Dylan Mulvaney (born male December 29, 1996) is an American actress, comedian, and TikTok personality.[1] She is known for detailing her[a] gender transition in daily videos on the social media platform TikTok since early 2022. In October 2022, Mulvaney interviewed U.S. president Joe Biden at the White House for the social-media news organization NowThis News.
Dylan Mulvaney | |
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File:DylanMulvaneyInterviewingJoeBiden.png | |
Born | San Diego, California, US | December 29, 1996
Education | University of Cincinnati (BFA) |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2015–present |
Notable work | Days of Girlhood (2022–) |
TikTok information | |
Followers | 10.8 million |
Likes | 441.9 million |
Last updated: April 7, 2023 | |
Website | Official website |
As of April 2023,[update] she has more than 10 million followers on TikTok,[3] while her video series, Days of Girlhood, has received over one billion views.[4]
Early life and education
Dylan Mulvaney was born on December 29, 1996,[5] in San Diego, California, United States.[6] She graduated from the University of Cincinnati's College-Conservatory of Music[7] in 2019 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater.[8]
Career
2015–2020: Early acting roles
Mulvaney's first significant role was playing the character Elder White[4] in the musical The Book of Mormon[9][10] following her graduation from college.[4] The musical led to Mulvaney traveling across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada to play her role.[1] Other roles included How The Grinch Stole Christmas! at the Old Globe Theatre; 8: The Play at the Birch North Park Theatre; Next to Normal at Arts Off Broadway; Legally Blonde; Spring Awakening; Bye Bye Birdie; and High School Musical at ACT San Diego.[11] Around the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in 2020, she began posting videos to TikTok, which usually garnered a few hundred thousand views.[6]
2021–2022: Transition and initial media appearances
Mulvaney came out as a trans woman during the pandemic,[2][7] while living with her "very conservative family" at her childhood home in San Diego.[12] She began to document her gender transition in a daily series of videos published on TikTok titled "Days of Girlhood" in March 2022, and her videos began to gain in popularity.[6][13] She said in an interview:
"When the pandemic hit, I was doing the Broadway musical Book of Mormon. I found myself jobless and without the creative means to do what I loved. I downloaded TikTok, assuming it was a kids' app. Once I came out as a woman, I made this "day one of being a girl" comedic video. And it blew up. I really don't know another place online like TikTok that can make a creator grow at the rate that it does. Some of these other apps really celebrate perfection and over-editing and flawlessness. I think with TikTok specifically, people love the rawness. They love people just talking to the camera. I try to approach every video like a FaceTime with a friend."[6]
In October 2022, Mulvaney appeared with genderfluid hairstylist David Lopez in a podcast for the cosmetics brand Ulta Beauty, during which she spoke about her childhood, her coming out as transgender, and her transition.[14][15][16] According to Forbes staff writer Marisa Dellatto, the video led to the appearance of the hashtag #BoycottUlta in Twitter's "Trending Topics" section and resulted in "some calling Mulvaney’s claims she can live happily as a woman 'misogynistic' and others misgendering her."[17]
Later that October, Mulvaney met with president Joe Biden for a "presidential forum" for the online news outlet NowThis News.[18][19] When asked by Mulvaney about recent legislation restricting gender-affirming care for transgender youth by Republican-led legislatures, Biden described them as "outrageous" and "immoral".[18] According to NBC News, following her meeting with Biden, Mulvaney became the target of a "vitriol campaign" by "right-wing activists".[20] Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn shared a tweet in which she attached a TikTok video created by Mulvaney and said "Dylan Mulvaney, Joe Biden, and radical left-wing lunatics want to make this absurdity normal".[20] Media personality Caitlyn Jenner, who is also a transgender woman, wrote on Twitter that she agreed with Blackburn's remarks and called Mulvaney's video an "absurdity".[19][21] Several days later, Mulvaney posted a reply video to Jenner on TikTok for Day 233 of her Days of Girlhood series, with a written message "To my followers, please do not send her any hate."[22] In the video, Mulvaney directly addressed being misgendered by Jenner and Jenner's comments about her body, as well as what Mulvaney had learned from the experience.[22][23]
2022–present: Dylan Mulvaney’s Day 365 Live!
In December 2022, Mulvaney confirmed on Instagram that she had undertaken facial feminization surgery.[24] She posted an image of her face on Instagram on January 27,[25] and made her debut on the red carpet at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards on February 5, 2023.[26][27] In late February, she accepted a Queerties Groundbreaker Award in Hollywood.[28]
Mulvaney hosted a livestreamed variety show at the Rainbow Room in Midtown Manhattan on March 13, 2023, one year after starting her TikTok video series Days of Girlhood, entitled Dylan Mulvaney’s Day 365 Live!. L Morgan Lee and Reneé Rapp guest starred in the show.[29][30] An appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show that day in which Mulvaney spoke with Barrymore about "dealing with online hate", according to the Los Angeles Times, resulted in Barrymore having an "onslaught of online hate" directed at her.[31][32]
Mulvaney promoted the beer brand Bud Light in a TikTok video for the occasion of March Madness, a college basketball tournament held by the NCAA.[33][34] Her brand sponsorship led figures in right-wing media, such as Fox News, to describe Mulvaney using "disparaging" and "often transphobic" terms about a dozen times, according to The Washington Post.[1]
Notes
See also
References
- ^ a b c Bellware, Kim; Javaid, Maham (April 6, 2023). "She's on Bud Light cans and all over the internet. Who is Dylan Mulvaney?". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Billson, Chantelle (October 17, 2022). "Beauty giant Ulta bombarded with transphobic hate over video of trans woman". PinkNews. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Biggs, Jade (January 9, 2023). "Dylan Mulvaney says she's the "happiest" she's ever been after face surgery". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on January 20, 2023. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c Shafer, Ellise (November 15, 2022). "TikTok's Discover List 2022: Meet 50 Creators Who Are Making a Global Impact (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on November 27, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
- ^ @dylanmulvaney (August 19, 2018). "The things I would tell this baby…" – via Instagram. image reads Name Dylan James Mulvaney Born at 10:10 am On Dec. 29, 1996
- ^ a b c d Jones, Rachyl (September 10, 2022). "TikTok Watched Dylan Mulvaney Become a Woman One Day at a Time". The New York Observer. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Miller, Julius (June 1, 2022). "Dylan Mulvaney On Transitioning and Becoming a TikTok 'Trailblazer'". lamag.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Butts, Rebecca (June 14, 2021). "School, Stage & Screen Season Finale: Luck be a Lady Gaga". UC News. University of Cincinnati. Archived from the original on November 7, 2022. Retrieved November 7, 2022.
- ^ "TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney's Tiffany Necklace Is a Gift to Her Younger Self". Elle. September 27, 2022. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Sitton, Kendra (October 26, 2022). "Dylan Mulvaney on Transitioning in Front of Millions". San Diego Magazine. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ "Dylan Mulvaney". Cygnet Theatre. Cygnet Theatre. December 7, 2017. Archived from the original on November 2, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (March 9, 2023). "TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney Recalls Coming Out as Trans at Age 4, Tells Trans Youth: 'There Is a Light at the End of the Tunnel'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
- ^ "Trans TikTokker shares her transition journey with millions: 'Vulnerability is power'". Good Morning America. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ "Anti-trans vitriol toward TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney ignites boycott". Los Angeles Blade. October 22, 2022. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ Cohen, Danielle (October 17, 2022). "TERFs Are Boycotting Ulta Beauty". The Cut. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ McDougall, A. J. (October 16, 2022). "Transphobes Slam Ulta Beauty for Featuring TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on October 24, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
- ^ Dellatto, Marisa (November 22, 2022). "'#BoycottTampax' Trends On Twitter After Viral Tweet From Tampon Company". Forbes. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Thurston, Joshua (October 25, 2022). "Anti-trans laws are immoral, Biden tells Dylan Mulvaney". The Times. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Iftikhar, Asyia (October 27, 2022). "Caitlyn Jenner joins right-wing pile-on of trans TikToker Dylan Mulvaney". PinkNews. Archived from the original on October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Lavietes, Matt (October 25, 2022). "GOP senator targets TikTok influencer with anti-transgender taunt". NBC News. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ Jones, C.T. (October 26, 2022). "Caitlyn Jenner Piles on Trans TikToker, Calls Body Positive Video 'Absurdity'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Jones, CT (October 31, 2022). "'I'm Not Going Anywhere': Dylan Mulvaney Gives a Masterclass in Grace After Caitlyn Jenner's Transphobic Comments". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
- ^ Rosenblatt, Kalhan (October 31, 2022). "Dylan Mulvaney responds to Caitlyn Jenner misgendering her". NBC News. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
- ^ Dodgson, Lindsay (December 22, 2022). "Trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney posted photos after facial feminization surgery, giving a raw glimpse into her transition". Insider. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
- ^ Hines, Ree (January 27, 2023). "Fans praise trans TikToker Dylan Mulvaney after facial feminization reveal: 'Stunning'". Today. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Chung, Gabrielle (February 5, 2023). "TikToker Dylan Mulvaney Makes Grammys Red Carpet Debut After Facial Feminization Surgery". E! News. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Factora, James (February 5, 2023). "Dylan Mulvaney Gave Old Hollywood Glamor on the Grammys Red Carpet". them. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
- ^ Malkin, Marc (March 1, 2023). "TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney Celebrates Transition While Accepting Queerties Groundbreaker Award: 'It's Day 352 of Being a Girl!'". Variety. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 4, 2023.
- ^ Ferme, Antonio (March 14, 2023). "Inside TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney's Rainbow Room Debut". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Masseron, Meg (February 23, 2023). "L Morgan Lee, Reneé Rapp, More Will Join Dylan Mulvaney for Live Streamed Variety Show". Playbill. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
- ^ St. Martin, Emily (March 14, 2023). "Drew Barrymore sat on the floor with trans TikToker Dylan Mulvaney. Online turmoil ensued". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Walsh, Savannah (March 14, 2023). "TikTok Star Dylan Mulvaney Shares Laverne Cox's Advice With Drew Barrymore". Vanity Fair. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
- ^ Valdez, Jonah (April 4, 2023). "Kid Rock joins transphobic backlash to Bud Light's partnership with Dylan Mulvaney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
- ^ Ritschel, Chelsea (April 4, 2023). "Bud Light praised as 'ally' for partnership with trans TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney". The Independent. Retrieved April 5, 2023.