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Dominique Jackson (model)

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Dominique Jackson
Jackson at World AIDS Day 2018
Born (1975-03-20) March 20, 1975 (age 49)
Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago
Other namesTyra Allure Ross
Occupations
  • Actress
  • model
  • author
  • television personality
Height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[1]
Spouse
Al Jackson
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2018)​

Dominique Brebnor (born March 20, 1975),[2] known professionally as Dominique Jackson and Tyra Allure Ross, is a Tobagonian-American actress, author, model, and reality television personality. As an actress, she is best known for her leading role of Elektra Abundance on the FX television series Pose. As a model, she has appeared in Vogue España.

Early life

Dominique Jackson was born on March 20, 1975, in Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago. Jackson grew up with her grandmother. She experienced a traumatic upbringing that included bullying and sexual abuse.[3] Her family and community in Tobago did not accept her as transgender, and she was regularly reprimanded for displaying her natural feminine characteristics. At age 15, she moved to the United States and lived with her mother.[4][5][6][7]

During her time in the United States, Jackson experienced homelessness and turned to sex work and living off credit cards for survival.[8][9] It was in 1993, while living in Baltimore, Maryland, that Jackson was introduced to the ballroom scene. She then lived in various houses, including Revlon and Allure, before settling in the House of Sinclair in New York City.[10]

Career

Modeling

So that she could develop the right opportunities, Jackson did most of her early modeling work for free. In 2009, she became a resident model for fashion designer Adrian Alicea and walked for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.[8] She has also modeled for Vogue España. She walked for the 2021 Mugler show, along with another trans model, Hunter Schafer.[11]

Television and film

Jackson has appeared in My TRUTH, My STORY, a Caribbean LGBTQ oral history and storytelling documentary series produced by the Caribbean Equality Project,[12] the documentary Visible: The LGBTQ Caribbean Diaspora and the Oxygen reality television series Strut (2016).[13] Her work on Strut earned her a GLAAD Media Award nomination.[14]

In 2018, Jackson began appearing in the leading role of Elektra Abundance on the FX series Pose, set in the ballroom subculture scene in late-1980s New York City. The series premiered on June 3, 2018, and attracted critical acclaim.[15][16] The first season boasted the largest cast of transgender actors for a scripted network series,[17] with over 50 transgender characters/actors.[18] She continued her role as Elektra Wintour in Pose's second and third seasons.[19]

In 2021, Jackson starred alongside Dionne Warwick and others in the short film Passage, created by Solange Knowles.[20]

Writing and community service

Jackson as Grand Marshal of the 2019 NYC Pride March[21]

Jackson has been open about her mental health struggles. After a thirteen-year writing process, she released her autobiography The Transsexual from Tobago.[22][23] She has worked for several nonprofit organizations, such as Destination Tomorrow in the Bronx, that provide outreach and services to the LGBTQ+ community.[3]

In 2020, Jackson appeared in a series of public service announcements created by the Human Rights Campaign in cooperation with WarnerMedia, to support trans and non-binary communities.[24]

Personal life

Jackson grew up very religious and was an active member of the church from a young age. When she was a child her family moved to New York, but she remained living with her grandmother in Trinidad and Tobago. Jackson revealed that around 11 years old she was sexually abused by a member of her church.[25]

At 15 years old, she moved to Baltimore with her mother. During that time, she came in contact with the trans community for the first time.

She obtained her green card in 2015, and also underwent gender-affirming surgery the same year.[9]

She married Al Jackson at a courthouse in 2016 after dating for about 18 years. The wedding ceremony was held during an episode of Strut.[23]

In 2018, while vacationing at a resort in Aruba, Jackson reported to the authorities that a man attempted to rape her.[26]

In 2020, Jackson revealed on her social media that she had separated from her husband in late 2018.[27]

On an episode of House Hunters that aired on June 1, 2021, it was presented that Jackson was engaged to her personal manager, Edwin Torres.[28]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Christopher Street: The Series Health Specialist Film debut, TV movie
2015 MY TRUTH, MY STORY: A Caribbean LGBTQ+ Oral History Project Herself Documentary
2020 Chick Fight Noami
TBR Visible: The LGBTQ Caribbean Diaspora Herself Documentary

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2015 Call Me Nicolette Episode: "Pilot"
2016 Strut Herself 6 episodes
2018–21 Pose Elektra 25 episodes
2020 Legendary Herself Episode: "Circus Bezerkus"
2021 American Gods Ms. World 3 episodes
2022 Legendary Herself Episode: "Slayground Playground Ball"
2022 American Horror Stories Bloody Mary Episode: "Bloody Mary"
2024 Fantasmas Algorithm Episode: "Valued Customer to table"[29]

Bibliography

  • The Transsexual from Tobago (Revised) (2013)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dominique Jackson - Biography". IMDb. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Meet the world's first transgender modeling agency".
  3. ^ a b Auten, David; Schneider, John. "How Trans Fashion Model Dominique Jackson Overcame Homelessness And A $20K Debt". Forbes. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  4. ^ "Dominique Jackson Talks about Abundance". Debt Free Guys. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  5. ^ Brabaw, Kasandra (June 4, 2018). "'Pose' Star Dominique Jackson On What It Was Like To Grow Up Trans". Refinery29. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  6. ^ "'My Trans Identity Shouldn't Affect Me,' Says Dominique Jackson On Not Being Cast, Health Care and Hate Crimes". Playbill. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  7. ^ Patton, Rebecca (June 15, 2018). "Is The House of Abundance on 'Pose' Real? Elektra & Her Children Feel So Realistic". Bustle. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  8. ^ a b "Tobago trans model Dominique Jackson makes history in FX series, 'Pose'". www.looptt.com. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Brabaw, Kasandra (June 4, 2018). "Pose Star Dominique Jackson On Why Surgery Saved Her Life". Refinery29. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  10. ^ Goldberg, David (June 1, 2018). "Pose star Dominique Jackson talks ballroom realness". Time Out New York. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  11. ^ Wheeler, André (April 2, 2021). "Hunter Schafer and Dominique Jackson Are Mugler's New Bodysuit-Wearing Runway Stars". them. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  12. ^ "My Truth, My Story". Caribbean Equality Project. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  13. ^ Shapiro, Eileen (September 26, 2016). "Dominique Jackson". getoutmag.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  14. ^ "DOMINIQUE JACKSON – Resume | MMG – Model Management Group". resumes.breakdownexpress.com. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  15. ^ "Pose: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  16. ^ "Pose: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  17. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 25, 2017). "FX's 'Pose': Ryan Murphy Sets Largest Transgender Cast Ever For Scripted Series". Deadline Hollywood. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  18. ^ "New Ryan Murphy Musical Dance Series POSE Gets Full Season Order". BroadwayWorld. December 27, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
  19. ^ Lambe, Stacy (May 10, 2021). "'Pose': Inside Elektra's Heartbreaking Origin Story in Season 3 (Exclusive)". ET Online. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Wally, Maxine (June 3, 2021). "Solange Teams Up With Dionne Warwick and Dominique Jackson For New Short Film". W. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  21. ^ Kelsch, Carl (June 15, 2020). "Dominique Jackson Is Ready for Her Next Steps as an Icon and Advocate". Marie Claire. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  22. ^ Horne, Shontel. "Dominique Jackson". PopSugar. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  23. ^ a b "Trans Model Dominique Jackson Talks Childhood, Career And Getting Married On TV". Oxygen Official Site. October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  24. ^ Malkin, Marc (September 24, 2020). "'Pose' Star Dominique Jackson Appears in New PSA for Trans Visibility". Variety. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  25. ^ Street, Mikelle (March 17, 2020). "'Pose's Dominique Jackson Tells Her Heartbreaking Story". Out. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  26. ^ Stone, Natalie. "Trans Actress and 'Pose' Star Dominique Jackson Says a Man Tried to Rape Her While on Vacation in Aruba". People. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
  27. ^ @tyraaross (March 27, 2020). "I hv been separated and divorced! Keep up!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ Lambe, Stacy (May 12, 2021). "'Pose' Star Dominique Jackson and Her Fiancé Search for Their Dream Home on 'House Hunters'". ET Online. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  29. ^ "Fantasmas credits". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
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