BIO
Jacob Tobia (they/them) is an actor, writer, producer, and author of the national bestselling memoir Sissy: A Coming-of-Gender Story. From running across the Brooklyn Bridge in high heels to giving Trevor Noah an on-air makeover on The Daily Show, Jacob helps others embrace the full complexity of their gender, even (and especially) when it’s messy as hell. Jacob recently made their acting debut as the nonbinary character “Double Trouble” on Netflix’s She-Ra and The Princesses of Power. Originally from Raleigh, North Carolina, Jacob currently lives in Los Angeles.
A member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 and the OUT 100, Jacob got their start on the national stage when they were interviewed by Laverne Cox as part of MTV’s The T Word and profiled in the one hour, GLAAD Award-nominated episode of True Life: I’m Genderqueer. Subsequently, they created, produced, and hosted Queer 2.0 (a first-of-its-kind LGBTQ series for NBC News), served as the Social Media Producer on Season 4 of Amazon’s Emmy Award-winning series, Transparent, and collaborated with Instagram to produce #KindComments, a custom campaign for Trans Day of Visibility that was viewed over 14 million times. They’ve also produced and starred in an acclaimed revival reading of the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play I Am My Own Wife and been featured as the face of Fluide Beauty, a line of trans and queer-inclusive makeup.
A Point Foundation Scholar and Harry S. Truman Scholar, Jacob has captivated audiences at independent bookstores, conferences, companies, and throughout the Ivy League with their message of personal fabulosity and social change. Their writing and advocacy have been featured on MSNBC, MTV, The Washington Post, The New York Times, TIME, New York Magazine, Teen Vogue, Playboy, The Guardian, and Jezebel, among others.
Jacob graduated Summa Cum Laude from Duke University with a degree in Human Rights Advocacy. Prior to their career in television, Jacob worked at the United Nations Foundation and the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. Jacob is an avid Sriracha devotee and has worn high heels in the White House twice.