Before “The Real L Word” – 11 Lesbian & Bisexual Reality TV Stars We Love

Long before The Real L Word came along with its sunshine vadgeblasters and lesbian sex interrogations and Power of the Claminissms, there were heaps of other women on reality TV shows breaking down the walls constructed by hegemonic symbolic annihilation and lesbian media invisibility. The first-ever “reality show”, American Family, premiered in 1973 on PBS and controversially featured a gay male castmember, but the reality genre remained relatively unexplored after that point until 1991, when MTV debuted The Real World — the true story of six strangers, picked to live in a house, and have their lives taped.

Beth Anthony became the first lesbian on reality television in 1993 when she joined the cast of The Real World: Los Angeles mid-season (replacing Irene Berrera-Kearns, who left after getting married) wearing a shirt that proclaimed “I’m not gay, but my girlfriend is.”

The Real World remained in a league of its own for about a decade, adding on The Road Rules franchise in the late 90’s. Then with Survivor and Big Brother, the reality TV explosion exploded and, in step, we’ve seen a ton more homos on the TV.

In fact, lesbian and bisexual women are more visible on reality TV than in any other medium — for better (Real World/Road Rules Challenge 2: Battle of the Sexes) and for worse (A Shot at Love With the Ikki Twins).

Lesbian and bisexual women are often hosts, judges and headliners on reality TV programs, including Jackie Warner (Work Out), Tabatha Coffey (Shear Genius & Tabatha’s Salon Takeover), Honey Labrador (Queer Eye for the Straight Girl), Cat Cora (Iron Chef), Jillian Michaels (The Biggest Loser), Jenny Shimizu ( Make Me a Supermodel), Elvira Kurt (My Fabulous Gay Wedding), Tila Tequila (A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila) and Ellen DeGeneres (American Idol).

Lesbian and bisexual women in the cast of reality TV shows include Ebony Haith (America’s Next Top Model: Cycle 1), Kathy Harris (BET’s College Hill), Lauren Marcoccio (The Amazing Race), Josie Smith-Malave (Top Chef), Michelle Deighton (America’s Next Top Model: Cycle 4) Anita Lo (Iron Chef/Top Chef Masters), Sandee Birdsong (Top Chef), Jamie Lauren (Top Chef), Ruthie Alcaide (Real World: Hawaii), Lydia Tavera (Big Brother), Emily Schromm (Real World: Washington DC), Leslie Mancia (America’s Next Top Model: Cycle Six), Jessica Cabo (Hell’s Kitchen), Coral Smith (Real World: Back to New York), Sarah Rice (Real World: Brooklyn), Natalie Bolton (Survivor), Carol Rosenfeld & Brandy Snow (The Amazing Race), Rebecca Cardon (Workout), and the female castmembers of Gimme Sugar, Curl Girls & A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila.

1. Genesis Moss

The Real World: Boston (MTV, 1997)


“Back in the good ole days, Real World marathons were like Christmas and my birthday combined, and it was 12 hours of non-stop TV crack. The summer after I graduated from high school (2000) I caught a Real World Boston marathon (originally aired 1997) and discovered Genesis Moss, the first lesbian on TV with whom I ever identified.

I knew I liked girls but the thought of calling myself a lesbian seemed completely alien to me – the media’s definition of that word just didn’t fit and I truly believed there wasn’t anyone else like me. Genesis was quiet, introspective and spent much of her season on the internet looking for other gay people to talk to. Her experience in that house was similar to how I felt in the world at that time. Her mother denied she was 100% gay due to her fascination with drag queens and she burst into tears when a child at the cast’s workplace claimed she hated gay people (the week after Ellen came out on her TV show). She was also extremely feminine at a time when K.D. Lang and Melissa Etheridge were the most recognizable out women so she radically changed my entire perspective of what a lesbian could look like. I had never been attracted to another gay person before (and didn’t think it was possible in this lifetime) so watching & admiring her on TV was actually my first step in “getting good” with it.”

(-Senior Writer Jess)

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2. Aneesa Ferriera

The Real World: Chicago (MTV, 2001)

“Her Mom is Jewish, her Dad is African-American, and her shirt is NOT ON. PERIOD.”

(-Editor-in-Chief Riese)

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3. Rachel Robinson

Road Rules Campus Crawl (MTV, 2002)

[Second lesbian cast on Road Rules, the first was Sophie in 2001]

“Rachel was good looking with a great body and had this presence, and she competed as hard as the boys. She was a really strong competitor. She was totally cool with having a girlfriend, you know? And I remember her wearing political t-shirts about gay things. I felt like she wasn’t hiding anything, and that was empowering to me.”

(-Design Director Alex)

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4. Ami Cusack

Survivor: Vanatu, Season 9  (CBS, 2004)

[2004: Along with 59-year-old Scout Cloud Lee,
Cusack was the first lesbian to appear on Survivor]

“Ami was a classy girl who always seemed a bit wiser than everyone else. You wanted to cheer for her, you wanted her to win.”

(-Design Director Alex)

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5. Kim Stolz

America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 5 (The CW, 2005)

[Kim was the fourth queer woman on America’s Next Top Model.
Her season also featured bi-curious Sarah Rhoades and
lesbian Nik Pace, though Nik was not out on the show.]

Kim Stolz catwalked onto our teevee screens in 2005 in a tie and cut-offs and told Tyra Banks, “I’m out and I’m gay and I’m really proud of it,” presenting perhaps the first network-televised image ever of a strikingly beautiful boyish girl who, as Kim told Autostraddle she’s always felt, is “unwavering” in her “comfort with being gay.” 

Kim Stolz wasn’t angry or compromised or stupid. It was like she’d come to earth from some other planet or maybe even from The Future; a place where “ideals” = “laws” and lesbianism was already established as cool & good-looking & seductive and … well … I guess … totally human. To most of America, and to young lesbian women raised on aggressively idiotic & reductive reality television in particular, this Concept was a revelation. Of course to a lot of women, Kim was important specifically because she wasn’t a revelation; she was a lot like the lesbians they knew, maybe in another liberal arts college they’d been lucky enough to attend. Finally! Someone articulate & reasonable & passionate & funny! with a background that hadn’t hardened her into the understandably furious & defensive lesbian “character” usually recruited for Reality TV shows. She’s since levied her fifteen minutes into an established career as a journalist and television host. (via Kim Stolz: The Autostraddle Interview)
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6. Michelle Babin

America’s Next Top Model, Cycle 7 (The CW, 2006)


“Michelle and her twin sister Amanda brought a new element to ANTM in more ways than one (ha! see what I did there?). We got to see Michelle’s coming out process onscreen, including dealing with her sister’s reaction to her coming out as “probably bisexual”/”maybe gay.” Amanda later confessed to Tyra in a heart-to-heart that she was scared for Michelle and Tyra reminded Amanda that Michelle “needs you more than ever now, you’re her rock.” And for just one moment, I was physically moved to tears by a Tyra-Banks-initiated conversation and they weren’t tears of embarrassment.

After coming out to the group, Megan & Amanda called their Mom who told Michelle not to worry about it because she loved her no matter what AND I FUCKING CRIED AGAIN.” (Riese)
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7. Tika Milan

I’m From Rolling Stone (MTV, 2007)

“The 26-year-old poet & writer didn’t win the contributing editor job on the show that only ran for one season, but she was a rare bird for reality TV — an African-American out lesbian with a “not traditionally feminine” presentation. As she told AfterEllen in a 2007 interview: ‘I didn’t want to come off as the angry black person, or as the man-hating gay person, either. That’s not me, so that wasn’t ever going to come out. I was just going to be myself. You know, I was a respectable person. I know when I was 15 or 16, I was dying to see another gay person on television, another gay, black woman on TV. [Nowadays] I could sit around and watch The L Word all day, but nobody on The L Word looks like me.’ Unfortunately not enough people were as interested in the inner workings of a magazine as I was, so this show never got past the first season.”  (Riese)
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8. Michele Fleury

Curl Girls (Logo, 2007)

[The first all-lesbian reality show on a major network.]

“She seemed more sensible than everyone else. I think I just wanted to make out with her.”

(-Executive Editor Laneia)

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9. Dani Campbell

A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila (MTV, 2008)


Dani Campbell was our friendly “futch” ally in a cast populated by violent, alcoholic, hypersexual human-like creatures, and we were subsequently impressed when Dani made it to the final round as the last lady standing. She didn’t win, but that was fine. Maybe you even wanted her to lose, because by that point either you were blind or you’d developed a massive star-crush on Dani Campbell. If it wasn’t for Dani, you told your friends, you wouldn’t be watching that terribly offensive trainwreck of a show to begin with. She was smarter than the other girls! Or maybe you wanted her to lose because you knew she was cooler than that show. Or maybe you wanted her to win because you hadn’t ever seen a girl who looked like Dani win something on the teevee, even if that ‘something’ was a shot at love with Tila Tequila.

How’d she avoid the snark typically laden upon Professional Celesbians? By being nice. And charming. And genuine. And cute. No, she’s not terribly complicated; but she’s humble, and she saves people from burning buildings! The New York Post declared “…win or lose, Campbell is the show’s breakout star. And she did it by avoiding the typical traps of reality TV. Instead of being wild and attention-hungry, she has come across as down-to-earth, open-minded and funny.”

(via Dani Campbell Wants More: The Autostraddle Interview)
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10. Charlene

Gimme Sugar (Logo, 2008-’09)

“Charlene is undeniably “real,” super-sweet, reads & responds to every fan-email she receives and, as we discovered in conversation with her, probably deserves a coffee table book of Charlenisms (”If you’re not yourself on TV, then who are you?” “I was like, I love everyone, you know what I mean? I love EVERYONE,” “I love Miami, but I think if there’s weather Miami will be the first one to go under the ocean.”) and is one of the most genuine people you’ll ever find on reality teevee.” (via Sweet Sweet Charlene of Logo’s Gimme Sugar: The Autostraddle Interview.)
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11. Ashley Merriman

Top Chef (Bravo, 2009)

“Besides being AS ADORABLE AS A FUCKING PUPPY she stayed really focused on her goals and never got caught up in the dramz (except for that onnne time they made it seem like she was going off about gay marriage, but we later learned was CLEVARR EDITING).”

(-Laneia)

Who are your favorite reality TV stars?

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37 Comments

  1. Aneesa was Chicago…. Ruthie was Hawaii.

    ButI agree with them all. You know my feelings on Stolz.

    xoxo

    • Ahh! You beat me to it!

      Also, Ruthie is more awesome than Aneesa. She periodically comes back on the challenges and kicks ass without being a goddamn drama queen.

    • ikr? it used to be such a good show, such an interesting social experiment. now i feel like it’s just another show about attractive teenagers getting drunk and making out with each other. vegas was probs the beginning of the end, though the recent DC season was compelling enough.

  2. Jamie Lauren! (Was her name up there? Am I blind? These are possibilities) That season of Top Chef was particularly great in a number of ways, but Jamie and her never ending scallop dishes were the star. Also, her tattoos are amazing!

    • Jamie Lauren’s tattoos were sooooooooooo amazing and she loved making soup. She’s definitely like one of my all time favorite reality tv person, even though it’s weird she shares my name and I have such a huge crush on her.

  3. I had the *hugest* crush on Genesis…but that’s before I was out. & I remember over & over, I would defend her to my straight friends…

    Genesis, and my friend Lori, were ultimately the two women who helped me to admit to the world who I am….

  4. When I first heard about curl girls I was really excited cause I thought it was about curling, but then I saw that it was about surfing and even the thought of girls in bikini’s couldn’t match my excitement for a reality show about curling.

    • We should make a (queer) reality show about curling! I’d watch it. Also, during the initial run of Curl Girls my away message was ‘All the dyke drama you can handle. In bikinis.’

  5. I’ve never really been into Big Brother, but Anna Nolan from the first UK season is amazing and level headed and down to earth, I love her and wish she was my big sister or something. Plus she’s Irish, woo represent!

  6. I really liked Ashley on Top Chef. She seemed really down-to-earth. Plus she’s from the Pacific Northwest and we all know that cool people come from there! :D

  7. tabatha’s salon takeover was great. that is all.

    ok not that’s not all, ashley merriman is the cutest thing, i want to carry her in my pocket forever and then have her cook me dinner

  8. Sarah (Real World Brooklyn) bugs. The whole I was a lesbian until my Mom introduced me to a man thing seems odd. Anyways I far prefer Ayiiia (Real World Cancun), Brooke (Real World Denver) and Ev (The Challenge: Fresh Meat). Now only if we can find out what exactly what down between Ev and Laurel (The Challenge: Fresh Meat II) or for that matter Ev and Mandi.

  9. What about Evelyn from the Real World challenges? She’s pretty intense, but also sporty and cute. I was always a big fan.

  10. Another newly-minted lesbian reality TV star is Constable Kristie Fisher on the new Canadian docu-soap, The Beat. It’s about the police officers who patrol Vancouver’s sketchy Downtown Eastside.

  11. Ashley Merriman… goddamn I want to lick her so hard. Actually, I kind of want her to top the fuck out of me. I wonder if she’d be down…

  12. Shabby Katchadourian from Big Brother UK 2010 has a massive following in the UK !

      • Shabby Katchadourian -London: 24. lesbian. actress. filmmaker.poet. contestant on UK’s Big Brother
        walked off the show after 27 days after falling in love with the bi curious Irish girl Caoimhe Guilfoyle who has a boyfriend. Caoimhe is still a contestant in the house but was devestated when Shabby left. Unrequited love? We hope not.

        Shabby has captivated the audience and inspired young teen girls who are falling in love with her. Everyone is gripped by their love story. She is compelling to watch on TV and stunningly beautiful.

        The public reaction to Shabby has been so positive & she now has a huge teen fanbase of young girls who are protesting in lots of ways, in order to get her back on the show some how.

        Its such a great story.

  13. Wait a minute…I loved Coral but definitely did not know she was gay!!! :) Thanks for the great Real World memories. I remember when Beth A came on because the other (very annoying) Beth was accidentally called the lesbian in the local paper. Anyone else remember that?

    Thanks also for reminding me that I had a crush on Genesis and for reminding me that I have to call my (other) girlfriend, Ashley to see what what we’re having for dinner tomorrow.

    • She wasn’t out on the show. She didn’t come out until quite a few years after her season aired, actually.

  14. There was also a lesbian on the US version of Big Brother 6. Her name was Ivette Corredero. Although, I personally didn’t like her on the show, along with all the people she was teamed up with. I actually found her on Facebook by accident. She’s got a kid and a girlfriend now.

  15. I remember Genesis. When she described herself as a “lipstick lesbian,” it was the first time I had ever heard of such a term. I think I was maybe 10 or 11. The classic real world had a pretty profound impact on my understanding of queer identity. I remember the Miami season was the first time I had ever seen the gay rainbow flag and learned what it meant. The San Francisco season had Pedro and we got to learn about his battle with AIDS while also seeing him in a loving relationship with a black gay man. When Pedro and his partner got married on the show I thought it was a legal marriage. I had no idea that same-sex marriage was not legal. I didn’t learn that until I was about 13 or 14. Oh, to be innocent again.

  16. Awwwwwww this just made my heart tickle. All of you women are amazing. I love the strength and beauty you all exude. I am proud to be listed amongst you great women.

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