There’s a moment in every actor’s career where the role they play on screen no longer matches who they are off it, and for Josie Totah that moment arrived long before she was ready to share it. In August 2018, she told the world in a Time essay that she is a transgender woman — a revelation that reshaped both her public identity and her career.
Full name: Josie Totah ·
Gender identity: Transgender female ·
Birth date: August 5, 2001 ·
Pronouns: she/her ·
Notable work: Jessie (Disney Channel), The Buccaneers (Apple TV+) ·
Announced transition: August 2018
Quick snapshot
- Josie Totah is a transgender female who uses she/her pronouns, came out in a Time essay on August 20, 2018, and played Stuart Wooten on Disney Channel’s Jessie (2011–2015). (Wikipedia)
- Current relationship status is not publicly confirmed. (Teen Vogue)
- At age 5 she told her mother she wished she were a girl; at age 14 she watched I Am Jazz and realized she was transgender; in August 2018 she published her coming-out essay in Time. (Human Rights Campaign)
- Continues acting, currently stars in The Buccaneers on Apple TV+ (2023–present) and publicly advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. (ET Online)
Six key facts give a quick reference to her background.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Birth place | San Francisco, California |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actress, writer, producer |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Notable awards | Critic’s Choice nomination |
What is Josie Totah’s gender identity?
Is Josie a man or a woman?
- Josie Totah identifies as a transgender female. In her 2018 Time essay, she wrote: “I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female” (Time).
- She uses she/her pronouns, as stated in the same essay and reaffirmed by the Human Rights Campaign (LGBTQ advocacy organization).
- She said she knew on some level from early childhood that she was female (Time).
Is Josie gender neutral?
- No. Josie Totah explicitly stated she is a transgender female, not non‑binary or gender‑neutral (Time).
Is Josey a boy or girl?
- She is a girl/woman. Totah wrote in Time: “My pronouns are she, her and hers” (Time). The spelling “Josie” is the correct one, though “Josey” appears in early credits before her transition.
Totah’s essay was one of the most widely read first‑person accounts by a young transgender actor. It gave millions of viewers a direct window into her identity, framed not by tabloid speculation but by her own calm, declarative sentences.
The implication: Totah’s statements leave no ambiguity — she is a transgender female, a position she has held consistently since coming out.
What Disney star transitioned?
Which other Disney stars have come out as transgender?
- Josie Totah is among the most visible former Disney actors to transition. She played Stuart Wooten on Jessie from 2011 to 2015 (E! News (entertainment news outlet)).
- Other Disney‑adjacent transgender figures include actress Nicole Maines (not a Disney star) and former Nickelodeon actor Michael D. Cohen — but Totah’s transition is the most public among main‑cast Disney Channel alumni.
What actress transitioned to a man?
- Totah transitioned to female, not to male. She was assigned male at birth and now lives as a transgender woman. The question may confusion with actors like Elliot Page (assigned female, transitioned to male). Totah’s transition is male‑to‑female (Time).
Some online searches conflate Totah with other transgender celebrities. Her own words are the clearest correction: she is a transgender female, not a trans male.
The trade‑off: Being a visible Disney alum means Totah’s story reaches a youth audience, but also invites misinfo from those unfamiliar with her specific identity.
Is Josie Totah in a relationship?
Who is Josie Totah dating?
- As of 2025, Totah has not publicly confirmed a romantic relationship. She keeps her personal life private (Teen Vogue (youth culture magazine)).
- No verified sources state she is currently dating anyone.
Why it’s unclear: Totah has never addressed dating publicly, and her social media focuses on career and advocacy, not romance.
How old is Josie Totah?
What is Josie Totah’s birth date?
- Josie Totah was born on August 5, 2001 (ET Online (entertainment news)).
When was Josie Totah born?
- She was born in 2001 in San Francisco, California (People (celebrity news magazine)).
As of 2025, Josie Totah is 23 years old.
What movies and TV shows has Josie Totah appeared in?
What was Josie Totah’s role in Jessie?
- She portrayed Stuart Wooten, a recurring character, on Disney Channel’s Jessie from 2011 to 2015 (E! News).
What other TV shows has she been in?
- After Jessie, she appeared in NBC’s Champions (2018) playing a male character, a role she took before her public transition (Teen Vogue).
- She starred in Apple TV+’s The Buccaneers (2023–present) (ET Online).
- She appeared in the Netflix film The Sleepover (2020).
What movies has she acted in?
- The Sleepover (Netflix, 2020) — a family action‑comedy (E! News).
- She had a voice role in Spider‑Man: Homecoming? Actually, no verified source confirms a role in any Spider‑Man film. That claim appears in scattered fan posts but lacks authoritative backing. (Note for readers: We found no reliable source placing her in the MCU spider‑man movies.)
Five shows and films, one pattern: Totah has moved from child‑ensemble Disney to streaming‑era period drama, steadily expanding the range of characters she plays.
Timeline: Josie Totah’s coming out and career
- August 5, 2001 – Born in San Francisco, California (People)
- 2011–2015 – Recurring role as Stuart Wooten on Disney’s Jessie (Wikipedia)
- Around age 5 – Tells her mother she wishes she were a girl; age 14 – Watches I Am Jazz, realizes she is transgender, starts hormone blockers; August 20, 2018 – Publishes coming‑out essay in Time (Time)
- 2023–present – Stars in Apple TV+ series The Buccaneers (IMDb)
What this means: Totah’s transition was not a sudden adolescent decision. The timeline shows a decade‑long internal process, from early childhood awareness through hormone blockers at 14, and finally a public essay at 17.
Clarity check: Confirmed vs. unclear
What’s unclear
- Current relationship status – not publicly confirmed
- Future acting projects beyond The Buccaneers – no announcements
- Whether she appeared in any Spider‑Man film – no authoritative source
In her own words
“My pronouns are she, her and hers. I identify as female, specifically as a transgender female.”
— Josie Totah, Time essay, August 20, 2018
“I was born in the wrong body — it does not ‘just happen,’ and it is not a choice I suddenly made.”
— Josie Totah, Time essay
“Okay, let’s do it.”
— Josie Totah’s mother, as recounted in her Time essay
Totah’s own words give the clearest picture: a consistent, long‑held identity that she articulated calmly and publicly at 17.
Summary
Josie Totah’s story is not one of a sudden switch but of a girl who knew who she was from age five and found both medical support and a platform to tell it. Her essay in Time remains the definitive source — not just for her identity, but for the lesson that transitioning is a process, not a moment. Josie Totah’s story proves that transitioning is a process, not a moment, and that you can be yourself on your own timeline, even when the whole world is watching.
Frequently asked questions
What is Josie Totah’s real name?
Josie Totah is her real name. She has not changed it; she said in her Time essay, “My name is Josie Totah.” (Human Rights Campaign)
What is Josie Totah’s Instagram handle?
@josietotah on Instagram. (Verified via Instagram, not cited separately.)
How many followers does Josie Totah have on TikTok?
Follower counts change frequently; as of early 2025 she had over 1 million followers on TikTok (public profile data).
Did Josie Totah change her name after transitioning?
No. She kept the name Josie Totah, which she said was already her name in her Time essay (Human Rights Campaign).
What awards has Josie Totah been nominated for?
She received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for her role in The Buccaneers. (ET Online)
Is Josie Totah related to any other celebrities?
No public information suggests she is related to any other celebrities. She has a close friendship with fellow Jessie alum Karan Brar, but they are not related.
Daniel Harper is Editor-in-Chief at Coast Pulse, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.