Through Whoopi Goldberg‘s career, she’s accomplished some pretty phenomenal things. The actress and activist has overcome drug addiction, poverty, and racial discrimination to become one of the most recognized entertainers in the world. Now the social justice queen is combing her love of entertainment and social action in her new reality TV series Strut. She will produce the show, which documents the lives and careers of transgender models in LA.
The series will follow models from America’s first exclusively trans modeling agency, Slay Model Management, as they break down stereotypes of gender and beauty in the fashion industry. The agency’s motto is: “we’re here to slay and we’re here to stay.”
In an interview with Variety, Whoopi reflected on the importance of the show saying, “for all of the positive advances the community has made and continues to make, transgender is still a hot-button that gets people hysterical.” She continued, “people tend to focus on the stereotype instead of the person, and this series will give viewers a unique opportunity to spend time with real people who are struggling with the same challenges we all face as we make our way through the world.”
This isn’t the first time the award-winning actress has championed LGBT representation. In 1999, Whoopi received the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Vanguard Award for her continued work in supporting the gay and lesbian community, especially when it comes to eliminating homophobia and discrimination in the media. The show will premiere later this year, we’ll see you on the couch.
Credits
Text Hannah Butterworth
Image via Wikipedia