Trans advocate and actress Nicole Maines captivates Olin audience

WashU Olin welcomed transgender youth advocate and actress Nicole Maines as a Diversity Perspectives Series speaker on November 9.

Maines was featured in the 2015 book “Becoming Nicole: The Transformation of an American Family,” a New York Times bestseller. It tells the story of Wayne and Kelly Maines, who are given the opportunity to adopt infant boys, identical twins. They name the babies Jonas and Wyatt. But Wyatt, who likes to imagine being the Little Mermaid, at about 3 years old asks his mother, “When do I get to be a girl?” The family’s story unfolds from there.

Maines won a GLAAD Media Award in January 2016 and was a Variety “Power of Young Hollywood” and “Power of Pride” honoree. In 2020, she was a Human Rights Campaign “Upstander Award” honoree for her activism.

She is paving the way for trans actors. Her credits include starring in Showtime’s critically acclaimed “Yellowjackets” and the CW’s “The Flash” and “Supergirl,” in which she portrayed the first transgender superhero.