Dominique Jackson (model)

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Dominique Jackson
2018.11.30 World AIDS Day, Washington, DC USA 08638 (32258183348) (cropped).jpg
Dominique Jackson at World AIDS Day
Born1964/1965 (age 56–57)[1]
Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago
Other namesTyra Allure Ross
Occupation
  • Actress
  • Model
  • Author
  • Television personality
Spouse(s)
Al Jackson
​
​
(m. 2016; div. 2018)​

Dominique Brebnor[2] (born 1964/1965), known professionally as Dominique Jackson and Tyra Allure Ross, is a Tobagonian-American transgender[1][3][4][5] actress, author, model, and reality television personality. As an actress, she is most 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 in 1964 or 1965 in Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago. Although Jackson grew up with a grandmother who had "station," she still experienced a traumatic upbringing that included bullying and sexual abuse.[6] Being accepted as transgender by her family and community in Tobago was never a possibility, 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. [1][3][4][5]

During her time in the United States, Jackson has experienced homelessness and turned to sex work and living off credit cards for survival.[7][8] 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.[9]

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.[7] She has also modeled for Vogue España. She also walked for the 2021 Mugler show, along with other trans star Hunter Schafer.

Television and film[]

Jackson has appeared in Call Me, Christopher Street: The Series, My Truth, My Story, a Caribbean LGBTQ Oral History and Storytelling Documentary Series produced by the Caribbean Equality Project,[10] the documentary Visible: The LGBTQ Caribbean Diaspora and the Oxygen reality television series Strut (2016).[11] Her work on Strut earned her a GLAAD Media Award nomination.[12]

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.[13][14] The first season boasted the largest cast of transgender actors ever for a scripted network series,[15] with over 50 transgender characters/actors.[16] She continued her role as Elektra Wintour in Pose's second and third seasons.

Writing and community service[]

Dominique Jackson at New York Pride (2019)

Jackson has been open about her mental health struggles. After a thirteen-year writing process, she released her autobiography The Transsexual from Tobago.[17][18] She has also worked for several nonprofit organizations, such as Destination Tomorrow in the Bronx, that provide outreach and services to the LGBTQ+ community.[6]

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.

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.

Jackson was previously married to Al Jackson. They married at a courthouse after dating for about 18 years, and held their wedding ceremony during an episode of Strut.[18]

She obtained her green card in 2015, and also had her gender confirmation surgery the same year.[8]

In 2018, while vacationing at a resort in Aruba with her then-husband, Jackson reported to the authorities that a man attempted to rape her.[19]

In 2020, Jackson revealed on her social media that she had separated from her husband Al in late 2018.[20]

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

Bibliography[]

  • The Transsexual from Tobago (Revised) (2013)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Dominique Jackson Talks about Abundance". Debt Free Guys. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  2. ^ "Meet the world's first transgender modeling agency".
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Brabaw, Kasandra (2018-06-04). "'Pose' Star Dominique Jackson On What It Was Like To Grow Up Trans". Refinery29. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "'My Trans Identity Shouldn't Affect Me,' Says Dominique Jackson On Not Being Cast, Health Care and Hate Crimes". Playbill. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b Patton, Rebecca (2018-06-15). "Is The House of Abundance on 'Pose' Real? Elektra & Her Children Feel So Realistic". Bustle. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Auten, David; Schneider, John. "How Trans Fashion Model Dominique Jackson Overcame Homelessness And A $10K Debt". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tobago trans model Dominique Jackson makes history in FX series, 'Pose'". www.looptt.com. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b Brabaw, Kasandra (2018-06-04). "Pose Star Dominique Jackson On Why Surgery Saved Her Life". Refinery29. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  9. ^ Goldberg, David (2018-06-01). "Pose star Dominique Jackson talks ballroom realness". Time Out New York. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  10. ^ the Caribbean Equality Project
  11. ^ Shapiro, Eileen. "Dominique Jackson". getoutmag.com. Retrieved 2018-06-24.
  12. ^ "DOMINIQUE JACKSON - Resume | MMG - Model Management Group". resumes.breakdownexpress.com. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  13. ^ "Pose: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
  14. ^ "Pose: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved 2018-06-21.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (2017-10-25). "FX's 'Pose': Ryan Murphy Sets Largest Transgender Cast Ever For Scripted Series". Deadline Hollywood. Los Angeles, California: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved 2017-11-16.
  16. ^ "New Ryan Murphy Musical Dance Series POSE Gets Full Season Order". BroadwayWorld. 2017-12-27. Retrieved 2017-12-27.
  17. ^ Horne, Shontel. "Dominique Jackson". PopSugar. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "Trans Model Dominique Jackson Talks Childhood, Career And Getting Married On TV". Oxygen Official Site. 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  19. ^ Stone, Natalie. "Trans Actress and 'Pose' Star Dominique Jackson Says a Man Tried to Rape Her While on Vacation in Aruba". People. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
  20. ^ @tyraaross (2020-03-27). "I hv been separated and divorced! Keep up!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.

External links[]

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