There is no single “most popular trans person” in the world—but there are several globally recognized trans and non-binary figures whose reach spans millions of followers and significant cultural milestones. Names like Laverne Cox (~7 million Instagram followers), Elliot Page (~5.6 million Instagram followers), Dylan Mulvaney (~10 million TikTok followers), NikkieTutorials (10+ million YouTube subscribers), Kim Petras (Grammy winner), and Caitlyn Jenner consistently top visibility metrics. This article ranks popularity using social media reach, mainstream media visibility, awards, and cultural influence. Trans women, trans men, and non-binary people are all included—and “most popular” doesn’t mean “most important.”
How We Measured “Most Popular Trans” in 2024–2026
Determining the most popular trans person requires clear criteria. For this article, we measured popularity across several dimensions: social media followers on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and X; mainstream roles in film, television, and music; press coverage volume; major awards and milestones; and search interest data.
The time frame for this analysis spans approximately 2020 through early 2026. Key events during this period include Elliot Page’s coming out in December 2020, Dylan Mulvaney’s viral rise starting in early 2022, and Kim Petras becoming the first openly transgender woman to win a major pop category Grammy in February 2023. Numbers fluctuate constantly—follower counts shift weekly, viral moments spike temporarily—so rankings remain approximate. However, each person listed here has verifiable large audiences and significant cultural presence, with examples drawn primarily from North America and Europe but also including visibility in Latin America and other regions.
Laverne Cox – Emmy-Nominated Actor and Trans Trailblazer
Many consider Laverne Cox the world’s most recognizable trans woman, and the data supports this assessment. Her sustained media presence over more than a decade, combined with historic firsts and ongoing advocacy, places her at the forefront of trans visibility.
Cox rose to international prominence as Sophia Burset on Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019). Her portrayal of a trans woman of color in a mainstream series was groundbreaking—one of the first such roles in major television history. The show introduced millions of viewers worldwide to trans representation through a nuanced, complex character.
In 2014, Cox became the first openly transgender person nominated in a major acting category at the Primetime Emmy Awards. That same year, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine with the headline “The Transgender Tipping Point.” She was also named to Time‘s 100 Most Influential People list, cementing her status as a global figure in both entertainment and advocacy.
Current metrics show Cox maintaining strong visibility:
- Approximately 7 million Instagram followers as of mid-2025
- Regular red carpet appearances and hosting for E! coverage
- Ongoing documentary work and public speaking engagements
- Recognized advocate for trans women of color and trans rights
Cox’s advocacy extends beyond acting roles. She has contributed to documentaries, spoken at universities and corporations, and consistently used her platform to address issues facing the transgender community. Her work as a public speaker has made her a sought-after voice on human rights and gender identity topics.
In terms of mainstream recognition and sustained media presence, Laverne Cox is frequently cited as one of the most popular and influential trans people alive. Her combination of acting roles, advocacy work, and cultural legitimacy makes her a reference point for anyone searching for prominent transgender people.
Elliot Page – Global Film Star and Trans Icon
Elliot Page brought unprecedented visibility to trans men when he came out publicly in December 2020. His pre-transition fame from films like Juno (2007, Academy Award-nominated) and Inception (2010) gave him a foundation that few other trans public figures possess.
Page’s coming-out announcement via social media trended worldwide. Major outlets including Time, The Guardian, and Variety framed him as one of the most visible transgender man in history. The announcement generated tens of millions of interactions across platforms and sparked global conversations about gender identity and transition.
In 2021, Page sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a widely-viewed interview discussing gender affirming surgery, his emotional journey, and the impact of finally living authentically. This interview reached mainstream audiences who might not typically engage with trans content, expanding awareness significantly.
Page’s fanbase metrics remain strong:
- Approximately 5.6 million Instagram followers
- YouTube channel with 838,000 subscribers and ~500 million total views
- Strong recognition among both queer and mainstream audiences globally
His decision to have his character in Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy evolve into Viktor Hargreeves brought trans representation into a major streaming franchise. This character transition—reflecting Page’s own life—normalized trans narratives within popular entertainment.
In terms of global name recognition and critical acclaim, Elliot Page is often considered among the top candidates for most popular trans person. His combination of Hollywood credentials, personal authenticity, and ongoing visibility makes him a powerful figure in trans representation.
Dylan Mulvaney – Viral “Days of Girlhood” Creator
Dylan Mulvaney became one of the fastest-rising trans influencers on TikTok starting in early 2022. Her “Days of Girlhood” series, documenting daily experiences of transition, captured attention through authenticity, humor, and relatability—amassing billions of views within roughly a year.
Born December 29, 1996, Mulvaney has a theater background that informs her content creation. She earned a BFA from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2019 and toured nationally with The Book of Mormon before her transition journey began publicly.
Key milestones in her rise include:
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| March 2022 | “Days of Girlhood” series launches on TikTok |
| October 2022 | Interview with President Joe Biden about anti-trans legislation |
| Late 2022 | Facial feminization surgery |
| Early 2023 | Modeling at New York Fashion Week |
| February 2023 | Red carpet appearance at the Grammy Awards |
| April 2023 | Bud Light partnership and subsequent controversy |
| March 2024 | Debut single “Days of Girlhood” with charity connection to The Trevor Project |
The April 2023 Bud Light partnership deserves particular attention. A promotional post featuring Mulvaney sparked conservative backlash, boycotts, and even bomb threats against Anheuser-Busch facilities. Paradoxically, this controversy dramatically increased her profile—even those opposed to her knew her name. At the time of the partnership, she had approximately 10 million TikTok followers and 1.8 million Instagram followers.
Her brand partnerships have included Nike, Instacart, Kate Spade, and CeraVe, demonstrating mainstream commercial appeal despite—or perhaps because of—controversy. Subsequent projects include memoir work and acting roles slated through 2025–2026.
Among Gen Z and TikTok users, Dylan Mulvaney is often the first name that comes up when people search “most popular trans influencer.” Her ability to create viral content, combined with her navigation of intense public scrutiny, has made her a defining figure in contemporary trans visibility.
NikkieTutorials (Nikkie de Jager) – Beauty Mogul and YouTube Powerhouse
Nikkie de Jager, known as NikkieTutorials, represents a unique case in trans visibility: a content creator who built massive success before publicly discussing her gender identity. The Dutch makeup artist began posting tutorials around 2008 and developed a YouTube channel exceeding 10 million subscribers.
De Jager completed her transition as a teenager but publicly came out as a trans woman in January 2020, after over a decade online. Her “I’m Coming Out” video acknowledged that she was being blackmailed about her trans status and chose to take control of her own narrative.
At the time of her coming-out video, her channel already had approximately 13–14 million subscribers. The video quickly reached tens of millions of views, demonstrating both the size of her existing audience and widespread interest in her story.
Her professional accomplishments include:
- Major brand collaborations with Maybelline, OFRA, and Haus Laboratories
- Interviews with international celebrities including Kim Kardashian
- Appearances on global television programs
- Hosting and co-hosting high-profile events including Eurovision-related digital coverage
- Regular presence at York Fashion Week and other industry events
In follower-count terms across YouTube and Instagram combined, NikkieTutorials rivals or exceeds many other trans public figures. Within the beauty space specifically, she stands as arguably the most followed openly transgender creator worldwide.
Her position demonstrates that trans people can build enormous audiences without their gender identity being the primary focus—and that coming out publicly can strengthen rather than diminish fan support.
Kim Petras – Grammy-Winning Pop Star
Kim Petras represents trans visibility in mainstream music at its highest level. The German dance-pop singer-songwriter identified as a girl from early childhood and began transitioning in her teens. Media reported she was one of the youngest people to receive sex reassignment surgery in Europe—around age 16 in 2009—making her a tabloid subject long before pop fame arrived.
Her music career built steadily through:
- Breakout single “I Don’t Want It at All” (2017)
- Debut project Clarity (2019)
- Collaborations with electronic musician producers across the dance-pop scene
- Growing festival presence and streaming numbers
The watershed moment came at the 2023 Grammy Awards. Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Unholy” with Sam Smith, becoming the first transgender woman to win in a major pop category at the Grammys. Her emotional acceptance speech acknowledged the historic nature of the moment for the trans community.
“Unholy” achieved remarkable commercial success:
- Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100
- Topped charts in over 20 countries
- Passed 1 billion streams on Spotify by April 2023
Petras has continued releasing music, including the album Feed the Beast (2023), while appearing in publications like Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue. Her label situation has created some delays—album Detour was pushed back as of January 2026—but her commercial trajectory remains strong.
In music-specific popularity metrics—Spotify streams, chart placements, festival slots, award recognition—Kim Petras is arguably the most successful openly transgender pop artist to date. Her record producer collaborations and singer songwriter skills have created a catalog that competes with any mainstream pop star.
Caitlyn Jenner – From Olympic Champion to Trans Household Name
Caitlyn Jenner’s fame requires context that predates her transition by decades. As Bruce Jenner, she won Olympic decathlon gold in 1976 and became one of America’s most recognized athletes. This pre-transition celebrity status creates a unique visibility profile unmatched by other trans public figures.
The public reveal of her transition came via Vanity Fair‘s July 2015 cover story with the headline “Call Me Caitlyn.” The reveal dominated news cycles worldwide:
- Google searches for “Caitlyn Jenner” set records for trans-related topics
- Millions of social media interactions within hours
- Global news coverage across virtually every major outlet
- Vanity Fair subscription and newsstand spikes
Her reality-TV prominence from Keeping Up with the Kardashians and her own series I Am Cait (2015–2016) gave her unparalleled mainstream exposure. Unlike most trans people who build visibility after transition, Jenner brought existing household-name recognition into her new public identity.
In 2021, Jenner ran for California governor as a Republican candidate. The campaign generated intense media coverage and public debate over her politics and role as a trans figure. While unsuccessful, the run reinforced her position in public consciousness.
Opinions within the LGBTQ community differ sharply on Jenner’s political positions and representation. However, in pure name recognition and media imprint metrics, she remains one of the most widely known trans women globally. Many people who cannot name any other transgender person recognize Caitlyn Jenner.
Other Massively Popular Trans and Non-Binary Influencers
Beyond the headline names, dozens of trans and non-binary creators now have audiences in the millions across social media platforms. The visibility wave extends far beyond any single figure.
Jazz Jennings has been publicly visible since childhood, appearing in documentaries and eventually TLC’s I Am Jazz reality series. Now a student and trans activist, she maintains over 1.3 million Instagram followers and a YouTube channel with approximately 630,000 subscribers and 30 million total views.
Yasmin Finney, a Black British transgender actress born in 2003, represents emerging representation. Her roles include:
- Elle Argent in Netflix’s Heartstopper (2022–present)
- Rose Noble in Doctor Who (2023)
- Approximately 1.9 million TikTok followers as of 2024
- Children’s & Family Emmy nomination
Other notable trans and non-binary figures include:
| Name | Platform/Field | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Laith Ashley | Modeling/Acting | Taylor Swift’s “Lavender Haze” music video |
| Rose Montoya | TikTok/Activism | High-growth social media influencer |
| Jesse Sullivan | TikTok/Advocacy | Trans dad visibility, dating content |
| Grace Hyland | TikTok/Lifestyle | Fashion and lifestyle content creator |
| Alok Vaid-Menon | Comedy/Writing | Non-binary author, performance artist |
| Chris Mosier | Sports | First openly trans member of Team USA |
| Schuyler Bailar | Swimming/Advocacy | First openly trans NCAA Division I male athlete |
Non-binary and gender-nonconforming stars add further dimension: Bella Ramsey (The Last of Us) uses they/she pronouns, while performers and comedians like Stanzi Potenza build touring careers centered on queer identity.
“Most popular” varies significantly by niche. Beauty has NikkieTutorials. Music has Kim Petras. Politics has Admiral Rachel Levine (first openly transgender person confirmed by the Senate). Youth culture has Zaya Wade. Comedy has Alok Vaid-Menon. Sports has Chris Mosier and Schuyler Bailar. Each community measures influence differently.
The rise of RuPaul’s Drag Race has also increased visibility for trans contestants and hosts, though the relationship between drag performer identity and trans identity varies by individual.
Why “Most Popular Trans” Searches Matter
High search volume for “who is the most popular trans” reflects genuine curiosity—and sometimes confusion—about trans visibility. But it also signals something meaningful: a desire for role models, representation, and understanding.
Visibility brings both opportunity and risk. Brand deals, acting roles, and cultural influence come alongside harassment, boycotts, and politicization. Dylan Mulvaney’s Bud Light experience demonstrated this starkly: a single social media post generated death threats, factory bomb scares, and corporate retreat. Kim Petras faced scrutiny over producer collaborations. Laverne Cox is frequently targeted by anti-trans sentiment online despite her acclaim.
Yet visibility also normalizes trans lives. When a transgender actress appears in a hit Netflix series, or a transgender woman wins a Grammy, or a trans man discusses gender dysphoria on Oprah, public perception shifts incrementally. These moments matter for trans people who may never seek fame but benefit from increased acceptance.
Popularity should not be the only lens for understanding trans influence. Lesser-known trans activist organizers, clinical psychologist practitioners working with trans youth, policy advocates in San Diego or New York Supreme Court cases, and everyday trans people living authentic lives have profound impact without millions of followers. The creative director of a small nonprofit or the co-founder of a local support group may change more lives than any celebrity.
Consider using this list as a starting point to follow, support, and learn from a diverse range of trans and non-binary creators across different platforms and countries. Explore beyond the names you already know. Subscribe to a YouTube channel. Follow an activist on social media. Read Redefining Realness by Janet Mock or another trans author’s memoir. Support organizations like The Trevor Project that serve LGBTQ youth.
The question “who is the most popular trans” has no single answer—but the search itself reflects a world increasingly aware that trans people are everywhere, achieving at every level, and deserving of recognition beyond mere curiosity.
