Openly transgender costume designer and activist Qween Jean has made history after becoming the first openly trans person to win a Tony Award.
Jean received the 2026 Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical inspired by New York City’s ballroom culture. The production was one of the biggest winners of the night.
The win is a landmark moment for Broadway. Jean is the first openly transgender person to receive a competitive Tony Award. She is also the first Black woman to win Best Costume Design of a Musical.
Accepting the award in a lavender gown she designed herself, Jean thanked the cast and creative team behind the production. She also spoke about what the achievement meant to her, saying she hopes it opens more doors for transgender people and reminds them that they belong in every space, including Broadway.
It was a standout awards season for Jean. In addition to her win for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, she also received a Tony nomination for her costume design for the play Liberation. The recognition highlighted her range as a designer working across both musicals and plays.
Beyond the stage, Jean is widely known for her advocacy. She founded Black Trans Liberation, a New York-based organization that supports transgender and gender nonconforming people through mutual aid and community programs. Long before her Tony win, she had already built a reputation as someone who uses her platform to advocate for Black transgender communities.
Jean’s historic victory came during Pride Month, making the moment even more meaningful for many LGBTQ+ people. Her win reflects the growing impact of transgender artists on Broadway and serves as an important milestone for representation in American theater.
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