Janet Mock (2001)

Writer, TV host and author of New York Times bestseller Redefining Realness

What is Janet Mock (2001) known for?

Janet Mock, an esteemed alumnus of Farrington High School, Honolulu, Hawaii, is well-known for her multi-faceted career as an American writer, TV host, director, producer, and particularly for her tireless activism in the transgender rights movement. She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on March 10, 1983.

One of the most significant milestones in Mock's career was the publication of her memoir, Redefining Realness, which became a New York Times bestseller. This work, alongside her contributions as an editor for Marie Claire and People magazine's website, has made her an influential figure in the literary world.

An integral part of Mock's journey was her transition during her first year of high school. She underwent gender confirming surgery in Thailand when she was just 18, in the midst of her first year in college. Education remained a top priority for her, making her the first person in her family to attend college. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in 2004 and a Master of Arts in Journalism from New York University in 2006.

Mock's career trajectory took her to People magazine, where she served as a staff editor for over five years. However, her journey took a significant turn when she publicly came out as a trans woman in a 2011 Marie Claire article. From then on, her focus shifted towards becoming a media advocate, using her platform to voice her thoughts and experiences on being a trans woman.

While promoting her book Redefining Realness in 2014, Mock articulated her perspective on her gender identity, stating, "I was born in what doctors proclaim is a boy's body. I had no choice in the assignment of my sex at birth.... My genital reconstructive surgery did not make me a girl. I was always a girl." Her courage and candor have been important in advancing the conversation on transgender rights and representation.