How Dylan Mulvaney, a Trans TikTok Star, Became Woman of the Year and Sparked a Debate
Dylan Mulvaney, a trans influencer and TikTok star, has been named Woman of the Year by a British magazine, sparking outrage and controversy among some netizens. Mulvaney, who came out as a trans woman in March 2021, received the award from Attitude magazine, a publication that focuses on LGBTQ+ issues and culture. The magazine praised Mulvaney for her “Days of Girlhood” series, where she documented her transition and shared her experiences as a queer person.
Who is Dylan Mulvaney?
Mulvaney, 25, is an American social media personality who has over 13 million followers on TikTok and 4 million on Instagram. She started her career as a theater actor and was part of the cast of the hit musical “The Book of Mormon”. She turned to TikTok in 2019, when the pandemic halted live performances, and soon gained popularity for her humorous and candid videos.
Mulvaney came out as nonbinary in June 2020 and later as a trans woman in March 2021. She said she wanted to honor the inner child in her who knew she was a girl for years. She also said she wanted to inspire other trans people to live authentically and proudly. She has been vocal about her struggles with dysphoria, depression, and anxiety, as well as her journey of hormone therapy and surgeries.
Dylan Mulvaney has also been involved in various projects and campaigns that promote trans visibility and rights. She partnered with Bud Light in April 2021 to celebrate her first year of womanhood and raise awareness about trans issues. She also walked the runway at the New York Fashion Week in September 2021 and became the first trans woman to win the Breakout Creator award at the Streamy Awards in October 2021.
| Name | Dylan Mulvaney |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Social media personality, theater actor |
| Gender identity | Trans woman |
| Award | Woman of the Year by Attitude magazine |
| Reason for award | Her “Days of Girlhood” series on TikTok, where she documented her transition and shared her experiences as a queer person |
| Reaction to award | Mixed, some praised her, some criticized her |
| Response to backlash | Unfazed, thanked the magazine and her community, said she was happy to live her truth |
| Impact of award | Milestone for trans representation and visibility, recognition of diversity and complexity of womanhood and gender identity, reminder of progress and struggles of trans community |
| YouTube | @dylanmulvaney7979 |
| TikTok | @dylanmulvaney |
| @dylanmulvaney | |
| Wikipedia | @Dylan_Mulvaney |
| Homepage | factynews.com |
Why is Mulvaney’s award controversial?
Dylan Mulvaney’s Woman of the Year award has been met with mixed reactions from the public. While some praised her for her courage and achievements, others criticized her for being undeserving and disrespectful of biological women. Some of the negative comments included:
- “This is an insult to all women who have fought for their rights and dignity.”
- “How can someone who was born male and lived as a male for most of their life be considered a woman of the year?”
- “This is just a publicity stunt by a magazine that wants to push an agenda and get attention.”
- “This is not empowering or inspiring, this is confusing and disturbing.”
Some of Mulvaney’s supporters defended her and congratulated her for the award. They argued that she is a valid and beautiful woman who has overcome many challenges and contributed to the society. Some of the positive comments included:
- “Congratulations Dylan! You are an amazing woman and role model for many people.”
- “You deserve this award and more. You have shown so much strength and grace in your journey.”
- “You are a woman of the year every year. Thank you for being yourself and sharing your story.”
- “You are breaking barriers and making history. We are proud of you and love you.”
How did Mulvaney respond to the backlash?
Mulvaney has not directly addressed the backlash over her award, but she has posted several messages on her social media accounts that suggest she is unfazed by the criticism. She thanked Attitude magazine for the honor and said she was grateful for the support from her community. Dylan Mulvaney also said she was happy to be living her truth and fulfilling her dreams.
In her acceptance speech at the Attitude Awards ceremony, Mulvaney said:
I’m so honored to be here with you all tonight, and some see me as the woman of the year, some see me as a woman of a year … as I only publicly came out online 560 days ago. Some people don’t see me as a woman at all, which is why receiving this honor from a queer publication like Attitude means so much more to me.
No matter how hard I try or what I wear, or what I say, or what surgeries I get, I will never reach an acceptable version of womanhood by those hateful people’s standards. But as long as I have the queer community, that sees me for my truth, I’m gonna be OK.
Mulvaney also posted a video on TikTok where she lip-synced to a song that said: “I don’t care what they say about me / I don’t care about that.” She captioned the video: “Me after winning Woman of The Year.”
What does Mulvaney’s award mean for trans representation?
Dylan Mulvaney’s award is seen by some as a milestone for trans representation and visibility in mainstream media and culture. It is also seen as a recognition of the diversity and complexity of womanhood and gender identity. Mulvaney’s award follows other recent achievements by trans women in various fields, such as:
- Laverne Cox, who became the first trans woman to be nominated for an Emmy award for her role in “Orange Is the New Black” and the first trans woman to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
- Elliot Page, who came out as a trans man in December 2020 and became the first trans man to appear on the cover of Time magazine.
- Leyna Bloom, who became the first trans woman of color to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and the first trans woman to star in a Cannes Film Festival movie.
- Nyla Rose, who became the first trans woman to win a major professional wrestling championship in the US.
- Valentina Sampaio, who became the first trans woman to model for Victoria’s Secret and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue.
However, Mulvaney’s award also highlights the challenges and discrimination that trans people still face in many parts of the world. According to a report by Transrespect Versus Transphobia Worldwide, at least 375 trans and gender-diverse people were killed globally between October 2020 and September 2021, most of them trans women of color. Trans people also face barriers to accessing health care, education, employment, housing, and legal recognition.
Dylan’s award is therefore a reminder of both the progress and the struggles of the trans community. It is also an invitation for more dialogue and understanding among different groups of people. As Mulvaney said in one of her videos: “We are all human beings. We all deserve love and respect. We all have something to offer to this world.”
