Also, being a role model for the LGBTQ community, Josie established herself as one of the youngest transgender actresses. From that point on, I hit the ground running. Totah also revealed that male puberty was something that frightened her. Because its a clean slate and a new world.. I hid the girls clothes I really wanted to wear under sweatpants and sweatshirts. Reportedly, her body measurements were 32-24-33 inches. It Reveals What Some Americans Still Dont Get About Discrimination, How We Can Learn to Live with COVID-19 After Vaccinations. And if it didnt, due to her fame, shed have to go undercover if she wanted to leave her house. It allows me to gain perspective, to be more accepting of others, because I know what it feels like to know youre not like everyone else. Also find out if she has a boyfriend. And while everyone thought that sorority was the worst place to be, ironically, she ended up falling in love with it. Real-life encounters with her Disney fans, meanwhile, would pose another gauntlet. Heres what you need to know about Totah: Totah made her acting debut in the first production for AwesomenessTV. Totah started her transformation right before male puberty kicked in, preventing her voice from breaking and a beard from forming. All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission. Ive acted for all of these years where, even if it was subconsciously or indirectly, Ive been forced to identify as something that Im not; constantly, in interviews with people who are very well-known, who have just labeled me as gay or what-have-you so many publications, live talk shows its been extremely difficult., In other words, Totah entered the industry as male-appearing because she had to. I wasnt waking up every day and panicking. Share with your friends. In the revival's second season, she is thrust into the spotlight not for her trendsetting fashion or stellar cheerleading, but because parents from a local school are suing to keep a trans student from playing soccer. I love acting, she says. I know now, more than ever, that Im finally ready to take this step toward becoming myself. Details To Know About Virginia Governor Candidate, Keri Lewis Biography; Net Worth, Age And Wife. But her announcement was more take-it-or-leave-it, like putting ones foot down after delivering a very long-winded sentence. I want people to identify me as that. But when I would have these auditions to play straight boys, I would have to wear clothes that reflected those roles. Totahs mother never fought back, continuing to support her pursuit of her big break. And my name is Josie Totah. TV shows: Back in the Game (2014), Nina Needs to Go (2014), Glee (2015), Jessie (2015), Sofia the First (2014), Tween Fest (2016),Liv and Maddie (2016), Champions (2018), No Good Nick (2019) and more. And my name is Josie Totah. It's that confidence she wants everyone to feel as they celebrate Pride this month. When Landon Peoples ofRefinery29asked Josie when she knew she was a girl, Josie said:I literally cannot remember the day that I told my mom that I was a girl.Josie added that by the time she was three, her family knew Totah never had to come out.. Totah always sort of knew she was a female from a very young age. Age, husband, Net worth, Embarrassing Bodies. She is known for her recurring role on the Disney Channel series Jessie and supporting role on the 2013 ABC comedy series Back in the Game. You may know the 17-year-old from her roles in Jessie , Glee, and Spider-Man: Homecoming , as J.J. Totah. When she entered the industry numerous journalists asked her what it feels like to be a young gay man. She is even wiser than you'd expect a 17-year old who worked and grew up in Los Angeles to be sweeter than candy (until you cross her), as arresting as her scene-stealing characters, and curious about the road ahead. Totah has never publically talked about her love life in public. Heres more on this. "And that includes all your little flaws and what you think are weaknesses and also your favorite things about yourself as well. Josie Totah is a transgender teenager from Sacramento, California. The good thing though, is that it was only cosmetic and external so it wasnt too dramatic.. I think we need to stand up to each other. "Being a girl just felt right," Nicole continued. Before coming out the actress had a fear that whether people would accept her. I looked over at her in the middle of the show and said, This is me. Totah says that there are still aspects of being a transgender woman that she finds difficult. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Im going to gun for those roles, be it a transgender female or a cisgender female. Since I could speak in full sentences, I was like, Give me a dress! I always knew on some level that I was female. But in a brave essay in TIME, the rising star is finally revealing her . Listing some of them are: Movies: Boys in Blue (2015), Other People (2016), Time Toys (2016), Skirtchasers (2016), Handsome: A Netflix Mystery Movie (2017),Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Magic Camp (2020), and more. She was fabulous. This is not a choice that I made. Its something everyone wants, to feel understood. Would love your thoughts, please comment. Our show deals with Michael being gay in like, 45 seconds of the pilot. Ines Rau has become the first openly transgender woman to appear as a Playboy Playmate with her spread in the November/December 2017 issue. She was the type of kid who wanted to sing with the girls and not play soccer with the boys.. She started her acting career as a child actor and played male roles for 7 years. She blames Los Angeles for her penchant for streetwear, platform sneakers, and wanting to be cool. One week, Im feeling streetwear think: lets go to a YG concert and have a good time. I also couldnt be myself. If I cant be like everyone else than I might as well just own who I am, she said. I believe that I am transgender to help people understand differences.. Check out the hottest fashion, photos, movies and TV shows! So she finally decided to come out on open in 2017. Is there hair on my face? Josie Totah is a former Disney actor who came out as transgender. It wasnt a coming out moment for me since my family has known I was transgender since I was three years old; it was more of a Let me just inform the world of something they dont know kind of moment.. Josie Jaye Totah (born August 5, 2001) is a transgender American actress. Josie Totah has come out as transgender. She didnt need the protection, and her parents put most of it there anyway. And, as a semi-religious person who went to Catholic school, I have come to believe that God made me transgender. . 548 following. David Crotty / Getty Image Totah has said that her parents knew she was transgender when she was . Later, she attended Dodge College, Chapman University in California to study film and media in 2018; where she also joined the sorority Alpha Phi. Because its a clean slate and a new world. Video related to josie totah: 5 fast facts you need to know. Formerly known as JJ Totah, she became notable for her role as Stuart Wooten on Jessie and Michael Lovette on Back in the Game. Published The image was captioned with a cheeky, "What'd I miss? But that has never been the way I think of myself.. I became such pro at dodging those questions because I had to. Alexandra Miro top; Zimmermann Corsage Safari Polka Dot Pants, $450, available at Intermix; JF London shoes. Acting has always been my passion. Since I could speak in full sentences, I was like, Give me a dress! I always knew on some level that I was female. In no uncertain terms, she revealed her preferred pronouns to be she, her, and hers, and that she identifies as female, specifically as a transgender female. Then I found myself playing that role once I got into the entertainment industry, and people kept assuming my identity. There are stops to get water and food on the way up, the sun is on my side, and Im ready to climb and continue the journey of my life.. My mother, who is immensely supportive and gracious, said, Okay, lets do it,Josie wrote onTime. Its not a big deal, his dad and uncle didnt care. Many other celebrities applaud the star in the comment section. I never wanted to show my body or my skin or anything. Shit, I think. Wow, youre really THAT beautiful wrote Oretga in the comments section, while Maisonet added, yesss biihh! According to her, she instinctively knew she wanted to have a girl's body since the age . Is my voice getting deeper? Those changes are very hard, if not impossible, to reverse. Her parents also helped her get the surgery, and she changed her name from Joseph to Josie. By coming out, Totah freed herself to play characters she identified with. Is there hair on my face? Amanda Lepore is an iconic mainstay on the fashion and New York nightlife scenes. But that has never been the way I think of myself.". 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Josie Totah is a transgender actress who has been in the film industry since 2012. However, Josie still sometimes gets stressed about being judged, rejected, made uncomfortable. Watch: Josie Totah Talks Living Authentically "You" as a Transwoman At just 20 years old, Josie Totah has already navigated a difficult path to affirming her true self. And I need to go through this. , Her mother was immensely supportive, and Totah swiftly met with doctors and was put on a hormone blocker. Josie knew trans people whose journey involved first coming out as gay, but that wasnt her journey. The 29-year-old asset manager who lives in Brooklyn, Caitlyn Jenner, previously known as Bruce, revealed her new name and gender in Vanity Fair in June 2015. When I was 2 years old, I went up to my mom and asked her, When is the good fairy going to come with her magic wand and change my penis into a vagina? Jennings recalled. And, in 2015, Totah landed the role of precocious singer Myron Muskovitz for several episodes on Glee, FOXs beloved, transgressive Ryan Murphy-produced musical dramedy; the gig amplified her fame beyond the Disney demo. Less than five minutes into my interview with actress Josie Totah, I ask her one of the most dreaded questions that come up when discussing someone elses gender identity. And now that Im here, Im ready to climb that mountain again. My pronouns are she, her and hers. I looked over at her in the middle of the show and said, This is me. Jennings is the subject of the TLC series I Am Jazz, which has chronicled her life as a transgender girl. She also added she was embarrassed as her fan knew her from her Disney career. My mother would always tell me: Ya know, if you dont want to tell everyone that youre female yet, why dont you just be a guy that dresses in girls clothes? And I would tell her all the time: I dont want that. I want people to identify me as that.. Champions alum Josie (formerly J.J.) Totah is ready to share with the world. She grew up in a small town in North Carolina and attended private Catholic school. Powered by. Is my voice getting deeper? Those changes are very hard, if not impossible, to reverse. She is currently single. Many rumors were surrounding Totah's gender transformation surgery after she came out. At such a young age, I just stuck with that.. I came to the conclusion, I had to at such a young age, if no one was going to be like me than I just have to own it. I plan to play roles I havent had the opportunity to play. Josie Totah came out as transgender in August. ", Isis King was a contestant on the 11th and 17th cycles of "America's Next Top Model. She appeared on the VH1 reality show "I Want to Work for Diddy" and later produced her own series. But I'm realizing I can't fake it forever. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I literally cannot remember the day that I told my mom that I was a girl, she replies. But when her friends and family call her Josie, she breathes a sigh of relief. Jeopardy champion Amy Schneider becomes the first woman to Eran $1 million+ on the show, Who is Dr Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo? But it was also hard, because I wanted that to be me. So, listen up yall: You can jump on or jump off. Josie Totah came out as transgender in August - by Nikki Black. Ironically, I ended up falling in love with the sorority that everyone else thought was the worst option. Totah now identifies herself with (she her) pronoun. Im transgender. She added: I felt like I was kind of forced to because I was so different I just had to stick with it. But I also feel like I let myself be shoved into a box: J.J. Search instead in Creative? She was not aware of her condition until she was a teenager and began requesting dresses when she was three years old. I almost felt like I owed it to everybody to be that gay boy. Josie Totah is helping to transform the way trans people are seen on screen. !, In a personal essay published by Time on Aug. 20, Totah revealed that she identifies as female, specifically as a transgender female., Opening up about her past, the Disney alum shared that since entering the entertainment industry, numerous reporters have asked me in interviews how it feels to be a young gay man., While Totah said she knew on some level that I was female from a young age, it crystallized about three years ago when I was a 14-year-old watching the show I Am Jazz with my mother. (At the end of June, TLC star Jazz Jennings, 17, underwent gender confirmation surgery. Sophia Johnson Cause of death: Arrest Made in a Homicide: Intersection of New Jersey Avenue and N Street, Northwest. Acting has always been my passion, she wrote. She appeared in the reality show "I Am Cait.". Lexi Haddad-DeFabrizio, a transgender teen played by trans actress Josie Totah, is one of the most popular girls at Saved by the Bell's Bayside High. Recently, Totah spoke about the important message for trans allies in the show's latest season of "Saved by the Bell" and how she thinks trans representation on TV has finally started to depict transgender people in a relatable and authentic way. She wanted to be more comfortable in public and at home and decided to undergo hormone replacement therapy. Totah researched hormone replacement surgery and knew this was what she wanted. I dont feel like there was a mistake made. It is not clear if Josie Totah went through gender transformation surgery. Josie Totah is an American actress who portrays Willow in iFauxpologize. But I realized over the past few years that hiding my true self is not healthy. appreciated. As of the year 2022, his age is 21 years old. Either way this is where Im heading. I dont feel like there was a mistake made. The 17-year-old actress began her career on the Disney Channel series " Jessie ," where she presented under a different name and identity. If I were to tell someone my entire story about my parents accepting me, my private Catholic high school being so accepting theyd be like, This bitch is perfect. Ulla Johnson suit; Karen Walker tee; JF London shoes. Its where Totah experiments with her personal style now, too. People already love him., Totah has since voiced regret that she let believe assume her sexuality. Josie is still a teenager, which makes her selection for Saved by the Bell rather perfect since it means that she can at least look and act the part no matter if she's mature for her age and has. No widgets added. ", Totah also confirmed her pronouns as being, "she, her and hers. ), A Lawsuit Seeks to Erase Harvard Applicants Racial Identity. The ex-Disney star quickly found support in fellow Disney stars Kayla Maisonet, 19, and Jenna Ortega, 15, who posted sweet comments underneath the image. Josie Totah [1] [2] (born August 5, 2001), formerly known as J. J. Totah, [3] [4] is an American actress. This past August, actor Josie Totah penned a sentence that would change her life: "My pronouns are she , her and hers. The series is set to return for a fifth season in January and viewers will see her surgery play out on air. All Rights Reserved. Now that Totah openly identifies as Josie, she said, It feels like Im being seen., I have come to believe that God made me transgender. That was the hardest part for my mom, because she obviously wanted me to be myself and live my truth, but she also knew that if I was going to make this decision to be hidden not be open with my identity, and to audition for these roles I had to show up looking the part, Totah says. A little pink dress, given to her by her father. What Singer Has the Greatest Vocal Range? There are still things that scare me, she admits. Web: smiletimegh.com. But I also feel like I let myself be shoved into a box: J.J. The 21-year-old actress recognizes her "immense amount of privilege" when it comes to being. josie totah She also opened up about her past and numerous question she used to get. When I was really young, growing up in a small town in Northern California, people would just assume I was gay, she wrote. People supposed she went through the surgery after she revealed her transformation picture in 2018. Josie Totah attends the Family Equality Council. And my name. This is not a choice that I made. The teen activist appeared in Clean & Clear's digital campaign an stars in a TLC reality show about her life. I started wearing sweatshirts and sweatpants. But that has never been the way I think of myself. I hid the girls clothes I really wanted to wear under sweatpants and sweatshirts., Elsewhere in her TIME essay, Totah admits that she was reluctant to announce that she was a transgender woman. Her favorite item? I tried so hard to become a person that I knew I never was. Also, her father is a Palestinian descent (from Ramallah) and her mother is half Lebanese, quarter Irish, and quarter Italian, making Josie of rich mixed ethnicity. Krissy Saleh and Crooked Media Josie Totah is unpacking some of the biggest issues of current times.