{{short description|American actress}} {{Infobox person | name = Amiyah Scott | image = Amiyah Scott Jun 2019.png | image_size = | alt = | caption = Scott during an interview in June 2019 | birth_name = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|01|11}} | birth_place = Manhattan, New York, US | death_date = | death_place = | resting_place = | resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} --> | monuments = | education = | alma_mater = | occupation = Actress, model, author, dancer | years_active = 2000–present | spouse = | parents = | children = | organization = | known_for = | relatives = | awards = | website = }}
'''Amiyah Scott''' (born January 11, 1988) is an American actress, model, author, and dancer. She is known for her presence on social media apps such as Instagram, as a fixture in the LGBT ball community, and for her role as Cotton in the Fox television series ''Star'' (2016–2019). She also appeared in the eighth season of ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta.''
==Early life==
Amiyah Scott was born in Manhattan on January 11, 1988. She was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.<ref name="11 Alive">{{cite web |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/the-a-scene/amiyah-scott-gets-real-about-star-filming-in-atlanta-singing-on-the-show/85-6c79e76d-7d42-43ae-99ce-85bc564347e0 |title=Amiyah Scott gets real about 'STAR', filming in Atlanta, singing on the show |work=11 Alive |first=Ryan |last=Dennis |date=20 March 2019 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref>
As an adolescent, she experienced bullying due to her being transgender.<ref name="Nail Buzz">{{cite web |last= |first= |date=24 March 2019 |title=Amiyah Scott Bio: Inside The Life Of The Transgender Model |url=https://naibuzz.com/amiyah-scott-bio-inside-the-life-of-the-transgender-model/ |accessdate=9 August 2019 |work=Nail Buzz}}</ref> At 15 years old, she moved out of her parents' house and explored entrepreneurship opportunities.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Leeuwen|first=Anne van|date=2017-10-19|title=We Have Always Been Materialists|journal=Oxford Scholarship Online|volume=1 |doi=10.1093/oso/9780190275594.003.0005}}</ref> Since young adulthood, she has been a well-respected member of the LGBT ball community.<ref name="11 Alive" />
==Career==
===Acting===
Scott became an internet celebrity when videos of her performing as part of ballrooms were uploaded to YouTube. She then became "Insta-famous" following the posting of a before-and-after photo which contrasted her young self, styled as male, and her current self, the self-actualized female.<ref name="Rolling Out #2">{{cite web |url=https://rollingout.com/2019/05/08/amiyah-scott-transitions-from-social-media-phenomenon-to-hollywood-starlet/ |title=Amiyah Scott transitions from social media phenomenon to Hollywood starlet |work=The Advocate |first=Christal |last=Jordan |date=8 May 2019 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref>
In 2015, it was announced that Scott had been added to the cast of ''The Real Housewives of Atlanta'' for its eighth season; she was the first transgender woman to be cast in the ''Real Housewives'' franchise.<ref name="Variety">{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/real-housewives-of-atlanta-amiyah-scott-transgender-woman-season-8-bravo-1201572525/ |title=Bravo's 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' Casts Transgender Woman for Season 8 |work=Variety |first=Elizabeth |last=Wagmeister |date=18 August 2015 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref> Scott later left the show, stating that she was offended by the way the producers wanted her to behave, which she believed would have been an exploitation of her trans identity.<ref name="AJC">{{cite web |url=https://naibuzz.com/amiyah-scott-bio-inside-the-life-of-the-transgender-model/ |title=TMZ: Transgender Atlantan Amiyah Scott left 'Real Housewives' after a month, disgusted by treatment |work=AJC |first=Rodney |last=Ho |date=29 December 2015 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref><ref name="Jet Mag">{{cite web |url=https://www.jetmag.com/entertainment/lee-daniels-star-amiyah-scott-transgender/ |title=TRANS MODEL AMIYAH SCOTT TALKS LEE DANIELS 'STAR' |work=Jet Mag |first=LaToya |last=Cross |date=15 December 2016 |accessdate=9 August 2019 |archive-date=9 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809072946/https://www.jetmag.com/entertainment/lee-daniels-star-amiyah-scott-transgender/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Producers on Bravo later claimed the reason Scott was not on the show anymore was because her transgender identity was "not enough to make [her] interesting."<ref name="Rolling Out">{{cite web |url=https://rollingout.com/2016/01/04/bravo-producers-state-didnt-want-amiyah-scott-didnt-quit/ |title=Bravo producers claim they didn't want Amiyah Scott |work=Rolling Out |first=Jonell |last=Whitt |date=4 January 2016 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref>
Shortly after her departure from ''Housewives'', Scott was cast by Lee Daniels in the show ''Star''; this became Scott's first acting role.<ref name="IB Times">{{cite web |url=https://www.ibtimes.com/empire-spinoff-rumors-amiyah-scott-reportedly-cast-prequel-4-things-know-about-2213213 |title='Empire' Spinoff Rumors: Amiyah Scott Reportedly Cast In Prequel; 4 Things To Know About The Transgender Model |work=IB Times |first=Minyvonne |last=Burke |date=6 December 2015 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref> She starred on the series from 2016 to 2019, for three seasons.
===Other ventures===
====Activism ====
In addition to acting, Scott is a motivational speaker and activist with the goal of giving a voice to transgender women. Her presentations focus on the themes of bullying, self-esteem, and self-acceptance.<ref name="The Undefeated">{{cite web |url=https://rollingout.com/2016/01/04/bravo-producers-state-didnt-want-amiyah-scott-didnt-quit/ |title='Star' actress Amiyah Scott on Pokémon and life as a trans creative |work=The Undefeated |first=Paulona |last=Lamonier |date=5 June 2017 |accessdate=9 August 2019}}</ref> At an event in Atlanta hosted by the Gay & Lesbian Association against Defamation (GLAAD), the GLAAD President, Sarah Kate Ellis, said that "Amiyah Scott is a talented actress and brilliant advocate who uses her voice to uplift transgender women of color and educate fans everywhere about transgender people and issues. At a time when LGBTQ visibility in the South is critical to moving our community forward, we are proud to stand with women like Amiyah to promote messages of love and acceptance." In addition, Scott is also vocal with politics. For example, she criticized some of the Trump administration's policies together with other activists in the transgender community such as Laverne Cox and Janet Mock.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gale In Context: Biography - Document - Scot SCOTT TALKS TRANS VISIBILITY: "WE'RE HERE AND WE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN HERE AND WE ALWAYS WILL BE HERE" AND KAT GRAHAM SPEAKS ON BEING A TRANS ALLY AT GLAAD ATLANTA|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=BIC&u=palo88030&id=GALE%7CA565364407&v=2.1&it=r&sid=BIC&asid=0be5b4d0|access-date=2020-06-19|website=go.gale.com|archive-date=2020-06-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620155633/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=BIC&u=palo88030&id=GALE%7CA565364407&v=2.1&it=r&sid=BIC&asid=0be5b4d0|url-status=dead}}</ref>
====Books====
Scott published her first book, a memoir called ''Memoirs of a Mermaid'', on March 31, 2019.<ref name="Gaye Magazine">{{cite web |url=https://www.gayemagazine.com/post/amiyah-scott-releasing-first-book-memoirs-of-a-mermaid |title=Amiyah Scott Releasing First Book, Memoirs of a Mermaid |work=Gaye Magazine |first=K. |last=Keith |date=12 March 2019 |accessdate=9 August 2019 |archive-date=9 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809072940/https://www.gayemagazine.com/post/amiyah-scott-releasing-first-book-memoirs-of-a-mermaid |url-status=dead }}</ref>
====Cosmetics====
Scott has a beauty line, Amiyah Beauty, with RivalWorld.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/amiyah-scott-launches-inclusive-beauty-line-amiyah-beauty-802837578.html|title = Amiyah Scott Launches Inclusive Beauty Line - Amiyah Beauty}}</ref> Her first product is a lip-gloss.
==Awards== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Award ! Notes |- |2018 |GLAAD Rising Star Award<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glaad.org/blog/star-actress-amiyah-scott-be-honored-rising-star-award-pose-actress-angelica-ross-glaad-atlanta|title = Star actress Amiyah Scott to be honored with Rising Star Award from Pose actress Angelica Ross at GLAAD Atlanta Gala|date = 8 November 2018}}</ref> |Bestowed at GLAAD Atlanta Gala |- |}
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 2016–2019 | ''Star'' | Cotton | 48 episodes (Seasons 1–3) |- | 2021 | ''Legendary'' | Herself (Guest Judge) | Episode "Plastic Fantastic" |- | 2025 | ''Operation: Aunties'' | Aminah | |}
===Podcasts=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! TV show |- |May 7, 2019 |''LGBTQ&A''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/amiyah-scott-hollywoods-new-leading-lady/id1151561226?i=1000437391025|title = LGBTQ&A: Amiyah Scott: Hollywood's New Leading Lady on Apple Podcasts}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Twitter|kingamiyahscott|Amiyah Scott}} *{{IMDb name|8483533|Amiyah Scott}} *{{instagram|kingamiyahscott|Amiyah Scott}} * https://theamiyahscott.com/ {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220701201511/https://theamiyahscott.com/ |date=2022-07-01 }}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Amiyah}} Category:Living people Category:1988 births Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American television actresses Category:Female models from New York (state) Category:African-American female models Category:Actresses from Manhattan Category:African-American LGBTQ people Category:American LGBTQ dancers Category:American transgender rights activists Category:Transgender female models Category:Transgender dancers Category:American transgender writers Category:American transgender actresses Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state) Category:LGBTQ people from Louisiana Category:Actresses from New Orleans Category:Female models from Louisiana Category:African-American female dancers Category:Dancers from Louisiana Category:Dancers from New York (state) Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:20th-century American actresses Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people Category:LGBTQ rights activists from New York (state) Category:American women human rights activists Category:American LGBTQ women writers