Costume designer Qween Jean has made history as the first out transgender person to win a Tony Award. Jean earned the award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for Cats: The Jellicle Ball, a queer ballroom-inspired reimagining of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic musical. The production featured nearly 500 costumes, including tributes to trans icons Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera, and Miss Major Griffin-Gracy. At the Tony Awards ceremony, Jean called the experience monumental. Jean was also nominated for her work on Liberation and said she hopes her designs continue to express the beauty of her community.
