Reality shows such The Real World heralded a new era in television, but trans representation started with the show, There's Something About Miriam, and we're here to talk about the evolution of trans portrayal in the reality niche. When discussing transgender representation in the reality TV space, Kris Jenner's ex Caitlyn Jenner is probably the most notable reality star to date. Reality TV has come a long way in terms of representation and diversity. Over the years, more and more trans cast members have been added to a variety of reality shows.
Unfortunately, the reality TV industry wasn't initially as accepting of trans people. Most of the popular reality shows that boomed back in the day were devoid of trans representation. Think back to the 90s, where the fascination with reality TV began. Before then, TV shows didn't really feature people just living their lives. It was never a thing to just watch people be.
Viewers starting to enjoy the new style of TV. Shows similar to The Real World emerged. Successful examples include Survivor and Big Brother. Those powerhouse shows became global phenomenons. However, it wasn't until 2014 that a show centered on a trans reality star launched.
There's Something About Miriam Aired In February 2014
In 2004, viewers met the late Miriam Rivera. She was given her own reality show called There’s Something About Miriam. She also appeared in Big Brother Australia in 2004. As exciting as it was to have representation that changed the reality TV landscape, There’s Something About Miriam did more harm than good in terms of its impact on the trans community. The entire concept of the show, where Miriam would be choosing an eligible bachelor without revealing her identity until the very last episode, painted the narrative that trans people were not honest and that they needed to trick people into accepting them. The chosen bachelor Tom Rooke accepted the win initially but later redacted his statements. Tom then joined the rest of the bachelors in pursuing a lawsuit against the show.
Chaz Bono Appeared On Dancing With The Stars In 2011
In 2011, Chaz Bono became another trans person on reality TV. Chaz was the first transgender competitor to appear on Dancing with the Stars. His mother is superstar Cher and she was a guest judge on DWTS season 17. This was a notable moment in the evolution of transgender people on reality TV, as Chaz was cast in a show that didn’t focus on his identity. People were free to get to know him as a dancer.
Zeke Smith Appeared On Survivor In 2016
Zeke Smith’s participation in Survivor would have also been something to note as a win for the community, seeing as he was placed in a show where his identity was never an issue for the show. It wasn't like he was violating any Survivor rules. However, Zeke, who appeared in two Survivor seasons (Millenials Vs. Gen X and Game Changers) was outed as a trans person on national television in 2017. This outing made the experience sour for many viewers. Zeke has stated that he has no regrets. He is a huge fan of the show and wanted to be appreciated for his strategies and quick thinking.
RuPaul's Drag Race Launched In 2009
RuPaul’s Drag Race aired in 2009, challenging many reality shows that followed the binary. Drag Race attracted a diverse audience and was also home to many well-known transgender and non-binary artists. Carmen Carrera and Courtney Act are examples.
Many fans of reality TV are still wondering when they’ll be able to see themselves reflected in a space that tries to emulate the world around them. It's been a long time since The Real World started the reality TV craze. Reality TV is known to be a controversial platform that entertains with real-life interactions and reactions. Unfortunately, representation rates for different identities are still low to this day. The silver lining is knowing that, for the human race, evolving and growing is part and parcel of the process. Now that new shows and spaces are being created with diversity in mind, there may be more positive representation in the future.