hyper-styled visuals and unflinching narrative posed a fresh way of looking at transness—one that is coolly relaxed and deeply authentic. For Gen Z, this is not a gender sermon; it’s a party for what can be.
8. Pose: A Movement, Not Just a Show
FX’s Pose broke television history with its groundbreaking ballroom culture storytelling and most diverse ensemble of trans actors ever assembled in featured roles. MJ Rodriguez’s portrayal of Blanca earned a history-making Emmy nod, proving that audiences crave stories rooted in truth and joy. A show turned into more than a series, Pose was a cultural movement founded on chosen family and resilience.
7. Laverne Cox: A Force of Nature
When doors are opened, few have done more than Laverne Cox. She’s the first openly trans Emmy nominee, the first trans woman of color to lead a major scripted series, and a pioneer gracing TIME to Essence covers. Apart from acting, she executive-produced Disclosure, a documentary dissecting the trans history in Hollywood. Cox is evidence that change results from talent and incessant advocacy.
6. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Breaks Through
When MJ Rodriguez was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, it wasn’t just about her—it was about shattering history. She became the first out trans actor ever nominated in a lead category, something that reverberated far beyond the Emmys. Her performances on Pose brought the world the depth trans women add to storytelling when placed center stage.
5. Angelica Ross on Broadway
Angelica Ross shattered yet another glass ceiling by playing Roxie Heart in Chicago and becoming the first trans woman to be a Broadway musical star. Her entrance was not just about talent—it was a message that theater, perhaps the most conservative corner of entertainment, can also evolve. Ross herself said she wanted people to see light and happiness in trans identity, not just struggle.
4. Zaya Wade and the Visibility of Power
When Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union openly held and advocated for their daughter Zaya, it resonated far beyond the boundaries of Hollywood. Seeing a sports icon and an amazing actress come out in support of their trans child made so many families visible and legitimate. Wade himself has stated that Zaya has also made him a better man. Their support brought forward that allyship can shift culture in a real way.
3. The Reality Check: Barriers Continue To Exist
Even with all the achievements, the war is far from over. Black and trans talent still face systemic obstacles, from funding omission to industry gatekeeping. The “Black tax”—Black professionals working harder with less reward—is a sharp reality. Unless there is systemic change, representation risks becoming superficial instead of lasting.
2. The Power of Intersectionality
Most groundbreaking stories belong to the people whose identities exist on multiple planets. Trans women of color like Laverne Cox, MJ Rodriguez, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, and Angelica Ross bring race-and-gender-informed stories. Pose and Orange Is the New Black do not merely showcase them—they allow them to lead, redefine, and narrate their own lives.
1. Looking Ahead
Change is coming, but it’s not yet done. Campaigns like #OscarsSoWhite and inclusion riders are forcing Hollywood to confront its bias, and up-and-coming generations of creators are demanding that they be able to tell stories as diverse as real life. The future isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about transforming who gets to hold the pen, the lens, and the mic.
So keep your eyes open. Whether it’s in a musical, a drama, or a blockbuster, the next trans and Black game-changer is coming, and it’s going to remake the culture all over again.