Angelica Ross

Angelica Ross is an American businesswoman, actor, and transgender rights advocate. Her breakthrough acting role was in the acclaimed drama series Pose, as Candy Ferocity, which received positive reviews. She followed this by an appearance as Donna Chambers in the admired American Horror Story: 1984, produced by Ryan Murphy, and which made Ross the first female transgender actress to secure two series regular roles. The actor received such adoration for her vivacious performance that she was invited back to reprise the role for the show’s 10th season. Ross subsequently went on to receive outstanding recognition for her role in Her Story, a web series about trans women in LA; Her Story was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award. The actor and businesswomans further roles in television include: guest appearances in legal drama series Doubt, Claws and Transparent – a Prime Video comedy-drama.

Ross self-taught herself computer coding, and used this knowledge to become founder and CEO of TransTech Social Enterprises. The nonprofit helps employ transgender people in the tech industry, by training and contracting transgender workers. Melissa Harris-Perry, an American writer and political commentator, has openly supported the firm. Ross has since gone on to be a featured speaker at the 2015 White House LGBTQ Tech and Innovation Summit, as well as a celebrity ambassador for the 50th Anniversary Stonewall celebration. The actor, activist and businesswoman also hosted the 2020 Presidential Candidate Forum on LGBTQ Issues, making her the first openly transgender person to host an American presidential forum – a record that Ross thoroughly deserves for her hardworking ethic and phenomenal contribution to the LGBTQ community.

As well as activism, Ross is also a film producer, and has won awards for the film Missed Connections in particular, which she also starred in. The film went on to be an official selection at Outfest, Baltimore International Black Film Festival, La Femme InternationFilm Festival and Outflix – showing that Ross’ talent extends far beyond her acting and activism to also include work behind the camera.