Actor, model and social activist Indya Moore doesn’t take any role lightly. Preferring to refer to themselves with the pronouns “they/them”, Moore is a transgender non-binary entity, which means to say that they are neither exclusively feminine or masculine. One might also refer to them as genderfluid – or fluctuating between gender identity.
In Indya, I see elements of our foremothers: the beauty of Sir Lady Java and Tracey Africa Norman, brazenness of Miss Major and Sylvia Rivera and indelible warmth and spirit of Marsha P. Johnson. She is the living embodiment of our wildest dreams finally coming true
The issue of gender roles has been in entertainment headlines lately, partly because of June’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI+) Pride Month activities across the globe, but also because Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth announced their separation this past weekend, allegedly because of a reported encounter between Cyrus and another woman.
One particular Twitter response took the news as confirmation that “you shouldn’t date bi people … [because they’re] greedy and never satisfied”.
American singer Halsey, a friend of Cyrus, quickly stepped to the entertainer’s defence, but the debate on gender roles continues.
As one of the most well-known young celebrities inspiring the LGBTQI+ community, it’s perhaps not surprising that Moore was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people of the year.
Despite being only 24, Moore has worked relentlessly to achieve visibility as a transgender entity in the world of film, modelling and social causes.
Check out 6 things you need to know about the enterprising and exceptional Indya Moore.
1. Big break with role of Angel Evangelista in FX series, Pose
Moore is perhaps most recognised for their breakout role as Angel Evangelista in the FX series, Pose. The American drama series follows Evangelista, a trans-woman sex worker, as she lives and works in 1980s New York.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Steven Canals, the series looks at the LGBTQ ballroom culture scene, specifically the “chosen families” of the underground community, which are referred to as Houses.
Talking to the New York Post, Moore said: “I wanted a stable job and I wanted to feel like I was grounded with my family, and to have personal relationships in my life that were healing and honest and genuine. I felt a lot like Angel.”
2. Named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2019
This year, Time magazine announced Indya Moore as one of the “100 Most Influential People in 2019” for their role in empowering those in the LGBTQI+ community, specifically helping transgender visibility.
Janet Mock, the award-winning writer, producer and director of Pose, wrote of Moore: “In Indya, I see elements of our foremothers: the beauty of Sir Lady Java and Tracey Africa Norman, the brazenness of Miss Major and Sylvia Rivera, and the indelible warmth and spirit of Marsha P. Johnson.
“She is the living embodiment of our wildest dreams finally coming true.”
3. Channelling ‘inner Juliet’ for Pirelli calendar
Italian photographer Paolo Roversi will be reinterpreting Shakespeare’s Juliet in Romeo and Juliet for the Pirelli 2020 Calendar, featuring Moore. The glamour calendar often features a diverse range of men and women.
Moore appears in the 2020 issue alongside Kristen Stewart, Emma Watson, Claire Foy and six other women. The shoot for the forthcoming calendar took place in Paris and Verona in May and first-look images have already been published online.
Italian photographer Paolo Roversi will be reinterpreting Shakespeare’s Juliet in Romeo and Juliet for the Pirelli 2020 Calendar, featuring Moore. The glamour calendar often features a diverse range of men and women.
4. Calls out CIS actors for taking trans roles
During this month’s “Televised Revolution: The Beings of Pose” panel during Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter’s Pride Summit in Los Angeles Moore spoke about Cisgender [a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex] actors taking trans roles being self-serving.
They said: “When we talk about cis people playing trans people and these actors are arguing their entitlement. [It shows] you clearly don’t care. It’s an experience and life that are already marginalised.”
Co-star Hailie Sahar went one step further on this argument, saying: “I equate it to blackface.”
5. They don’t just throw shade, they wear shades
The American fashion magazine, V was given exclusive behind-the-scenes images for Indya Moore x Ray-Ban’s #ProudtoBelong Campaign. According to V, the new Ray-Ban campaign celebrates uniqueness and diversity following Pride Month in June.
The eyewear brand sought out Moore for the campaign as it saw the perfect representative for the Pride-themed #ProudtoBelong campaign in the actor and activist.
6. They modelled for Dior and Gucci before acting
Before they became a groundbreaking star in Pose, from the age of 15 Moore was hustling as a model in and around New York, before landing gigs with Dior and Gucci and New York Fashion Week.
Now signed with IMG models, Moore has often told reporters about the bullying they faced as a genderfluid person living in the New York borough of the Bronx, before ultimately having to leave home and go through the foster care system.
Transgender visibility has occurred more regularly only in recent years, even in the modelling industry. Not long ago, hiring an openly transgender model was rare.
Since Moore’s breakthrough role in Pose, they have booked gigs for companies such as Louis Vuitton and Elle USA. In June, Moore was the first transgender model to feature on the cover of Elle USA and wrote in a Tweet to mark the occasion: “Thank you for having me as your first experience covering a trans person. I know I will not be the last.”
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