“Once, when I was 5 years old, a little girl who lived next door to my grandmother dared me to put on a muumuu and run across a nearby parking lot. So I did. I threw it on, hiked it up in one hand, and ran like hell. It felt amazing to be in a dress. But suddenly my grandmother appeared, a look of horror on her face.”

American writer, television producer, and transgender rights activist

Janet Mock is an American writer, television producer, and transgender rights activist. She is known for her work in media and for her memoir, Redefining Realness, which became a New York Times bestseller. Mock has written and produced for television, and she has worked in journalism as a contributing editor at Marie Claire. She was also a staff editor for People magazine’s website. Her work has centered on storytelling, representation, and transgender rights.