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<\/div>\nQueer and trans Latine artists are dominating 2026 with music, film, fashion and activism<\/h2>\nBY ROISIN TEELING, IMAGES VIA INSTAGRAM (@ITSYOUNGMIKO, @PUERTORICANINJA<\/a><\/strong>) AND HULU<\/h4>\n2026 is shaping up to be a year where queer and trans Latine artists are owning the spotlight. Whether they\u2019re dropping chart-topping hits or speaking their truth online, these stars are making their mark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Young Miko<\/h3>\n
What began as a 2018 SoundCloud upload has catapulted Young Miko to international fame. Born Mar\u00eda Victoria Ram\u00edrez de Arellano Cardona in A\u00f1asco, Puerto Rico, she has collaborated with heavyweights like Bad Bunny and Central C, and made waves with her steamy, queer-forward music video with Karol G. She\u2019s set to hit major festivals and arenas on h<\/strong>er Late Checkout Tour 2026,<\/strong><\/a> fronts Gap\u2019s first Spanish-language campaign as one of the first openly queer Latine artists leading the brand, and recently won Outstanding Music Artist at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards.<\/p>\nMichaela Ja\u00e9 Rodriguez<\/h3>\n
Breakout star Michaela Ja\u00e9 Rodriguez has become one of the most influential queer icons in entertainment. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she made history as Blanca Evangelista on FX\u2019s Pose, part of television\u2019s largest cast of trans actors and a role that earned her a Golden Globe win and an Emmy nomination, making her the first trans woman recognised in those top acting categories. Beyond acting, she\u2019s also a singer and activist, celebrated for powerful advocacy on LGBTQIA+ visibility and representation, including honours like the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Stephanie Beatriz<\/h3>\n
Stephanie Beatriz first won hearts as the witty Detective Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine\u2011Nine and has since become an outspoken voice for queer Latine representation. She\u2019s expanded into voice acting, including voicing Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto and Vaggi in Hazbin Hotel, and is a lead in Twisted Metal Season 2. With a role in Netflix\u2019s upcoming 2026 comedy Don\u2019t Say Good Luck, Beatriz continues to push boundaries while proudly representing bisexual Latine talent in entertainment.<\/p>\n
Sara Ramirez<\/h3>\n
Born in Mazatl\u00e1n, Mexico, Sara Ram\u00edrez is a Tony-winning actor who first turned heads on Broadway in Spamalot before becoming a fan favourite as Dr. Callie Torres on Grey\u2019s Anatomy, one of network TV\u2019s most iconic bisexual characters. More recently, they\u2019ve been making waves as Che Diaz on And Just Like That. Ram\u00edrez is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, using their platform to emphasise the importance of portraying LGBTQIA+ characters as full, imperfect human beings and has defended complex queer expression even in the face of criticism.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Ariana Debose<\/h3>\n
Ariana DeBose has become one of the most celebrated triple threats in entertainment and was the first openly queer Afro-Latina actors to win an Oscar. She made her Broadway debut in Bring It On: The Musical and was part of the original Hamilton cast before blowing up in Steven Spielberg\u2019s West Side Story as Anita, a role that earned her an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award. Looking ahead to 2026, she\u2019s set to appear in the Prime Video crime thriller Scarpetta alongside Nicole Kidman and is performing at the Stephen Sondheim Award gala. DeBose co-launched the Unruly Hearts Initiative to help LGBTQIA+ youth connect with advocacy groups and often speaks openly about support for queer identities.<\/p>\n
Aubrey Plaza<\/h3>\n
Known for her deadpan wit and fearless performances, Aubrey Plaza first became a fan favorite as April Ludgate on Parks And Recreation and has since stretched into everything from indie darlings like Ingrid Goes West and Emily The Criminal to critically acclaimed TV work like The White Lotus, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nods along the way. Openly bisexual, she\u2019s also a producer and creative force behind projects like the upcoming biopic The Heidi Fleiss Story. Plaza appears in the adventure comedy Animal Friends opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jason Momoa, due in early\u202f2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Michelle Rodriguez<\/h3>\n
Michelle Rodriguez is Hollywood\u2019s ultimate action star, known for iconic roles in The Fast & Furious franchise, Avatar, and S.W.A.T. She\u2019s long been candid about her queer identity and her commitment to living authentically, carving out space in Hollywood for strong, unapologetic Latinas in genres often dominated by men. Looking ahead, she\u2019s set to star in the high-stakes thriller Left Seat and may return to the Fast & Furious universe, proving she\u2019s as unstoppable behind the camera as she is on it.<\/p>\n
Vico Ortiz<\/h3>\n
Puerto Rican non\u2011binary actor and drag king Vico Ortiz first grabbed attention as Jim Jimenez on Our Flag Means Death, where their non-binary pirate helped shift how gender fluidity is written and seen in mainstream TV. They\u2019ve intentionally pushed back against casting norms, auditioning for roles of all genders and even asking writers if characters could be non-binary, and taken that boundary\u2011pushing off screen with their own solo show Rise Of A King, a genre\u2011bending drag\u2011theatre piece that explores identity through performance. Ortiz also voices multiple characters in animations like Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, served as a guest judge on King Of Drag, and has won honours such as the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award.<\/p>\n
Jillian Mercado<\/h3>\n
Model and actor Jillian Mercado has spent her career reshaping what fashion and entertainment look like by insisting that people with disabilities belong at the table. After signing with IMG following a breakout campaign with Diesel, she went on to front major brand work for Nordstrom, Target and Olay, and even appeared on Teen Vogue\u2019s first digital cover, challenging the industry\u2019s narrow beauty norms by placing a wheelchair\u2011using Afro\u2011Latina front and center. She stars as Maribel on The L Word: Generation Q, and off\u2011screen she co-founded the Black Disabled Creatives database to connect disabled artists with industry opportunities while advocating for better accessibility and representation across fashion weeks and sets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Kehlani<\/h3>\n
Bay Area\u2011born R&B star Kehlani has spent over a decade turning honesty into art, from early mixtapes like Cloud 19 to multiple acclaimed albums like SweetSexySavage, and Crash. Their 2025 single Folded scored major chart success and helped them win Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, and they\u2019ve been unafraid to use their platform to speak on social issues while championing queer and Black creativity. In 2026, Kehlani is deep in the studio with a self\u2011titled album set to drop in spring, and they\u2019re rumoured to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.<\/p>\n
Arienne Mandi<\/h3>\n
Actor Arienne Mandi has steadily built a reputation as a standout presence in TV and film, rising to prominence as Dani N\u00fa\u00f1ez on The L Word: Generation Q. Since then, she\u2019s expanded into other projects, including roles in The Night Agent and Chicago P.D., and delivered a powerful turn in the critically praised feature Tatami. With Chilean and Iranian roots, Mandi actively champions Latinx and LGBTQIA+ representation, speaking at panels for the Outfest Film Festival and supporting projects led by women and queer creators.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you\u2019ll love DIVA. We\u2019ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here\u2019s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: <\/strong>linkin.bio\/ig-divamagazine<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nDid you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\nLike this:<\/h3>\n
2026 is shaping up to be a year where queer and trans Latine artists are owning the spotlight. Whether they\u2019re dropping chart-topping hits or speaking their truth online, these stars are making their mark.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Young Miko<\/h3>\n
What began as a 2018 SoundCloud upload has catapulted Young Miko to international fame. Born Mar\u00eda Victoria Ram\u00edrez de Arellano Cardona in A\u00f1asco, Puerto Rico, she has collaborated with heavyweights like Bad Bunny and Central C, and made waves with her steamy, queer-forward music video with Karol G. She\u2019s set to hit major festivals and arenas on h<\/strong>er Late Checkout Tour 2026,<\/strong><\/a> fronts Gap\u2019s first Spanish-language campaign as one of the first openly queer Latine artists leading the brand, and recently won Outstanding Music Artist at the 2026 GLAAD Media Awards.<\/p>\n Breakout star Michaela Ja\u00e9 Rodriguez has become one of the most influential queer icons in entertainment. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she made history as Blanca Evangelista on FX\u2019s Pose, part of television\u2019s largest cast of trans actors and a role that earned her a Golden Globe win and an Emmy nomination, making her the first trans woman recognised in those top acting categories. Beyond acting, she\u2019s also a singer and activist, celebrated for powerful advocacy on LGBTQIA+ visibility and representation, including honours like the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award.\u00a0<\/p>\n Stephanie Beatriz first won hearts as the witty Detective Rosa Diaz on Brooklyn Nine\u2011Nine and has since become an outspoken voice for queer Latine representation. She\u2019s expanded into voice acting, including voicing Mirabel Madrigal in Encanto and Vaggi in Hazbin Hotel, and is a lead in Twisted Metal Season 2. With a role in Netflix\u2019s upcoming 2026 comedy Don\u2019t Say Good Luck, Beatriz continues to push boundaries while proudly representing bisexual Latine talent in entertainment.<\/p>\n Born in Mazatl\u00e1n, Mexico, Sara Ram\u00edrez is a Tony-winning actor who first turned heads on Broadway in Spamalot before becoming a fan favourite as Dr. Callie Torres on Grey\u2019s Anatomy, one of network TV\u2019s most iconic bisexual characters. More recently, they\u2019ve been making waves as Che Diaz on And Just Like That. Ram\u00edrez is a passionate advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, using their platform to emphasise the importance of portraying LGBTQIA+ characters as full, imperfect human beings and has defended complex queer expression even in the face of criticism.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ariana DeBose has become one of the most celebrated triple threats in entertainment and was the first openly queer Afro-Latina actors to win an Oscar. She made her Broadway debut in Bring It On: The Musical and was part of the original Hamilton cast before blowing up in Steven Spielberg\u2019s West Side Story as Anita, a role that earned her an Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG Award. Looking ahead to 2026, she\u2019s set to appear in the Prime Video crime thriller Scarpetta alongside Nicole Kidman and is performing at the Stephen Sondheim Award gala. DeBose co-launched the Unruly Hearts Initiative to help LGBTQIA+ youth connect with advocacy groups and often speaks openly about support for queer identities.<\/p>\n Known for her deadpan wit and fearless performances, Aubrey Plaza first became a fan favorite as April Ludgate on Parks And Recreation and has since stretched into everything from indie darlings like Ingrid Goes West and Emily The Criminal to critically acclaimed TV work like The White Lotus, earning Emmy and Golden Globe nods along the way. Openly bisexual, she\u2019s also a producer and creative force behind projects like the upcoming biopic The Heidi Fleiss Story. Plaza appears in the adventure comedy Animal Friends opposite Ryan Reynolds and Jason Momoa, due in early\u202f2027.\u00a0<\/p>\n Michelle Rodriguez is Hollywood\u2019s ultimate action star, known for iconic roles in The Fast & Furious franchise, Avatar, and S.W.A.T. She\u2019s long been candid about her queer identity and her commitment to living authentically, carving out space in Hollywood for strong, unapologetic Latinas in genres often dominated by men. Looking ahead, she\u2019s set to star in the high-stakes thriller Left Seat and may return to the Fast & Furious universe, proving she\u2019s as unstoppable behind the camera as she is on it.<\/p>\n Puerto Rican non\u2011binary actor and drag king Vico Ortiz first grabbed attention as Jim Jimenez on Our Flag Means Death, where their non-binary pirate helped shift how gender fluidity is written and seen in mainstream TV. They\u2019ve intentionally pushed back against casting norms, auditioning for roles of all genders and even asking writers if characters could be non-binary, and taken that boundary\u2011pushing off screen with their own solo show Rise Of A King, a genre\u2011bending drag\u2011theatre piece that explores identity through performance. Ortiz also voices multiple characters in animations like Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake, served as a guest judge on King Of Drag, and has won honours such as the Human Rights Campaign Visibility Award.<\/p>\n Model and actor Jillian Mercado has spent her career reshaping what fashion and entertainment look like by insisting that people with disabilities belong at the table. After signing with IMG following a breakout campaign with Diesel, she went on to front major brand work for Nordstrom, Target and Olay, and even appeared on Teen Vogue\u2019s first digital cover, challenging the industry\u2019s narrow beauty norms by placing a wheelchair\u2011using Afro\u2011Latina front and center. She stars as Maribel on The L Word: Generation Q, and off\u2011screen she co-founded the Black Disabled Creatives database to connect disabled artists with industry opportunities while advocating for better accessibility and representation across fashion weeks and sets.\u00a0<\/p>\n Bay Area\u2011born R&B star Kehlani has spent over a decade turning honesty into art, from early mixtapes like Cloud 19 to multiple acclaimed albums like SweetSexySavage, and Crash. Their 2025 single Folded scored major chart success and helped them win Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards, and they\u2019ve been unafraid to use their platform to speak on social issues while championing queer and Black creativity. In 2026, Kehlani is deep in the studio with a self\u2011titled album set to drop in spring, and they\u2019re rumoured to perform at the iHeartRadio Music Awards.<\/p>\n Actor Arienne Mandi has steadily built a reputation as a standout presence in TV and film, rising to prominence as Dani N\u00fa\u00f1ez on The L Word: Generation Q. Since then, she\u2019s expanded into other projects, including roles in The Night Agent and Chicago P.D., and delivered a powerful turn in the critically praised feature Tatami. With Chilean and Iranian roots, Mandi actively champions Latinx and LGBTQIA+ representation, speaking at panels for the Outfest Film Festival and supporting projects led by women and queer creators.\u00a0<\/p>\n Love media made by and for LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people? Then you\u2019ll love DIVA. We\u2019ve been spotlighting the community for over 30 years. Here\u2019s how you can get behind queer media and keep us going for another generation: <\/strong>linkin.bio\/ig-divamagazine<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Did you know that DIVA has now become a charity? Our magazine is published by the DIVA Charitable Trust. You can find out more about the organisation and how you can offer your support here: divacharitabletrust.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nMichaela Ja\u00e9 Rodriguez<\/h3>\n
Stephanie Beatriz<\/h3>\n
Sara Ramirez<\/h3>\n
Ariana Debose<\/h3>\n
Aubrey Plaza<\/h3>\n
Michelle Rodriguez<\/h3>\n
Vico Ortiz<\/h3>\n
Jillian Mercado<\/h3>\n
Kehlani<\/h3>\n
Arienne Mandi<\/h3>\n
Like this:<\/h3>\n