Love really does win. I say that every time I go back to Joey Mead’s Instagram and see just how happy she is with Ian—no, Angelina “Angie” King.

 

After years of conflict, Angie has finally come out as a transgender woman. Transgender, in the loose yet technical sense, is an umbrella term used for people who identify with a gender identity and/or gender expression that differs from what’s associated with their sex at birth. A transgender woman is a male at birth who later decides to identify and live as a woman whether that’s through dressing and/or by medical intervention.

 

Standing tall in five-inch pumps and skinny jeans, Angelina reminds us it’s okay to be yourself. Notable others have paved the way for her.

Caitlyn Jenner

 

Formerly the patriarch of the Jenner-Kardashian clan, Caitlyn Jenner reintroduced herself to mainstream media through an iconic Vanity Fair cover.

 

“I don’t feel like I’m waking up, lying,” she told the Sydney Morning Herald. She has since raised awareness on the complexities of transitioning.

Isis King

 

Isis is a two-time contestant in the reality show, “America’s Next Top Model,” becoming the first transgender woman to compete on it.

 

Having found her “real” self at the age of four, Isis has successfully transitioned to a 5’7” frame fit for modeling American Apparel and strutting during fashion weeks.

Alexis Arquette

 

Born to the famed Arquette acting family, musician-slash-activist-slash actress Alexis Arquette had found her niche in low-budget independent films. Her transition from male to female was captured on film—what did you expect?—in “Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother.”

Geena Rocero

 

You would remember Geena from her viral TED talk. A fellow Filipino, Geena Rocero is a supermodel who’s active on runways, print and activist duties. In 2014, she launched Gender Proud, an advocacy and awareness campaign to advance transgender rights.

Ines Rau

 

“Self-made woman,” Ines writes on her Instagram. It’s all you need to know about this rising model that’s just at ease with both modeling and flaunting her nude womanly body. She’s currently writing a book on her journey, which is set to come out this year.

Jenna Talackova

 

Jenna is the game-changer in the world of beauty contests. The Canadian model won a legal battle, making her eligible to compete in Miss Universe Canada. The reality show, “Brave New Girls,” was based on her life.

Laverne Cox

 

Laverne Cox has earned acclaim for promoting LGBT awareness. Among her accolades are a Time magazine cover, a wax figure in Madame Tussauds, and an honorary doctorate from the New School.

Tula Cossey

 

When we talk about well-known transgender women, we can’t forget Caroline “Tula” Cossey. The first trans-Bond Girl is also the first transwoman to pose for Playboy magazine.

 

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