"Pose" star Michaela Jaé Rodriguez makes history as first transgender actress to win a Golden Globe

The category is: pioneer! Once again "Pose" House of Evangelista mother Blanca is leading the way

By Joy Saha

Staff Writer

Published January 10, 2022 5:41PM (EST)

MJ Rodriguez (Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for InStyle)
MJ Rodriguez (Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for InStyle)

During Sunday's Golden Globes, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez took home the award for best performance by an actress in a television series-drama and became the first trans performer to win a Golden Globe. Rodriguez won the award for her role as Blanca Evangelista — the strong-willed nurturer of House Evangelista — in the final season of the acclaimed FX series "Pose." 

"This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals," Rodriguez shared in an Instagram post celebrating her win. "They will see that it is more than possible. They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS." Rodriguez also praised her fellow nominees: Uzo Aduba, Jennifer Aniston, Christine Baranski and Elisabeth Moss.

RELATED: The uplifting realness of "Pose": Ryan Murphy's revolutionary drag ball drama delivers

In the summer of 2021, Rodriguez initially made history after becoming the first transgender actress to secure an Emmy nomination in a lead acting category — also for her performance as Blanca.

"Pose," which premiered in summer 2018, centers on New York City's underground African-American and Latino queer and gender-nonconforming drag ball culture. The series features a diverse cast of transgender performers, including stars Angelica Ross, Hailie Sahar, Indya Moore and Dominique Jackson.


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In previous years, the "Pose" stars have been vocal about the show's lack of award recognition despite its critical acclaim and praise regarding trans representation. 

"Something abt trans ppl not being honored on a show abt trans ppl who created a culture to honor ourselves bc the world doesn't," tweeted Moore — who plays Angel Evangelista — in response to the show's 2020 Emmy nomination snub. "Let's call it cognitive cissonance."

During this year's Golden Globes, "Pose" was nominated for a best television series-drama award alongside "Lupin," "The Morning Show," "Squid Game" and "Succession." Billy Porter was also nominated for the best actor category for his role as Prayerful "Pray" Tell on the show.

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By Joy Saha

Joy Saha is a staff writer at Salon. She writes about food news and trends and their intersection with culture. She holds a BA in journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park.

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Awards Brief Fx Golden Globes Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Mj Rodriguez Pose Transgender