Laverne Cox Says Candice Cayne Inspired Her To Start Acting

From television stars to YouTube beauty gurus to international fashion muses, transgender celebrities are breaking barriers and taking names. Call them trailblazers, icons, muses, (the list goes on!), but these public-facing figures are creating legacies in their own right—and inspiring countless others along the way.

The importance of transgender visibility and representation in the media (and culture as a whole) matters—and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Seeing someone step into their true identity and be unapologetically them for the world to see is no small feat. You’ll see many on this list who are activists in addition to being performers, courageously and graciously educating their followers on gender identity, trans rights, how to be a better ally, and more. They're making strides by simply existing and that's not something that should be taken lightly.

Trans representation has even inspired people on this list. Take Laverne Cox, who says watching Candis Cayne in Dirty Sexy Money during the early aughts literally changed her life and showed that you could be authentically yourself and make it in entertainment. And while there are a lot of firsts in this list, no one you see here will be the last. Instead, these celebs are paving the way for others in the transgender and other marginalized communities to live their truths and make sure they get the recognition they deserve.

Get acquainted with 30 transgender celebrities whose names you'll want to remember.