Amiyah Scott is an American actress, model, author, and creative personality best known for playing Cotton in the television drama Star. Before reaching mainstream television, she had already built a following through ballroom culture and social media.
As a transgender woman working in entertainment, Amiyah has also spoken openly about representation and her desire to be recognized for her talent, personality, and work.
From Ballroom to a Bigger Stage
Amiyah grew up in New Orleans and later moved to Atlanta after Hurricane Katrina. There, ballroom culture became an important part of her journey. Videos of her performances began circulating online and helped her gain attention long before social media became what it is today.
That visibility eventually opened new doors. When producer Lee Daniels was developing Star, Amiyah was recommended for the role of Cotton. She auditioned, earned the part, and stepped into a new career as an actress.
Breaking New Ground on Television
Playing Cotton gave Amiyah an opportunity to portray a transgender woman whose life involved much more than gender identity. The character had family relationships, friendships, work, challenges, and dreams of her own.
The role was meaningful to Amiyah because she had grown up seeing very few transgender women represented on mainstream television. She wanted audiences to see transgender characters as complete people with different personalities and stories.
More Than One Story
Amiyah has continued exploring opportunities outside television, including writing and beauty. Her memoir, Memoirs of a Mermaid, gave her another way to share parts of her journey in her own voice.
From New Orleans and Atlanta's ballroom community to television and other creative projects, Amiyah Scott has built a career across several different spaces. Her journey shows that one person can have many chapters, and no single part of someone's identity has to tell their entire story.
The opportunity moved her from online popularity into mainstream television and introduced her to a much larger audience.
Playing Cotton on Star
On Star, Amiyah played Cotton, a transgender woman whose life included family relationships, work, friendships, personal challenges, and ambitions.
For Amiyah, the role carried special meaning because she had grown up without seeing many transgender women represented on mainstream television.
Some of Cotton's experiences also reminded Amiyah of difficult situations from her own life. She has spoken about the emotional challenge of portraying those moments while recognizing that similar experiences continue to affect other people.
Creating More Than One Kind of Story
Amiyah has consistently expressed a desire to be recognized for her talent rather than having every opportunity defined only by her gender identity.
At the same time, she understands the importance of transgender characters and performers being visible on television. Her work as Cotton helped audiences see a transgender woman as a complete character with many different parts to her life.
Writing and Creative Work
Amiyah has expanded her career outside acting. She released the memoir Memoirs of a Mermaid, giving her another opportunity to share her experiences in her own words.
She has also worked in beauty and continued building the public platform that originally grew from ballroom culture and social media.
Why Amiyah Scott Is Known
Amiyah Scott is known for turning an early presence in ballroom culture and social media into a career in entertainment.
Her role on Star placed a transgender woman in a continuing role on American network television at a time when this kind of representation remained uncommon.
Her journey from New Orleans and Atlanta's ballroom community to television, writing, beauty, and public speaking reflects a career built through creativity, confidence, and determination.