#TheLIST: Big Gay Beauty Icons

Posted by Florance Siggers on Monday, June 3, 2024

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1

RuPaul

pLong before Rihanna and Fifth Harmony were singing about it, the ultimate drag icon coined the phrase "you better work" while teaching us how to make love to the camera and walk the runway./pGetty Images

Long before Rihanna and Fifth Harmony were singing about it, the ultimate drag icon coined the phrase "you better work" while teaching us how to make love to the camera and walk the runway.

2

Ziggy Stardust

pAn electric alter ego, from the sound to the hair to the iconic lightening bolt face paint./pGetty Images

An electric alter ego, from the sound to the hair to the iconic lightening bolt face paint.

3

Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz

pGarland's role as Dorothy in the gender-bending film secured her status as a gay icon and camp figure./pGetty Images

Garland's role as Dorothy in the gender-bending film secured her status as a gay icon and camp figure.

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4

Liza Minnelli

pGarland's daughter who carried on her legacy, Minnelli also introduced us to jazz hands and gave Twiggy a run for her money in the eyelash department/pGetty Images

Garland's daughter who carried on her legacy, Minnelli also introduced us to jazz hands and gave Twiggy a run for her money in the eyelash department

5

Lady Bunny

pNYC's reigning drag queen and the founder of Wigstock (a href="http://gawker.com/295116/the-death-of-wigstock" target="_blank"RIP/a)/pGetty Images

NYC's reigning drag queen and the founder of Wigstock (RIP)

6

Cher

Beauty, Fashion, Fashion model, Photo shoot, Model, See-through clothing, Leg, Photography, Muscle, Black hair, Getty Images

The Goddess of Pop and gay icon's powerful voice allowed her to sing both male and female ranges in love songs that many interpreted as gender-neutral.

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7

Laverne Cox

pA trailblazer for black, transgendered women on television as Sophia in OITNB and an outspoken advocate for the cause off-screen./pGetty Images

A trailblazer for black, transgendered women on television as Sophia in OITNB and an outspoken advocate for the cause off-screen.

8

Boys Don't Cry

pHilary Swank's Oscar-winning transformation into Brandon Teena came on the heels of the Matthew Shepard murder, and added fuel to the conversation around hate crime legislation./pGetty Images

Hilary Swank's Oscar-winning transformation into Brandon Teena came on the heels of the Matthew Shepard murder, and added fuel to the conversation around hate crime legislation.

9

Caitlyn Jenner

pArguably the most famous trans woman, the former Olympian and reality star has used her fame as a platform and taken America along for the ride with I Am Cait./pGetty Images

Arguably the most famous trans woman, the former Olympian and reality star has used her fame as a platform and taken America along for the ride with I Am Cait.

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10

Amanda Lepore

pMuse to David LaChapelle, Terry Richardson, The Blonds and more, Lepore is a fixture on the NYC party circuit. /pGetty Images

Muse to David LaChapelle, Terry Richardson, The Blonds and more, Lepore is a fixture on the NYC party circuit.

11

Boy George

pAdele's not the only UK superstar with a strong cat-eye game./pGetty Images

Adele's not the only UK superstar with a strong cat-eye game.

12

Madonna

pLGBTQ magazine The Advocate named the singer who made voguing mainstream "the greatest gay icon."/pGetty Images

LGBTQ magazine The Advocate named the singer who made voguing mainstream "the greatest gay icon."

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13

Blue Is the Warmest Color

pAdèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux star in the French coming-of-age film inspired by a graphic novel./pCourtesy

Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux star in the French coming-of-age film inspired by a graphic novel.

14

Brooke Candy

pThe openly pansexual rapper partnered with a href="http://www.maccosmetics.com/product/13854/36973/Products/Makeup/Lips/Lipstick/Lipstick-Brooke-Candy" target="_blank"MAC/a on a line of lipsticks made for an underground dance party./pGetty Images

The openly pansexual rapper partnered with MAC on a line of lipsticks made for an underground dance party.

15

Grace Jones

pThe androgynous diva's unique look and dance hits influenced fashion, the cross-dressing community and the music world./pGetty Images

The androgynous diva's unique look and dance hits influenced fashion, the cross-dressing community and the music world.

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16

Carol

pCate Blanchett and Rooney Mara star as lovers caught in a forbidden affair in the '50s./pCourtesy

Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara star as lovers caught in a forbidden affair in the '50s.

17

Lady Gaga

pThe bisexual singer's Born This Way message of empowerment, costumes and social activism for HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ rights has earned her an army of loyal fans./pGetty Images

The bisexual singer's Born This Way message of empowerment, costumes and social activism for HIV/AIDS and LGBTQ rights has earned her an army of loyal fans.

18

Ruby Rose

pThose tattoos, that smile, the most perfect pixie cut of all time...the a href="http://www.elle.com/life-love/news/a28912/oitnb-ruby-rose-gender-fluidity-video/" target="_blank"gender fluid/a DJ/actress had just about everyone falling for her approximately .05 seconds into her OITNB debut./pGetty Images

Those tattoos, that smile, the most perfect pixie cut of all time...the gender fluid DJ/actress had just about everyone falling for her approximately .05 seconds into her OITNB debut.

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19

Erika Girardi, a.k.a. Erika Jayne

pReal Housewife of Beverly Hills by day, sexed-up stage performer by night./pGetty Images

Real Housewife of Beverly Hills by day, sexed-up stage performer by night.

20

Andreja Pejić

Clothing, Lip, Skin, Textile, Fur clothing, Outerwear, Fashion model, Style, Fashion show, Winter, Getty Images

Pejić broke barriers in the modeling world and became the first trans woman to land a major beauty campaign with Make Up For Ever.

Headshot of Alexandra Tunell

Alexandra Tunell is the Senior Digital Beauty Editor at Harper's BAZAAR, where she writes beauty features and covers industry news, health, fitness and wellness trends. She began her career in the Lucky beauty closet, then went on to work at Allure. When she's not testing the latest skin care treatments, the Los Angeles native is searching the city for the best Mexican food, binge-watching Bravo and escaping to the beach as often as possible.

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