Video: Qween Jean on Her Tony Win for Costume Design for CATS: The Jellicle Ball

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Qween Jean has made history, becoming the first openly trans person to win in her category.

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Earlier tonight at the 79th Annual Tony Awards, Qween Jean took home a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on CATS: The Jellicle Ball . After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, she checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share her initial reaction!

With this award Qween Jean has made history, becoming the first openly trans person to win in her category. The designer was also nominated for Best Costume Design of a Play for her work on Liberation.

Her other credits include Macbeth in Stride, Our Dear Dead Drug Lord, Siblings Play, Amen Corner, Rags Parkland, Good Grief, Othello, Wig Out! Mary Antionette, Little Shop of Horrors, and What to Send Up, When it Goes Down. Jean is also the founder of Black Trans Liberation, an organization that provides weekly fellowship, food, groceries and housing resources for the Transgender and Gender Nonconforming community. She is also the author of Revolution Is Love.

Based on T.S. Eliot ’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber ’s worldwide phenomenon CATS is reimagined in a production that smashed records, won awards and left New York City purring. And now CATS: The Jellicle Ball ascends to Broadway in a kaleidoscope of glittering spectacle, iconic music and electrifying ballroom choreography. Broadway meets Runway in the fiercest event of the season, directed by Obie Award winners Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch , with choreography by Obie Award winners and New York City Ballroom icons Omari Wiles (House of NiNa Oricci) and Arturo Lyons (House of Miyake-Mugler).

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)

Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons took home the Tony Award for Best Choreography. After leaving the stage at Radio City Music Hall, they checked in with BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge to share their initial reaction!

In the Tony Awards press room, choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons teased they want to do a revival of the musical 'Fame' next.

The trailblazing artist took home the Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical.Qween Jean, who won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball, has become the first openly trans person to win in her category.

On June 3, the Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) hosted a special benefit celebration honoring Andrew Lloyd Webber and the acclaimed production of Cats: The Jellicle Ball. Check out photos from the event.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Video-Qween-Jean-Reacts-to-Tony-Win-For-Best-Costume-Design-of-a-Musical-For-CATS-THE-JELLICLE-BALL-20260607)._