‘Naked and Afraid’ features first trans woman contestant

A 37-year-old Air Force veteran from Florida made history this week as the first transgender woman to appear on the popular reality show “Naked and Afraid.”

The contestant, known only as Terra, appeared on Sunday night’s episode of the Discovery Channel survivalist series, which brings two complete strangers who join forces — and shed clothes — while trying to survive a 21-day stay in some of the most remote locations on Earth.

She was paired up with a South African farmer named Shaun. The two were asked to tackle the “deadly bush of Zambia where territorial elephants, baboons and crocodiles [threatened] their every move,” according to a synopsis provided by the network.

Shaun, who described himself as “a little bit conservative” didn’t know that his partner would be a trans woman. But after their first meeting, he said that even though it “came as a bit of a shock” to him, he welcomed her with open arms, noting that “we’re all unique and special.”

“I’m open-minded and we are going to do this together,” he said. “Don’t worry. I got your back,” he added, before giving her a hug.

Terra later said to the camera that she was “a hell of a lot more surprised than I thought I was going to be,” referring to Shaun’s welcoming reception.

She’s only the second transgender person to participate in the show, which is now in its 14th season, after premiering in April 2013. In 2019 a transgender man named Mountain made headlines as the show’s first openly trans contestant.

“Terra is awesome. For someone as unique as that to have the courage to come out, she’s a hero in my eyes, already,” Shaun said.

Unfortunately, her partner wasn’t able to complete the entire 21-day challenge. Shaun got hurt on the third day after a fall and was forced to leave the show.

Terra made it all the way to the end, however.

“I’m not a gender, I’m not a label, I’m just a human,” she said after completing the challenge.

“It’s empowering. I’m going through my own transitional journey. And I know now that if I just stick with it there’s nothing I cannot do in this world,” she said.