Janet Mock
Biography
Janet Mock
JANET MOCK is the New York Times best-selling author of REDEFINING REALNESS. She considers herself a Beyoncé scholar, but is widely known as a sought-after speaker and prominent advocate for trans women’s rights. Currently, she hosts the weekly culture show "So POPular!" on MSNBC’s Shift network and serves as Contributing Editor for Marie Claire.
Janet first told her story of growing up as a trans girl in 2011 in Marie Claire --- a magazine for which she now works, writing articles about pop culture, gender, race and representation. She released her memoir REDEFINING REALNESS: MY PATH TO WOMANHOOD, IDENTITY, LOVE, & SO MUCH MORE in February 2014, with feminist critic bell hooks calling Janet’s memoir, “A lifemap for transformation,” while Melissa Harris-Perry said “Janet does what only great writers of autobiography accomplish --- she tells a story of the self, which turns out to be a reflection of all humanity.” The book was featured on CNN’s Piers Morgan Live, The Colbert Report and Melissa Harris-Perry, and debuted at No. 19 on the New York Times Best Sellers List.
Janet has since brought her storytelling skills, journalism training and culture commentary to television. After guest hosting HuffPost Live and Pivot’s TakePart Live, she landed her own weekly popular culture show, “So POPular,” featured on MSNBC’s all-digital network Shift. She also serves as a correspondent for Entertainment Tonight. She was also featured in the HBO documentary The Out List and has appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, NPR, Rookie, Salon, Slate, Feministing,Colorlines and more.
In 2012, Janet — who was called one of “the smartest women on Twitter” by Fast Company — launched #GirlsLikeUs, a social movement that empowers trans women and celebrates the diversity of womanhood. In 2013, Janet joined the board of directors at the Arcus Foundation, a leading global organization advancing social justice and conservation issues.
The Feminist Press, GLSEN, Planned Parenthood and the Sylvia Rivera Law Project have honored Janet for her work. She was named one of TIME magazine’s 12 new faces of black leadership, as well as Vitamin W’s 2013 Woman of the Year and Advocate’s 50 Most Influential LGBT People in Media. She’s also been listed on the Out 100, Root 100, GOOD 100 and Grio 100.
A native of Honolulu, Janet attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, earned her MA in journalism from New York University, and worked as a Staff Editor for People.com (People magazine’s website) for five years. She lives and writes in New York City with her boyfriend, photographer and filmmaker Aaron Tredwell and their cockapoo Cleo.
Janet Mock
