HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — It has become a yearly tradition: As winter gives way to spring, the most glamorous entertainers, movers and shakers in the adult industry’s trans community gather at the Avalon, at Hollywood and Vine in the storied heart of Tinseltown, to celebrate the year’s achievements at the Trans Erotica Awards (TEAs), presented this year by Pornhub.
Serendipitously, the 2024 TEAs on Sunday coincided with that other Hollywood awards event, the Oscars, which was being held just a few blocks up Hollywood Blvd. The mostly cis entertainers and creatives en route to that shindig would therefore have glimpsed, through tinted limousine windows, a procession of the world’s top trans adult celebrities as they lined up for red carpet interviews with industry luminaries Foxxy and Natassia Dreams.
Entering the venue, the stars were greeted by Lindsey “Banksie” Banks, gift-wrapped in pink satin — bow and all — creating viral content featuring the evening’s on-point fashions. Drinks were served, while select attendees hobnobbed in a VIP lounge.
The show kicked off with Raquel Starr, accompanied by a jazz pianist and a cabaret dance trio — belting out a Jessica-Rabbitastic version of the standard “Why Don’t You Do Right?” This turned out to be just the opening act for superstar trans pop group The Gurls, led by the evening’s now-traditional Mistress of Ceremonies Domino Presley, appearing under her ballroom royalty name, Domino Balenciaga. Presley, Alissah and Starr debuted as The Gurls at the 2022 TEAs, returned for a triumphal performance last year and went for the trifecta on Sunday with a rendition of one of their crowd-pumping dance singles.
Foxxy and Dreams then took the stage to welcome the crowd and introduce the first presenters, Apollo Moon and Nyxi Leon, who in turn presented the first award of the evening: Best DVD, sponsored by Adult Empire. The winner was “Slut Fantasies Vol. 2” from TGirls Hookup.
The bestowing of that first award gave Presley the chance to change into the first of two Mistress of Ceremonies outfits for the evening, a black dress with dramatic slits that showcased her legs in thigh-high leather boots.
“Apparently, I’m not supposed to make fun of the cisgender people that much this year,” Presley playfully teased. “But if Dave Chappelle has three fucking Netflix specials making fun of us, y’all can take a fucking joke!”
Presley commanded the crowd to take their phones out, flashes on, to document her stage grandeur, before introducing the next presenters: Eva Maxim, with a futuristic metallic mouth mask, and Aubrey Kate, in hair-to-gown pink. They announced the winner for Best Scene Producer, Ricky Greenwood, who cut the most casual figure of the evening in a T-shirt and jeans. When Kate held the microphone at crotch level, Greenwood was very game to deliver his speech into the impromptu phallus.
“Thank you everybody for all your work,” Greenwood told the assembled top talent. “I really appreciate this award because it means something special to me. When I came into the business many years ago, they asked me what type of scene I wanted to direct and I told them, ‘I want to direct trans scenes.’ And it’s really the most fun I have!”
The next award, for Best Industry Professional, was bestowed on Takedown Piracy’s Nate Glass, who was given a moving introduction by his wife and partner, Reba Rocket.
“After 25 years being in this business, you start to think you’re just going to be a background guy,” Glass said. “So to get this recognition is really awesome, and to get it with all of you here is incredibly awesome. There’s literally no adult award show that I would rather get this recognition from than this one right here.”
Glass thanked the Grooby team, his wife, and industry sociologist Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals.
The Streamate Best Cam Performer award was presented by Daisy Taylor and Megan Mistakes to blonde stunner Julia Jane, who wore a striking red gown and thanked her “hormone doctor,” her “face doctor” — and her past self, “for not committing suicide.”
An especially moving moment came next, as Natassia Dreams and Ana Foxxx presented Grooby’s Black-Tgirls Model of the Year award to an awestruck Leilani Li, who received a standing ovation as Dreams and Foxxx exhorted the crowd to celebrate Black excellence and to give Li her flowers.
“It’s really hard to be a Black performer in the porn industry,” Dreams said in her introduction. “It’s very hard. And it’s great to even just be recognized, because we have to show up 10 times harder than everybody else to get a percentage of what everybody else gets. We must give it up for the Black trans performers. We’re really happy and so honored to present this award to someone who really deserves this — she’s been working her ass off since Day 1.”
Li thanked Grooby’s Buddy Wood and Steven Grooby for giving her “a platform when there was no platform, many years ago,” and Erika Icon from The Rub PR.
“And last, but definitely not least — and actually the most important — I would like to thank all of my peers that have embraced me,” Li concluded.
Kira Noir and Colby Jansen next presented the trophy for Best Internet Personality, sponsored by Nelson Thane Unlimited, to Emma Rose, who received it decked out in a classic Hollywood red gown.
“I just wanted to win this one so bad because I’ve been working so hard,” Rose enthused, before thanking her team.
Keith Eros and Goddess Tangent presented the award for Best Content Creator to redheaded sensation Shiri Allwood, who took to the stage pantsless, in stockings.
“I wasn’t expecting to win this, and it’s so great to be back after three years of not being here,” Allwood said. “I missed you all.”
She added that, even though the award is for content creators, she was not the only one who deserved credit for her win.
“I can’t do it alone, so thank you to my partner Nicko Wolfe for always being willing to take pictures of my butthole!” Allwood declared, before also thanking her team and her cats.
The Best VR Scene award was presented by Rick Fantana and Valeria Atreides to Kasey Kei and Spencer Bradley for VRB Trans’ “My Slutty Babysitter.”
“Bitch, we did this,” Kei beamed at Bradley.
“It was our first scene together and it was so organic,” Bradley retorted.
“We had crazy chemistry!” Kei added, before thanking scene partner Pierce Paris.
GenderX’s Jim Powers and Deacon awarded the GenderX Films Model of the Year to Brittney Kade, whose lime-green Tinkerbell look drew marveling glances.
Powers and Deacon praised Kade as “a great model who does everything, who is versatile, who shows up on time, who’s responsible and reliable, who does good acting and who is absolutely gorgeous and does a great sex scene.”
Kade thanked the company and the directors; her agent, Riley, for taking her on as Hussie’s first trans performer, and “every performer out there who has taken me in and supported me from the beginning.”
As the show moved forward, TGirl Nights’ Jamie Jameson and Ember Fiera presented the Best Girl/Girl Scene award to Gracie Jane and Leilani Li for “Hot Pink Baddies”; Grooby’s Radius Dark and Moe Scoville presented the Producer’s Choice award to Lianna Lawson, with Shiri Allwood accepting on her behalf; and Kasey Kei and Khloe Kay, in virtually matching black and red gowns, presented the Best Transmasc Scene award to Nicky Zea, Zeke Nix and Zariah Aura for Transnificent’s “Nicky and Zeke Share Zariah.”
Aura gushed that she was thrilled to win with her “two best boys” — her “amazing fiancé” Nicky Zea and “the super-hot Zeke Nix.”
Zea gave a shoutout to Nikki Sequoia for “fighting for trans boys every single day.”
“You are the one, Nikki!” Zea said. “That’s why we have new categories, that’s why we’re being respected and being honored, so thank you!”
To the audience’s cheers, Nix added, “I told myself if I win something, I have to tell my mom this year. I started making content and producing because I didn’t feel like I was seeing a lot of other Black two-spirit or Black transmasculine performers, so it is an honor to be able to accept my first award with two other trans people of color who are so deeply in love.”
“That’s the trans Jay-Z and Beyonce,” Presley quipped as Aura and Zea left the stage. “I fucking love them. I kind of want to get in the middle of that!”
The Best BBW Performer category was presented by Emily Adaire and PF Bhangs. The winner was Mini D, who accepted via video.
The TS Virtual Lovers Model of the Year award was presented by Kelly Quell to blonde stunner Izzy Wilde, in a revealing, barely-there black ensemble.
Wilde gave a moving speech revealing that in six months she is scheduled to have bottom surgery, and shared her hopes and fears with the supportive crowd in a striking moment of public vulnerability.
The annual Transcendence Award was presented by sponsor Dr. Sinclair and Yasmin Lee. Dr. Sinclair gave an introduction revealing “secrets” about Domino Presley, Foxxy and members of the Grooby team — namely, their multifaceted works of charity and public engagement. In keeping with the theme of the Transcendence Award, which recognizes well-rounded industry figures, Dr. Sinclair named Shiri Allwood this year’s winner.
Lee offered, “You’re not just trans, you’re not just an adult performer. You’re first and foremost a human being existing in a world where sometimes you’re not even welcome, but you’re out there to do good and you’re out there to represent this community in the most uplifting way. I admire you — and by definition, you are transcending.”
Allwood returned onstage and thanked the sponsor for the “really great message.”
The Chaturbate Trans Broadcaster of the Year award was presented by Aura and Zeal. The winner was Danni Daniels, in a skintight green gown, who said in her acceptance speech, “In this industry, you can be as conservative as you want, and live a conservative life.”
The Best Boy/Girl Scene award was presented by Nikki Vicious and Ava Holt to Jade Venus and Roman Todd for Transsensual’s “My TS Stepsister 8.”
“I wasn’t expecting to win this!” said Venus, resplendent in burgundy Honey Birdette lingerie. “But thank you Grooby and thank you Ricky Greenwood for directing this.”
PornCrush’s Austin King and Cloudy Vi presented the award for Best Threesome/Moresome Scene to the first scene of GenderX’s “Lesbians Love Trans,” co-starring Kasey Kei, Brittney Kade and Aliya Brynn. Kei and Kade received the award.
The evening’s Ms. Unique award, “to celebrate models who stand out from the crowd,” was presented by Shiny and Angela Longcock to Ana Andrews, who took the stage in a short, low-cut black velvet gown.
Andrews extended her thanks to a brief litany of loved ones and colleagues.
“My wonderful, supportive partner, Andy,” she said. “My wonderful, supportive wife, Nicola — she’s my everything! — Monique Miles, Kira Noir and every Black trans performer in this crowd.”
Wicked Sensual Care’s Jessica Drake introduced the two Lifetime Achievement Awards, for performance and for behind-the-scenes work, to recipients Aubrey Kate and Aiden Starr.
“I would like to present this award to a very good friend of mine who arguably, maybe not ‘started’ my career but she sent it into orbit — that would be Miss Aubrey Kate,” said Starr.
Kate, who is currently running management company Transcending, said, “Thank you so much to everybody in this room. I haven’t really filmed in a while professionally, but I started Transcending and I’m trying to help all my trans sisters out there make as much money as we can.”
Starr reveled in the evening’s vibe at the Avalon.
“Usually trans people are not the majority but tonight they are!” she exulted. “And that’s how I want to live every day for the rest of my life.”
Starr also thanked Kate for her career direction.
“I was just a fucking porn director before you, and then you got a contract with Evil Angel and we did a showcase movie, which had never been done on that scale before, and now I’ve done soooooo many showcase movies with trans women, and I hope I get to do so many more!”
The Grooby Girl of the Year trophy was presented by Grooby’s Chris Epic and Buddy Wood to Amanda Riley, who wore a black silk slip dress. The Best Non-Trans Female Performer, presented by Erica Cherry and Rodrigo Amor, was a tie between enbee performer Sydney Screams and Robin Coffins, sporting her vampire goth best.
“Fuck yeah, enbees!” said Screams, celebrating nonbinary visibility.
A moved Coffins added, “I’m so honored to share this with you,” and thanked wife Sarina Havok. “Without her, I wouldn’t be here. The reason that I have focused my entire career on the trans industry was because my wife told me how, growing up, when she went to the therapist, they told her that she could not be trans because she was into women. And I just wanted to flood the internet with as much trans lesbian porn as I fucking could. I love you, baby, and I’m gay as fuck for you!”
Kalli Grace and Paradise presented the Best Non-Trans Male Performer award to Steve Rickz, who accepted via video. The Best Non-U.S. Performer award — presented by the glamorous trio of Jade Venus, Tori Easton and the always hyperstylish Ariel Demure — went to Canadian performer Angellica Good.
“I am from a really small town originally, on the east coast of Canada,” Good said. “To have come this far in this amazing industry just means the world to me. I’d like to thank my amazing family back home and my best friend, Brittney Kade, and also my amazing management team, Transcending with Aubrey Kate.”
Representing the evening’s sponsor, Pornhub, Foxxy and Sana presented the Pornhub Model of the Year award to Austin Spears. The Fan Choice Award was presented by Justice and Spencer Bradley to Ariel Demure, who thanked Erika from The Rub PR and everyone in her camp.
The Best Transmasc Performer award was presented by Nikki Sequoia and Jake Waters to Jaq Quicksilver, who recently relocated to Amsterdam and sent a video from there.
“Give it up for trans men,” said Presley. “You want a real gentleman? Get yourself a trans man. I have one!”
The prestigious Best New Face award was presented by Jasmine Lotus and Dillon Diaz to rising star Eros Orisha.
“I just want to thank my mom and my dad for loving me so much and so unconditionally through my transition and my career,” said a visibly moved Orisha. “I can’t thank them enough. They are my lifeline. And thank you so much to all my peers. Everyone is so nice — I love everybody here!”
The Best Solo Model award, sponsored by Bad Dragon, was presented by the ebullient duo of Jessy Dubai and Lindsey Banks. The winner was Rachael Belle, in striking blue, who thanked all the people who have been in her corner “from the very start.”
“I love all of you,” she said. “This community is the best, and this just made my whole year.”
The final award of the evening, for Best Hardcore Performer, was presented by Andre Stone and Crystal Thayer. The winner was the statuesque Zariah Aura, who joined the hallowed pantheon of trans performers who have received the TEAs’ top accolade.
“I have never had as much attention or as much affirmation,” Aura confessed to an enraptured crowd. “In anything I’ve ever done, I have worked my ass off. The last four months of my life have been some of the toughest, and I can’t believe I’m accepting this award. This means so much to me.”
Mistress of Ceremonies Domino Presley then wrapped up the evening by once again thanking Steven Grooby and the rest of the Grooby team, especially Kristel Penn, for yet another flawless celebration of trans adult excellence.
