

At the 79th Annual Tony Awards on June 7, 2026, activist and costume designer Qween Jean made history as the first openly transgender woman to win a Tony Award.

Winning Best Costume Design of a Musical for her acclaimed work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball, she delivered an emotional, powerful speech at Radio City Music Hall that celebrated queer legacy and advocated for collective societal change.
Qween Jean 2026 Tony Awards Acceptance Speech






