Laverne Cox First Transgender to Get Wax Figure in Madame Tussauds

“Orange is the New Black” star’s wax figure will be unveiled during the San Francisco’s Pride festival

Actress Laverne Cox will become the first transgender personality to be displayed at Madame Tussauds, the wax museum officially announced it on Monday.

The “Orange is the New Black” star’s wax figure will make a debut on June 26 in Madame Tussauds’ San Francisco during the Pride Weekend festival.

“I am so deeply honored to have been asked to be part of Madame Tussauds legacy. Cox said in a statement. “When I think about being who I am, a black trans woman from a working class background raised in Mobile, Alabama, this honor feels even more improbable and extraordinary. I hope that this will be a source of inspiration for everyone who encounters it to believe that their dreams matter and are possible.”

Laverne Cox, who is a vocal advocate for LGBT rights, is the first openly transgender person to be nominated for Emmy Award in acting category, which she received for her work in Netflix television series “Orange is the New Black.” She also appeared on the cover of “Time” as being the first transgender person ever to pose for the magazine.

Prior to Caitlyn Jenner’s (formerly Bruce Jenner) male to female transition, Laverne Cox was arguably the most high-profile transgender celebrity in United States. She was honored with a GLAAD award in 2014 for raising her voice for the rights of transgender community. Receiving a wax figure in Madame Tussauds will be a remarkable achievement for the Cox and the whole transgender community.

Madame Tussauds is a London-based wax museum founded by Marie Tussaud with branches in many major cities of the world including Las Vegas, New York City, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. Laverne Cox’s was sculpture will join the likes of George Clooney, Jennifer Anniston, Morgan Freeman, Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet in Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco.

Source: Time