Qween Jean made history at the 2026 Tony Awards, when she became the first out transgender woman to triumph on the theater world’s biggest night. She won in the category of Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball, an electrifying reimagining of the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic as a ballroom headlined by queer and trans people of color.
In the spirit of the Broadway show, the designer and political activist — Jean is the founder of Black Trans Liberation, which provides resources to community members in need — used the mic as a clarion call for liberation. “As a queer person, a leader, a mother, I will never stand quiet. If any woman is in pain, even if her shackles are different from mine, let’s get unshackled,” Jean declared on the CBS-broadcasted ceremony.
“My heart is still rejoicing from Tonys night,” shares the Tisch MFA graduate, who has designed costumes for dozens of productions in her career and was previously nominated for her work in Liberation. Jean knows this triumph matters in the current political and cultural landscape.
“Trans bodies deserve to be on stage, our stories deserve to be told, and our lives deserve to be protected and respected,” she says. @qween_jean
