Rose Montoya
{{Short description|American transgender activist and model}}
{{pp-blp|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rose Montoya
| image = Rose Montoya Glam.jpg
| caption = Montoya in 2022
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|10}}
| birth_place = Idaho, U.S.
| occupation = Model, Content Creator, Activist
| years_active = 2018{{snd}}present
| known_for =
| parents =
| website = {{URL|RoseMontoya.com}}
| education = Seattle University
| alt =
| module = {{Infobox TikTok personality|embed=yes|name=Rose Montoya|followers=790.9K|page=rosemontoya|stats_update=March 12, 2024|likes=20.3M}}
}}
Rosalynne "Rose" Montoya (born October 10, 1995), is an American transgender rights activist, model, and social media content creator. She{{Efn|Rose is a nonbinary trans woman and uses both they and she pronouns. This article uses she/her for consistency}} began modeling in 2018, and has since modeled for Fenty Beauty, Savage X Fenty, Fluide, Yandy.com, Adore Me, and TOMS Shoes. Montoya, who is a non-binary transgender woman, was featured in 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World by Out Magazine in 2021. In 2022, she was nominated for Favorite TikToker at the 10th annual Queerty Awards.{{Cite web|title=Meet the incredible TikTokers nominated in the 2022 Queerties |url=https://www.queerty.com/meet-incredible-crop-tiktok-talent-nominated-2022-queerties-20220212 |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=Queerty|date=February 12, 2022 }}
Early life and education
Montoya was born on October 10, 1995.{{Cite web|title=Rose Montoya on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CjigklgpASt/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Instagram |quote="For my 27th birthday this year, I had a vision: an elegant image of myself in old fashioned Hollywood glamor displaying my body as it is, trans and beautiful."}} She grew up in rural southern Idaho in a family with four siblings.{{Cite web|title=I was told to 'man up' after being thrown into a dumpster. I believed I was an abomination. |url=https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/i-was-told-man-up-after-being-thrown-into-a-dumpster-i-could-be-murdered-i-believed-i-was-an-abomination-trans-woman-believed-shed-go-to-hell/ |first= Becky|last = Balfe|date = October 8, 2019 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=lovewhatmatters.com}} She learned American Sign Language as a child due to her mother working as a sign language interpreter. Her father worked as a worship pastor at their church and her mother worked as a Christian missionary.{{Cite web|title=Rose Montoya's Coming Out Story |url= https://uniteuk1.com/2020/06/rose-montoyas-coming-out-story/|date = June 1, 2020 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=unite}}{{Cite web|url=https://rosemontoya.com/about|title=About|website=Rose Montoya}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.realself.com/news/trans-activist-rose-montoya-plastic-surgery|title=Trans Activist Says the Confidence Plastic Surgery Gave Her Is "Priceless"|date=May 31, 2022|website=RealSelf News}} Montoya realized she was attracted to men in Middle School and outed herself as gay in 2010 while in high school. She then began performing in drag shows which led to her coming out as a transgender woman in 2015. She started transitioning on June 23, 2015, and changed her legal name in September 2015. In 2016, she came out as bisexual and, in 2019, as a non-binary transgender woman using both feminine and non-binary gender pronouns.
Montoya graduated in 2015 from Seattle University with a bachelor of arts degree in film studies at 19 years old.{{Cite web |title=Rosalynne Montoya she/her/hers Hispanic Transgender Woman |url=https://www.lgbtqandall.com/ambassador/rosalynne-montoya/ |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=LGBTQ and ALL |language=en-US}}
Career
= Social Media =
Montoya worked as a full-time makeup artist and manager at a department store's cosmetics counter until she was laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. During this time, she focused on turning her social media platforms into a full-time job. Montoya uses their social media to create educational content regarding transgender issues, experiences, and rights. She has made sponsored posts with FX Networks, New York City Pride, Planned Parenthood, Fenty Beauty, Parade, and Fluide.{{Cite web |title=Social Media Sponsorships |url=https://rosemontoya.com/sponsoredposts |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Rose Montoya |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=@rosalynnemontoya explains the role of makeup and fashion in the LGBTQ... |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@fxnetworks/video/6977009971380702469?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&lang=en&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6964556175514682885 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=TikTok |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️ @nycpride #nycpride21 #foryourpride |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@rosemontoya/video/6975931848169966853?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6964556175514682885 |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=TikTok |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=FENTY SKIN on Instagram|quote="Happy #TRANSDAYOFVISIBILITY 🏳️⚧️ Join us in celebrating and uplifting the voices of trans and non-binary people" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbxv4xvpoyZ/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rose Montoya on Instagram |quote="@parade just launched their new Taffy line and I’m in love." |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CCY1C5xnRMO/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}} In 2022, Montoya was nominated for Favorite TikToker at the 10th annual Queerty Awards.
= Motivational Speaking & Advocacy =
Montoya has spoken and presented on transgender rights at the Philadelphia Trans Wellness Conference, the Downtown Emergency Service Center, the University of Pittsburgh, Stanford University, and Yale University.{{Cite web |first=Abby|last=Cardilli |date=October 6, 2021 |title='You are who you are': Panelists discuss the power of a name in the LGBTQIA+ experience |url=https://pittnews.com/article/167586/news/you-are-who-you-are-panelists-discuss-the-power-of-a-name-in-the-lgbtqia-experience/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=The Pitt News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Decker|first=Maia |date=March 10, 2021 |title=Office of LGBTQ Resources welcomes transfeminine influencers to discuss modeling, TikTok and more |url=https://yaledailynews.com/blog/2021/03/10/office-of-lgbtq-resources-welcomes-transfeminine-influencers-to-discuss-modeling-tiktok-and-more/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Yale Daily News |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=SPEAKING |url=https://rosemontoya.com/speaking |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=Rose Montoya |language=en-US}} She launched the educational website [https://thetrans101.com The Trans 101] to spread awareness regarding issues faced by transgender people.{{Cite web|url=https://thetrans101.com/|title=The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya|website=The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya}} Montoya is also a board member of the non-profit, Aadya Rising.{{Cite web |title=Team {{!}} Aadya Rising |url=https://www.aadyarising.net/team/rosalynne-montoya |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=www.aadyarising.net}} She was one of the activists featured in Out's 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World.{{Cite web|url=https://www.out.com/print/2021/11/03/out100-2021-18-lgbtq-policy-makers-and-advocates-changing-world|title=Out100 2021: 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World|date=November 3, 2021|website=www.out.com}} In June 2023, Rose also spoke at the National Press Club to advocate for policy change in support of transgender rights. In November 2023, Rose published an op-ed in TIME Magazine about the over-sexualization of trans bodies and the desire-to-cruelty-pipeline.{{Cite magazine |date=2023-11-13 |title=The Oversexualization of Trans Bodies |url=https://time.com/6333768/oversexualization-trans-bodies-essay/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |magazine=TIME |language=en}}
= Modeling =
Montoya began modeling in 2018, after she was discovered by the undergarment company TomboyX.{{Cite web|url=https://rosemontoya.com/modeling|title=Modeling Portfolio|website=Rose Montoya}} She was scouted by Tricia Romani of League Models and InspirationALL Talent through her TikTok channel and is signed to them for acting and modeling. She has modeled in advertisement campaigns for Savage X Fenty, Yandy.com, Adore Me, Toms Shoes, and oVertone.{{Cite web|url=https://qwearmedia.com/rose-montoya|title=Rose Montoya|website=Qwear Media}}{{Citation |title=Love Is Sexy. Interview Featuring Rose Montoya. yandy.com |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxuL3U92G6E |language=en |access-date=January 15, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CPWWTIXp-Lj/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D |access-date=January 15, 2023|title=yandy on Instagram|website=Instagram|quote="Who's ready for a GNO!?"}} In June 2021, Rose was featured on a billboard in New York City as one of the faces of LGBT telehealth group Folx Health's launch campaign for PreP.{{Cite web |title=FOLX Health on Instagram|quote= "PrEP has never been this easy to get" |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CQO7ByWMSGr/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Rose Montoya on Instagram|quote= "I’m on a billboard in New York City!?!! Thank you @folxhealth for inviting me to model for your PrEP launch! It’s truly an honor. I’m so proud of myself." |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/CQi9C0GnK54/ |access-date=January 10, 2023 |website=Instagram |language=en}}
Personal life
Montoya has spoken publicly about gender-affirming surgeries she underwent, including a breast augmentation, a tracheal shave, and a genioplasty.{{Cite web |title=Surgery |url=https://thetrans101.com/trans-guide/surgery |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya |language=en-US}} She has also opened up about her experiences living with chronic anxiety and depression.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lgbtqandall.com/ambassador/rosalynne-montoya/|title=Rosalynne Montoya she/her/hers Hispanic Transgender Woman|website=LGBTQ and ALL}}{{Cite web |date=November 10, 2022 |title=How Trans Savage x Fenty Ambassador Rose Montoya Battled Depression |url=https://www.out.com/health/2022/9/29/how-trans-model-and-savage-x-fenty-ambassador-battled-depression |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=www.out.com |language=en}}
Montoya is polyamorous and frequently uses her platforms to educate people about different relationship structures.{{Cite web |title=Dating |url=https://thetrans101.com/trans-guide/dating |access-date=January 15, 2023 |website=The Trans 101 by Rose Montoya |language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url= https://www.tiktok.com/@rosemontoya/video/7185612470415871274 |title= Rose Montoya on TikTok|website=TikTok|access-date=January 15, 2023}} Montoya used to be Bob the Drag Queen's metamour and joined him for a podcast episode.{{Citation |title=Bob The Drag Queen - Only Child. My Partner's Partner (Polyamory) w/ Rose Montoya |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxF84T5lYLE |language=en|website=YouTube| date=March 18, 2021 |access-date=January 15, 2023}}
= Viral TSA video =
In March 2021, Montoya had a difficult experience with the Transportation Security Administration at an airport in Phoenix, Arizona.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/travel/trans-woman-rose-montoya-shares-airport-screening-ordeal/KCJIVM6TFHOQJERYR6N53GI6EY/|title=Trans woman shares humiliating airport screening ordeal|website=The New Zealand Herald |date=June 18, 2023 }} A TikTok video about it received over twenty million views.{{Cite news |title=#TravelingWhileTrans: The trauma of returning to 'normal' |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2021/06/16/trans-travel-tsa-lgbtq/ |access-date=January 15, 2023 |issn=0190-8286}} Montoya said her documentation recognizes her as female, but airport scanners, which categorize travelers as male or female due to genitalia, set off alarms.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/kristatorres/trans-woman-tsa-tiktok|title=This Trans Woman Shared Her Humiliating Experience Going Through Airport TSA And It's Starting A Bigger Conversation About The Struggles Trans People Face|first=Krista|last=Torres|website=BuzzFeed|date=March 26, 2021 }} After disclosing to the TSA attendant that she is transgender, the agent asked if Montoya would prefer to be "scanned as a man instead." Montoya stated that then, after triggering the alarm again, the TSA tried to assign a male agent to pat her down despite her being a trans woman.
=White House Pride controversy=
In June 2023, Montoya attended a Pride month celebration at the White House in Washington DC where she was among the hundreds greeted by US President Joe Biden.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-14 |title=The White House Bans Trans Activist From Future Events Over TikTok Video |url=https://www.them.us/story/rose-montoya-trans-model-white-house-lawn |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Them |language=en-US}} She elicited controversy due to a TikTok video she shared with her nearly 800K followers. After a full day, the TikTok video was then shared by Libs of TikTok which caused the video to go viral on far-right Twitter and was then picked up by conservative media.{{Cite web |title=libsoftiktok/status/1668413594004774912 |url=https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1668413594004774912 |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=June 13, 2023 |title=Transgender Activist Goes Topless And Holds Her Breasts At White House |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rose-montoya-topless-breasts-white-hous_n_6488342be4b06725aee20e18 |access-date=June 13, 2023 |website=HuffPost |language=en}} Fox News wrote three articles about the incident in one day.{{Cite web |last=Hagstrom |first=Anders |date=2023-06-13 |title=Trans activists flaunt bare breasts at White House Pride Month event |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trans-activists-flaunt-bare-breasts-white-house-pride-month-event |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}} The video included 3 seconds in which she and two other attendees removed their clothing above the waist. Rose covered her nipples the entire time.{{Cite web |last=Troisi |first=Dayna |date=2023-06-14 |title=Understanding Rose Montoya's 'Free The Nipple' Moment At The White House - GO Magazine |url=https://gomag.com/article/understanding-rose-montoyas-free-the-nipple-moment-at-the-white-house/,%20https://gomag.com/article/understanding-rose-montoyas-free-the-nipple-moment-at-the-white-house/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=gomag.com |language=en-US}} The White House called the act "disrespectful" and said that the individuals in the video "would not be invited back to future events."{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Kevin |title=White House condemns 'inappropriate' video from Pride event {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/13/politics/white-house-condemns-video/index.html |access-date=13 June 2023 |work=CNN |date=13 June 2023 |language=en}} Rose has since issued an apology video.{{Cite web |last=Kane |first=Christopher |date=2023-06-16 |title=Rose Montoya apologizes for topless stunt at White House |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2023/06/16/rose-montoya-apologizes-for-topless-stunt-at-white-house/ |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Washington Blade |language=en-US}} While in DC, Rose also spoke at the National Press Club to advocate for policy change in support of transgender rights.{{Cite news |last=Chery |first=Samantha |date=June 17, 2023 |title=Activist apologizes for going topless at White House Pride event |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/06/17/trans-advocate-rose-montoya-white-house-pride-apology/ |newspaper=Washington Post}}
Filmography
= Television =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref. |
| 2023
|Herself (Special Guest) |Season 2, Episode 6 |{{Citation |title=Drag Latina |date=2022-10-16 |type=Reality-TV |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22688938/ |access-date=2024-01-26 |others=Carmen Carrera, Enrique Sapene, Martin De Luna Jr}}{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cz7Kk1MrGbe/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng== |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=www.instagram.com}} |
| 2023
|Herself (Audience Member) |Season 1, Episode 92 |
| 2023
|Herself (Guest) |Season 8, Episode 11 |{{Cite web |title=The Q Agenda Women's History Month Special |url=https://latv.com/the-q-agenda-womens-history-month |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=LATV |language=en}} |
= Film =
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref. |
| 2023
|Agents of Change: Project Polymer |Waitress |Short |
Awards, nominations, and honors
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Notes !Ref. |
| 2024
|Los Angeles Blade Best of LA |Favorite Influencer |Herself |{{Nom}} | |{{Cite web |last=Watson |first=Rob |date=2024-01-26 |title=Best of LGBTQ+ LA 2024 |url=https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/01/26/best-of-lgbtq-la-2024/ |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Vote for your favorites in the 2024 Best of LGBTQ DC Awards! |url=https://us19.campaign-archive.com/?u=85d421c777e547e6bb1931818&id=0387338772 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=us19.campaign-archive.com}}{{Cite web |title=2024 Best of LGBTQ LA Finalist Voting |url=https://washblade.survey.fm/2024-best-of-lgbtq-la-finalist-voting?p=1 |access-date=2024-01-27 |website=washblade.survey.fm |language=en-US}} |
| 2023
|Special Recognition |Herself |N/A |Revry TV's Drag Latina was Recognized |
| 2022
|Favorite TikToker |Herself |{{Nom}} | | |
- 2021 - Out Magazine's Out 100 Honoree honoring the magazine's selection of 18 LGBTQ+ Policy Makers and Advocates Changing the World in 2021
- 2021 - One of 18 Latinx Creatives to Follow from Arizona Republic{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=KiMi |title=Hispanic Heritage Month: 18 Latino influencers, creatives to follow on Instagram in Arizona |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2021/09/15/hispanic-latino-instagram-influencers-phoenix/8266118002/ |access-date=January 16, 2023 |website=The Arizona Republic |language=en-US}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montoya, Rose}}
Category:Bisexual women entertainers
Category:Non-binary bisexual people
Category:Bisexual women models
Category:Female models from Idaho
Category:Hispanic and Latino American activists
Category:Hispanic and Latino American female models
Category:LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people
Category:LGBTQ people from Idaho
Category:American LGBTQ rights activists
Category:American LGBTQ models
Category:American bisexual women
Category:American transgender women
Category:American non-binary people
Category:Seattle University alumni
Category:Transgender female models
Category:Transgender non-binary people
Category:Transgender rights activists