Feature

'Pose' star Mj Rodriguez signs with Olay Body, increasing the push for trans visibility

"I am so thankful to have the opportunity to show other trans women of colour everywhere that they are seen and that they are worthy.”

Mj Rodriguez

Mj Rodriguez has signed her first beauty deal. Source: Getty Images

Having already become this year, actress and activist Mj Rodriguez has celebrated her newfound success by signing on with beauty brand Olay, becoming a brand ambassador for Olay Body.

She follows in the footsteps of other trans women of colour to work with the brand, including actress Laverne Cox.

"Olay Body is leading by example for other brands by opening doors for trans individuals like myself," Rodriguez said in a statement, Out.

"This is officially my first ever beauty campaign - I am so thankful to have the opportunity to show other trans women of color everywhere that they are seen and that they are worthy.”

Sharing the news with a bare-faced selfie, Rodriguez wrote: "I am on my journey to figure 'ME' out more and part of that is preparing my skin for those big and small moments."

She added: "Lately my skin has been dry and ashy. With the 5th Annual Diversity Summit in just 14 days, I’m teaming up with Body for a 14 day skin transformation journey to get my skin from dry and stressed to glowing and healthy. I’m already feeling myself!"
Landing the campaign was an exciting milestone for the rising star.

“When they called me, I screamed on the phone, because Olay is one of the leading forces in beauty,” she said when discussing the campaign in an interview with . “I was like ‘oh my god, am I really being considered for this, am I worthy?’”

The campaign, Rodriguez says, is all part of her push for greater trans visibility.

“As a woman, as a black or Latina or trans woman, we have to constantly give words of affirmation to ourselves," Rodriguez told The Cut.

"It’s just hard for us. I’m just focusing on amplifying my voice, trying to get it out there as much as possible.”

If you're a fan of Pose, you'll love SBS documentary series My House, available now on .

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Published 12 November 2019 1:21pm
By Samuel Leighton-Dore


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