Transgender Singers Making Huge Hits
Transgender individuals are making huge waves in the entertainment industry. From actors, models, producers, writers, and down to pop stars and huge hit makers!
Are you an aspiring transgender singer or perhaps, you’re just looking for a bop in your playlist? Lucky you because today, we’ve come up with a list of famous trans singers you should listen to.
Kim Petras
If you love pop music and you don’t know Kim Petras, you’re probably on the wrong streaming platform. Just recently, her feature on Sam Smith’s huge hit Unholy broke streaming records and has reached the No.1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.
Apart from the collaboration, she has already released several albums and multiple hits such as Coconuts, Heart to Break and I Don’t Want it at All. Kim Petras rose to fame when she starred in a reality show on one of Germany’s top TV stations.
Born on August 27, 1992, she’s already at the top of her game at the age of 30. Apart from being one of the best transgender singers in the industry, she’s also open about her advocacies for transgender rights.
While her third studio album Problematique was scrapped because of a leak, she’s still adamant about releasing music. She persisted and did not let the blip affect her focus proven by her first number-one hit with Sam Smith.
- Kim Petras on Facebook
- Kim Petras on Instagram
- Kim Petras on X
- Kim Petras on Youtube
- Kim Petras on Spotify
- Kim Petras on Deezer
- Kim Petras on Apple Music
Read also: Kim Petras, First Openly Trans Person With A Billboard Top 1 Hit
Shea Diamond
Born in Little Rock Arkansas, the 44-year-old transgender singer has proven to the world that it is never too late to pursue one’s dream. So much so that she was introduced by Demi Lovato in 2020 to sing I am America. Her performance for the annual GLAAD awards showed the world her unique vocal prowess.
One of her musical inspirations is Tina Turner, who sang the immortal hit Proud Mary. Unlike other trans singers, most of her music is geared toward empowering people of color in the LGBTQIA+ community. She is one of the most active entertainers who perform in LGBTQIA+ events and campaigns.
Just like Kim Petras, she has also worked with several famous pop stars. One of her notable works was her appearance in Demi Lovato’s I’m Ready music video.
She also sings Holiday music and two of her songs were included in Hulu’s original Christmas film Happiest Season. Although she has plenty of cameos on other artists’ work, she’s still active in making her own music.
- Shea Diamond website
- Shea Diamond on Facebook
- Shea Diamond on Instagram
- Shea Diamond on X
- Shea Diamond on TikTok
- Shea Diamond on Spotify
- Shea Diamond on Deezer
- Shea Diamond on Apple Music
Read also: The Beautiful Voice and Life of Shea Diamond
Lucas Silveira
The multitalented Lucas Silveira doesn’t only sing. He also writes his own music and professionally plays the guitar. Most of his songs are in the folk and rock genre. A lot of his original works, apart from his famous covers on YouTube, were with a band that he formed called The Cliks.
He was the lead vocalist and the first openly transgender man who was signed by a major record label. Their songs were part of the L Word Soundtrack, a playlist from the hit TV show The L Word. Their band has also toured with Cyndi Lauper on her True Colours Tour.
In 2013, their band collaborated with The Weeknd, one of the most famous pop stars and hit makers in the industry. While music is Silveira’s passion, he also champions transgender rights.
He made appearances on The Late Late Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live, MTV’s Logo TV, and in the documentary film Riot Acts. In all shows, he openly talked about his gender identity and his music.
- Lucas Silveira website
- Lucas Silveira on Facebook
- Lucas Silveira on Instagram
- Lucas Silveira on X
- Lucas Silveira on Youtube
- Lucas Silveira on Spotify
- Lucas Silveira on Apple Music
Harisu
Because the K-pop wave has already reached the west, it’s important to know who the first transgender k-pop star is. Not only was she a hitmaker but she was a pioneer for transgender women who dreams of becoming a singer.
Because of her fame, the acceptance of transgender entertainers in South Korea came easier. So much so that after her successful debut, the first transgender K-pop girl group Lady was formed.
She started out as a model for a cosmetics company called DoDo. Because of the controversial scene from one of its commercials that dealt with transgender surprise, she has created a media frenzy. She was often dubbed as more beautiful than real women and the audience wanted more of her.
Her first two songs topped the dance charts in her country which opened more doors for her in the entertainment industry. Eventually, she became an actress and was able to explore other genres of music.
Read also: Harisu, First Transgender K-pop Star
Amanda Lepore
One of the it-girls of the 90s and early 2000s, she wasn’t only known for her extraordinary beauty. Amanda has over 20 bops on the dance charts. One of her most popular hits is My Hair Looks Fierce and in the song, she references Paris Hilton. A lot of her things deal with boosting self-confidence and have catchy tunes that are easy to dance to.
David LaChapelle, one of America’s biggest photographers was instrumental in creating her name. She was his regular subject and muse. Other photographers also couldn’t get enough of Amanda, including Ruben van Schalm and Terry Richardson.
In one of her interviews, she shared,
Ever since I can first remember, I knew I was a girl. I couldn’t understand why my parents were dressing me up in boys’ clothing. I thought they were insane.
She grew up in Cedar Grove, New Jersey with an Italian-American father who was a chemical engineer, a housewife mother, and an older brother. She started taking hormones when she was 15 years old with the help of a transgender woman dancer named Bambi.
- Amanda Lepore Website
- Amanda Lepore on Facebook
- Amanda Lepore on Instagram
- Amanda Lepore on X
- Amanda Lepore on Spotify
- Amanda Lepore on Deezer
- Amanda Lepore on Apple Music
Skylar Kergil
Skylar is a young and talented singer-songwriter who has over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Although he is most known for his videos documenting his transition from female to male, he has many beautifully-written acoustic love songs.
He majored in Art which concentrated on painting but he eventually shifted to photography. He also studied poetry which greatly helped him in creating his songs’ lyrics.
Apart from his many talents, he’s also vocal in his support of LGBTQIA+ issues. Many of his latest works and updates can be viewed on his social media accounts.
Did we miss any of your favorite Transgender Singers? Join the conversation and comment on your favorite trans singer below. Share more about them so we can include them in the future update of this list.
