The teen actor known as J.J. Totah, who co-starred on the NBC sitcom Champions, has announced that she identifies as a transgender female, and will now be known as Josie Totah.
Totah credits the TLC reality series I Am Jazz, starring transgender teen Jazz Jennings, with inspiring her to live her true identity.
The 17-year-old actor made the announcement in an essay for Time magazine entitled “My Name Is Josie Totah — And I’m Ready to Be Free.”
She acknowledges the difficulties she faces as a transgender female, and admits she fears the moment of judgment she’ll face when changing her IDs to female.