Ts Madison is the self-proclaimed ubiquitous queen, and her resume makes it hard to refute that.
She racked up roles in notable films, such as 2022’sBroswithBilly Eichnerand 2020’sZola, alongside Academy Award-nomineeColman Domingo.
Check it out ahead.
“It taught me to create my own door, my own window, and slide into the cracks because no one ever front-doored it for me.”
Note:This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
BuzzFeed: First off, I have to give you your flowers.
You are the undisputed queen of going viral.
What’s your favorite viral video of yourself?
Ts Madison:My favorite viral video of myself is “New Weave, New Weave.
I’ve garnered so many other viral catchphrases since then but that has to be my favorite one.
Being a viral sensation led to a role as a rotating judge onRuPaul’s Drag Race.
What has it been like working with the legendary, iconic RuPaul?
[singing]Turn to the left, now turn to the right.
I watched that and a voice spoke to me.
That voice said that’s going to be your friend and you are going to work together.
Fast forward to now.
Ru and I are very close.
We text each other every day.
She was an outcast and she did things on her terms.
She moved and she shaped through the industry on her terms.
Whats the best advice RuPaul has given you?
And that’s why now I’m in everything and I’m everywhere.
I got out there and I started doing the work because representation and visibility matters.
I appreciate all you do as an advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community.
I prioritize the people in my community because we need that.
How can Black people be better allies to those who are Black trans?
I want Black people to know that we’re all Black.
There ain’t no blurred lines.
There ain’t no gray area, we’re all Black.
No sweetheart, we’re Blackandgay, Blackandtrans, Blackandqueer at the same time.
We’re not other, we’re Black, too.
I’m facing the same oppressions and stigmas.
I don’t have any special rights because I’m trans.
Your voice is featured in the song Cozy.
Have you had enough time to process that?
I’m still processing it.
Beyonce is a phenomenon in this world.
Black, brown, and beige.
I’m doing right for my people.
That’s where the now iconic line, “Bitch, I’m Black!”
I’m Black likethat.
I’m in the hood right with George Floyd.
I’m there, too.
That could have been a knee on my neck.
My point is, how are we so divided?
We are different shades of Black, but we are all Black nonetheless.
Did Beyonce ever tell you why she chose that particular clip to include on the album?
No, Beyonce just told me that she loves me.
She told me that she was inspired by me.
She sent me many flowers and cards, and she says she loves me deep.
I knew Beyonce had been watching me for a long time.
No one wanted to believe me.
Fast forward to now.
I told y’all when I speak, people listen.
You’ve been very open about your history with sex work.
You weren’t just a sex worker, though.
You were the CEO of your own adult film production company.
Yes, I was not just a sex worker, honey.
I was an entity of EINs [employer identification numbers] and filing taxes.
It was a business for me.
I felt like those were the cards that I was dealt and I had to play the game.
And I had to play the game the right way for me to be super successful.
That’s what I always wanted to be.
I didn’t necessarily have to be the best.
I didn’t have to be the greatest.
I don’t have to be in the front.
Success makes you able to do that.
What lessons did you learn from that time in your life?
I had to bust through.
And when I busted through, I came in with rainbows and sprinkles, honey.
You may not want to respect me, but you will.
Because if you don’t, we’re gonna have some problems.
To be honest with you, I’ve always been fearless.
Especially when it comes to combating people from my community.
See, I’m Black like that.
I used to be involved in nightlife work, and street walking.
I was toughened up by my people.
Usually, the gentlemen that I was dating were hood men.
And when I got into altercations, they were [with] hood girls.
None of those people scared me because I saw they were all smoke and mirrors.
I have no fear of them.
[I believe] nobody can cancel what I’ve created.
I don’t give a damn.
Why do you think your voice resonates so strongly in the Black community?
I speak up for my community in a way that they will understand.
I don’t do it for clout.
I do it because I feel some bang out of way.
I am not always the first one, I just speak the loudest.
People [who are anti-LBGTQ] hold positions of influence, and so do I.
And so, because they’re influencing their people, I will influence my community to get up.
Don’t you dare let these people disrespect you!
You arethe first Black trans woman to star in and executive produce a reality series.
What does being the first in that regard mean to you?
It means that we have more work to do.
Not only am I the first, but I’m still the only one.
And that’s not true.
Somebody may not watch me but they may watch [another].
It’s important for us to celebrate being the first but to continue to strive to pass that.
If a Black trans woman comes in and does something twice as good as me, good!
Don’t just fill my shoes, walk over them.
Make shoes for the girl behind you, like I did.
This way, we continue to grow.
It’s a gift and a curse to be the first.
Laverne was the first Black trans woman on the cover of Time magazine.
We may not ever see that again.
I say that because that happened in 2014.
There has not been another Black trans woman on the cover in ten years.
The system is still flawed.
We have to fix the system.
I’m not other, I’m human.
Why would you want to take away my right to love?
Why would you want to take away my right to live?
Why would you take away my right to healthcare?
Why would you do that?
What have I done to you?
What have I done to your children?
What have I done to your family?
I don’t even know you.
Put yourself in my shoes.
I’m gonna shout out Hope Giselle because I see Hope is on the rise.
Her voice is becoming extremely powerful.
I’m extremely proud of her.
Dominique Morgan is doing so much work in the community, it’s amazing.
Who is your Black queer fashion icon?
Oh honey, my Black queer fashion icon is Miss Lawrence, baby.
After we filmedBrostogether, we were doing press for it in Toronto, Canada.
Miss Lawrence came out there with a green Hermes crocodile pocketbook, honey.
That bag had to be…
I don’t even want to get into the digits, honey.
She came through with a jacket that was so fashionable that those white people were gagging.
This necklace looks like it would fit you.”
[Laughs] Miss Lawrence came through that thing bedazzled!
Wearing labels from head to toe.
That is my fashion icon.
Miss Lawrence, darling.
Who is your Black queer icon?
My Black queer icon is none other than mother, honey.
Miss RuPaul Andre Charles.
What has been your proudest moment being Black and queer?
My proudest moment being Black and queer is being featured on Beyonce’sRenaissancealbum.
That album is my proudest moment because I was able to speak to the world.
My voice has been heard all over the world.
I have everybody chanting, “Bitch, I’m Black.”
You’re Black!"
What does Black History Month mean to you?
It means so much more to me because I’m a part of Black history.
It’s personal to me now.
Before it’s all said and done, the people will hear and learn about Ts Madison, too.
That’s why Black history is important to me because I’m able to create and manifest it.
I am a part of pushing Black and queer culture forward.
What do you want your contributions to Black history to be?
I want to leave this place [more] human.
I want to leave a legacy of humanism.
Teaching Black people to seeallBlack people as human.
I want a legacy of teaching all people to see everyone as human.
That’s most important to me.
Thanks for chatting with us, Ts Madison!
Be sure to keep up with Ts Madisonhere.
you’re able to read moreBlack, Out & Proudinterviewshere.
