Miss Benny's queer roots are in Dallas, but she's ready to take on the world

This article was made in partnership with Visit Dallas.

Miss Benny is an inspiration to many in the LGBTQ+ community. As a transgender Latina from Dallas, the actress and influencer has paved her own way in the entertainment industry.

The performer started her career by vlogging her daily life in Texas, which went on to inspire the hit Netflix series, Glamorous. Now, Miss Benny is setting her sights on the big screen as she pays homage to her wholesome upbringing in the South.

“Growing up in Texas, finding any sort of representation was very important to me. When you’re born in Texas, you’re born Christian first and a person second. Religion was a huge part of my childhood and the positive aspect of that was the sense of hospitality and community. I actually really long for and miss a lot of the Southern culture I grew up around,” Miss Benny tells Out.

Dallas remains close to Miss Benny’s heart as her career takes her around the world.Courtesy Visit Dallas

Her upbringing may resonate with many queer people in the United States. Although she comes from a religious environment, she looks back on her time in Dallas with nothing but love and core memories.

The trailblazing star, who was named to the 2023 Out100 list as an Innovator, believes her foundation in Dallas opened the door for her to be the change she wants to see in the world.

“Texas has good food, nice people, and a huge part of my heart. I had a strong quality of celebration of life in church. It was actually things like the internet and the Out100 that were able to reach me while I was there. A lot of the celebration I have for my queer identity now is rooted in the people I grew up around. It was really impactful for me to see women take care of each other.”

Miss Benny remembers growing up around Dallas’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene, including House of Blues.Courtesy Visit Dallas

One safe haven for Benny during her adolescence was theater and music. She was even the first comedian under 18 to perform at Hyena’s Comedy Club in Dallas, so it’s safe to say there is a vibrant and colorful scene for locals and tourists to experience fine arts at an extremely high level.

“A lot of queer people have a connection to music, film, and stage performance. Growing up, we had the House of Blues and Alamo Drafthouse,” she says. “When I go back to Texas as an adult, I get really excited about rediscovering Dallas. All the gayborhood bars are so foreign to how I grew up. The testament is that I grew up a very artistic life and creative life, but now I get to find community. There’s always Dallas to be discovered around the corner!”

She even experienced her first taste of chosen family by visiting the Dallas World Aquarium as a child, where she saw the manatees cohabitating. Plus, Miss Benny found comfort in her daily fashion choices as she discovered her trans identity. As a child, she’d convince her parents to take her to the NorthPark Center, a major Dallas shopping destination, and buy her clothes that felt authentic to who she is.

Miss Benny remembers shopping at NorthPark Center while discovering a personal style that felt authentic to her.Courtesy Visit Dallas

“Going to an American Apparel as a kid was mind-blowing. I had to beg my parents to let me buy a mesh T-shirt because it was a scandalous thing for me to buy. It was like $60, but I wore it every day. It represented a very special place and special thing I couldn’t get anywhere else. When I was living in Dallas, I was making videos that helped me develop my Netflix show Glamorous. It was entirely birthed out of what I was doing in Dallas!”

Now, Benny’s latest major role is ironically bringing her back to her stomping grounds. The actress joins A-list stars Cara Delevingne and Jordan Firstman in the upcoming, critically-acclaimed film Club Kid. A24 secured the distribution rights after a major bidding war following its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

“Club Kid is going into all of the theaters that I grew up going to as a kid. They’re displaying me as the woman I am now. So much of my life has come full circle! Who knows? If you see the movie in Dallas, you might find me in the crowd with you. I will happily return to my roots one day.”

There’s no denying that Dallas is home for Miss Benny and many in the LGBTQ+ community. The cities, creative outlets, strong sense of community, and spaces for inclusion helped open doors that allowed her to pursue her dreams.