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Rose Montoya

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Rose Montoya
Montoya in 2022
Born (1995-10-10) October 10, 1995 (age 29)
Idaho, U.S.
EducationSeattle University
Occupation(s)Model, Content Creator, Activist
Years active2018 – present
TikTok information
Page
Followers790.9K
Likes20.3M
Last updated: March 12, 2024
Websiterosemontoya.com

Rosalynne Montoya, known professionally as Rose Montoya (born October 10, 1995), is an American transgender rights activist, model, and social media content creator.[1] She[a] began modeling in 2018, and has since modeled for Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, Fluide, Yandy.com, Adore Me, and TOMS Shoes.[2][3][4][5] Montoya, who is a non-binary transgender woman, was featured in 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World by Out Magazine in 2021.[6] In 2022, she was nominated for Favorite TikToker at the 10th annual Queerty Awards.[7]

Early life and education

Montoya was born on October 10, 1995.[1] She grew up in rural southern Idaho in a family with four siblings.[8] She learned American Sign Language as a child due to her mother working as a sign language interpreter. Her father worked as a worship pastor at their church and her mother worked as a Christian missionary.[8][9][10][11] Montoya realized she was attracted to men in Middle School and outed herself as gay in 2010 while in high school.[8][11][9] She then began performing in drag shows which led to her coming out as a transgender woman in 2015.[8][11][9] She started transitioning on June 23, 2015, and changed her legal name in September 2015.[8] In 2016, she came out as bisexual and, in 2019, as a non-binary transgender woman using both feminine and non-binary gender pronouns.[8][10]

Montoya graduated in 2015 from Seattle University with a bachelor of arts degree in film studies at 19 years old.[12]

Career

Social Media

Montoya worked as a full-time makeup artist and manager at a department store's cosmetics counter until she was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.[6][11] During this time, she focused on turning her social media platforms into a full-time job.[6] Montoya uses their social media to create educational content regarding transgender issues, experiences, and rights.[6] She has made sponsored posts with FX Networks, New York City Pride, Planned Parenthood, Fenty Beauty, Parade, and Fluide.[13][14][15][16][17] In 2022, Montoya was nominated for Favorite TikToker at the 10th annual Queerty Awards.[7]

Motivational Speaking & Advocacy

Montoya has spoken and presented on transgender rights at the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, the Downtown Emergency Service Center, the University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, and Yale University.[18][19][20] She launched the educational website The Trans 101 to spread awareness regarding issues faced by transgender people.[21] Montoya is also a board member of the non-profit, Aadya Rising.[22] She was one of the activists featured in Out's 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World.[6] In June 2023, Rose also spoke at the National Press Club to advocate for policy change in support of transgender rights.[23] In November of 2023, Rose published an op-ed in TIME Magazine about the over-sexualization of trans bodies and the desire-to-cruelty-pipeline. [24]

Modeling

Montoya began modeling in 2018, after she was discovered by the undergarment company TomboyX.[2][6] She was scouted by Tricia Romani of League Models and InspirationALL Talent [2] through her TikTok channel and is signed to them for acting and modeling. She has modeled in advertisement campaigns for Savage X Fenty, Yandy.com, Adore Me, Toms Shoes, and oVertone.[2][3][4][5] In June 2021, Rose was featured on a billboard in New York City as one of the faces of LGBT telehealth group Folx Health's launch campaign for PreP.[25][26]

Personal life

Montoya has spoken publicly about gender-affirming surgeries she underwent, including a breast augmentation, a tracheal shave, and a genioplasty.[11][27] She has also opened up about her experiences living with chronic anxiety and depression.[28][29]

Montoya is polyamorous and frequently uses her platforms to educate people about different relationship structures.[30][31] Montoya used to be Bob the Drag Queen's metamour and joined him for a podcast episode.[32]

Viral TSA video

In March 2021, Montoya had a difficult experience with the Transportation Security Administration at an airport in Phoenix, Arizona.[33] A TikTok video about it received over twenty million views.[34] Montoya said her documentation recognizes her as female, but airport scanners, which categorize travelers as male or female due to genitalia, set off alarms.[33][35] After disclosing to the TSA attendant that she is transgender, the agent asked if Montoya would prefer to be "scanned as a man instead."[33] Montoya stated that then, after triggering the alarm again, the TSA tried to assign a male agent to pat her down despite her being a trans woman.[33]

White House Pride controversy

In June 2023, Montoya attended a Pride month celebration at the White House in Washington DC where she was among the hundreds greeted by US President Joe Biden.[36] She elicited controversy due to a TikTok video she shared with her nearly 800K followers. After a full day, the TikTok video was then shared by Libs of TikTok which caused the video to go viral on far-right Twitter and was then picked up by conservative media.[37][38] Fox News wrote three articles about the incident in one day.[39][36] The video included 3 seconds in which she and two other attendees removed their clothing above the waist in a video. Rose covered her nipples the entire time.[36][40] The White House called the act "disrespectful" and said that the individuals in the video "would not be invited back to future events."[41] Rose has since issued an apology video.[42] While in DC, Rose also spoke at the National Press Club to advocate for policy change in support of transgender rights.[23]

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 Drag Race Latina Herself (Special Guest) Season 2, Episode 6 [43][44]
2023 Jennifer Hudson Show Herself (Audience Member) Season 1, Episode 92 [45]
2023 The Q Agenda Herself (Guest) Season 8, Episode 11 [45][46]

Film

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 Agents of Change: Project Polymer Waitress Short [47]

Awards, nominations, and honors

Year Award Category Work Result Notes Ref.
2024 Los Angeles Blade Best of LA Favorite Influencer Herself Nominated [48][49][50]
2023 GLAAD Media Award Special Recognition Herself N/A Revry TV's Drag Latina was Recognized [51]
2022 Queerty Awards Favorite TikToker Herself Nominated
  • 2021 - Out Magazine's Out 100 Honoree honoring the magazine's selection of 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World in 2021[6]
  • 2021 - One of 18 Latinx Creatives to Follow from Arizona Republic[52]

Notes

  1. ^ Rose is a nonbinary trans woman and uses both they and she pronouns. This article uses she/her for consistency

References

  1. ^ a b "Rose Montoya on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 15, 2023. For my 27th birthday this year, I had a vision: an elegant image of myself in old fashioned Hollywood glamor displaying my body as it is, trans and beautiful.
  2. ^ a b c d "Modeling Portfolio". Rose Montoya.
  3. ^ a b "Rose Montoya". Qwear Media.
  4. ^ a b Love Is Sexy. Interview Featuring Rose Montoya. yandy.com, retrieved January 15, 2023
  5. ^ a b "yandy on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 15, 2023. Who's ready for a GNO!?
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Out100 2021: 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World". www.out.com. November 3, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Meet the incredible TikTokers nominated in the 2022 Queerties". Queerty. February 12, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Balfe, Becky (October 8, 2019). "I was told to 'man up' after being thrown into a dumpster. I believed I was an abomination". lovewhatmatters.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c "Rose Montoya's Coming Out Story". unite. June 1, 2020. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  10. ^ a b "About". Rose Montoya.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Trans Activist Says the Confidence Plastic Surgery Gave Her Is "Priceless"". RealSelf News. May 31, 2022.
  12. ^ "Rosalynne Montoya she/her/hers Hispanic Transgender Woman". LGBTQ and ALL. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  13. ^ "Social Media Sponsorships". Rose Montoya. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  14. ^ "@rosalynnemontoya explains the role of makeup and fashion in the LGBTQ..." TikTok. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  15. ^ "🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @nycpride #nycpride21 #foryourpride". TikTok. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  16. ^ "FENTY SKIN on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 15, 2023. Happy #TRANSDAYOFVISIBILITY 🏳️‍⚧️ Join us in celebrating and uplifting the voices of trans and non-binary people
  17. ^ "Rose Montoya on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 15, 2023. @parade just launched their new Taffy line and I'm in love.
  18. ^ Cardilli, Abby (October 6, 2021). "'You are who you are': Panelists discuss the power of a name in the LGBTQIA+ experience". The Pitt News. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  19. ^ Decker, Maia (March 10, 2021). "Office of LGBTQ Resources welcomes transfeminine influencers to discuss modeling, TikTok and more". Yale Daily News. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "SPEAKING". Rose Montoya. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya". The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya.
  22. ^ "Team | Aadya Rising". www.aadyarising.net. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  23. ^ a b Chery, Samantha (June 17, 2023). "Activist apologizes for going topless at White House Pride event". Washington Post.
  24. ^ "The Oversexualization of Trans Bodies". TIME. November 13, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  25. ^ "FOLX Health on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 15, 2023. PrEP has never been this easy to get
  26. ^ "Rose Montoya on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved January 10, 2023. I'm on a billboard in New York City!?!! Thank you @folxhealth for inviting me to model for your PrEP launch! It's truly an honor. I'm so proud of myself.
  27. ^ "Surgery". The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  28. ^ "Rosalynne Montoya she/her/hers Hispanic Transgender Woman". LGBTQ and ALL.
  29. ^ "How Trans Savage x Fenty Ambassador Rose Montoya Battled Depression". www.out.com. November 10, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  30. ^ "Dating". The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  31. ^ "Rose Montoya on TikTok". TikTok. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  32. ^ "Bob The Drag Queen - Only Child. My Partner's Partner (Polyamory) w/ Rose Montoya", YouTube, retrieved January 15, 2023
  33. ^ a b c d "Trans woman shares humiliating airport screening ordeal". NZ Herald. June 18, 2023.
  34. ^ "#TravelingWhileTrans: The trauma of returning to 'normal'". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  35. ^ Torres, Krista (March 26, 2021). "This Trans Woman Shared Her Humiliating Experience Going Through Airport TSA And It's Starting A Bigger Conversation About The Struggles Trans People Face". BuzzFeed.
  36. ^ a b c "The White House Bans Trans Activist From Future Events Over TikTok Video". Them. June 14, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  37. ^ "https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1668413594004774912". Twitter. Retrieved July 11, 2023. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  38. ^ "Transgender Activist Goes Topless And Holds Her Breasts At White House". HuffPost. June 13, 2023. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  39. ^ Hagstrom, Anders (June 13, 2023). "Trans activists flaunt bare breasts at White House Pride Month event". Fox News. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  40. ^ Troisi, Dayna (June 14, 2023). "Understanding Rose Montoya's 'Free The Nipple' Moment At The White House - GO Magazine". gomag.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  41. ^ Liptak, Kevin (June 13, 2023). "White House condemns 'inappropriate' video from Pride event | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  42. ^ Kane, Christopher (June 16, 2023). "Rose Montoya apologizes for topless stunt at White House - Washington Blade: LGBTQ News, Politics, LGBTQ Rights, Gay News". www.washingtonblade.com. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  43. ^ Drag Latina (Reality-TV), Carmen Carrera, Enrique Sapene, Martin De Luna Jr, October 16, 2022, retrieved January 26, 2024{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  44. ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  45. ^ a b "Rose Montoya". IMDb. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  46. ^ "The Q Agenda Women's History Month Special". LATV. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
  47. ^ Agents of Change: Project Polymer (Short 2023) - IMDb, retrieved March 24, 2023
  48. ^ Watson, Rob (January 26, 2024). "Best of LGBTQ+ LA 2024". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  49. ^ "Vote for your favorites in the 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Awards!". us19.campaign-archive.com. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  50. ^ "2024 Best of LGBTQ LA Finalist Voting". washblade.survey.fm. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  51. ^ "GLAAD ANNOUNCES NOMINEES FOR THE 35th ANNUAL GLAAD MEDIA AWARDS | GLAAD". glaad.org. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  52. ^ Robinson, KiMi. "Hispanic Heritage Month: 18 Latino influencers, creatives to follow on Instagram in Arizona". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
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