‘Pose' Star Mj Rodriguez Makes History With 2021 Emmy Nomination

Rodriguez made Emmys history by becoming the first transgender nominee for the Best Actress category

Mj Rodriguez better prepare for her best Emmys pose yet.

On Tuesday, Ron Cephas Jones and daughter Jasmine Cephas Jones announced the nominees for the 2021 Emmy Awards. Spoiler alert: "Pose" received a whole lot of love from the Television Academy.

While the cast and crew are likely celebrating "Pose's" nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, many are taking extra notice of Rodriguez's spot in the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series category.

As it turns out, Rodriguez made Emmys history by becoming the first transgender nominee for the Best Actress category.

The singer-actress, who plays Blanca Evangelista on the FX series, joins fellow nominees Uzo Aduba ("In Treatment"), Emma Corrin ("The Crown"), Olivia Colman ("The Crown"), Elisabeth Moss ("The Handmaid's Tale") and Jurnee Smollett ("Lovecraft Country") in the must-watch category.

In addition to Rodriguez, co-star Billy Porter also scored a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Best Dressed Stars Ever at the Emmys

"Mj Rodriguez's Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series is a breakthrough for transgender women in Hollywood, and a long-overdue recognition for her groundbreaking performance over the past three seasons of POSE," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said in a statement. "Additionally, the show's nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as Billy Porter's third nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, mark a historic show that undoubtedly raised the bar for trans representation on television and changed the way viewers around the world understand the trans community."

Rodriguez is the third openly transgender person to be nominated for an Emmy in the award show's history.

Rain Valdez received an Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series nomination for "Razor Tongue" in 2020. Laverne Cox received recognition for her role as Sophia Bursey in "Orange Is the New Black" back in 2014.

The It Gets Better Project is hosting a digital Pride Month event with Laverne Cox, MJ Rodriguez and many more. We talked to one of the event's hosts, Kalen Allen of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, about the event and what Pride Month means to him.

Emmy history was also made this morning as four Black actors were nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in the same year.

Billy is nominated alongside Sterling K. Brown ("This Is Us"), Jonathan Majors ("Lovecraft Country"), Josh O'Connor ("The Crown"), Matthew Rhys ("Perry Mason") and Reg-Jean Page ("Bridgerton").

And in the spirit of making history, "Ted Lasso" defied expectations with a whopping 20 nominations including nods for Best Comedy Series and Best Actor in a Comedy Series.

Perhaps it's just another reason to watch CBS' live broadcast of the 2021 Emmys on Sept. 19

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