24 Of Transgender Celebrities Who Inspire Us

Zeke Smith

Zeke Smith had built a loyal following during his first two seasons on the hit reality show Survivor. But in 2017, his transgender identity was forcibly outed by fellow contestant Jeff Varner in an attempt to sow distrust. This was done without Smith's consent on national television.

In a moving essay for The Hollywood Reporter, Smith shared his reflections on how he summoned the strength to react with grace in that traumatic situation. Smith's compassion even after being outed against his will provided a powerful example of resilience under pressure.