Domaine Javier

Domaine Javier is a Philippine-born[3] actress, nurse, and TV personality. She came to prominence after appearing on the MTV show True Life and being expelled by and suing California Baptist University over her right to study nursing there as a transgender woman.

Domaine Javier
Javier in October 2020
Born1992 or 1993 (age 31–32)[1]
Alma materRiverside City College, Western Governors University[2]
Occupation(s)Actress, tv personality, nurse
Years active2011–present

Early life and education

Javier is of Filipina, Caucasian, Spanish, Pacific Islander, Native American, and Chinese heritage, but mostly identifies as Filipina.[4][2] She has publicly identified as female since she was 13,[5][6] and graduated valedictorian from high school despite bullying.[7] She attended Riverside City College, where she was chosen Homecoming queen in 2010.[7][8] In 2011, she was to have transferred in the fall to California Baptist University, also in Riverside, to study nursing on academic and music scholarships, when an April episode of the MTV reality series True Life based on a year in her life[9] led the university to accuse her of fraud for stating her gender as female on her application; she was suspended and then expelled.[5][6][7][10][11] She continued her studies at Riverside City College[12] and became a registered nurse.[8] In 2013, she received the prestigious Kaiser Permanente Nursing Scholarship Award via eQuality Scholarship Collaborative for her service to the LGBTQ+ community.[13] In 2013 she sued the university for unlawful discrimination under the California Unruh Civil Rights Act and breach of contract;[10][11][14][15] in July 2014 a judge ruled that as a private religious institution, the college was entitled to exclude transgender people from in-person classes, but that it must not discriminate against them in its for-profit businesses and services open to the public, including on-line classes, and awarded her $4,000 in damages plus costs; the breach of contract suit was rejected on procedural grounds.[12][16]

In addition to multiple nursing college degrees, Javier has a total of seven college degrees in various fields, including Fine and Applied Arts with emphasis on Performing Arts; Humanities, Philosophy, & Arts; Social and Behavioral Studies; and Math & Science.[2]

In November 2022, Javier was Congressionally-recognized by the United States House of Representatives for her outstanding achievements and contributions to the community.[17]

Performing career

In November 2011, Javier appeared in an edition of Anderson Cooper's talk show, Anderson Live, on transgender youth.[18][19]

In June 2020, she was a contestant in the 20th season of Worst Cooks in America, the first openly transgender woman to appear on the Food Network. Under the mentorship of Chef Anne Burrell, Javier finished at 5th place.[8][20] She returned in 2021 in the companion series Worst Cooks in America: Dirty Dishes where favorite former recruits watch past episodes of the show and react to them.[21] She also competed on the first-ever all-stars season of Worst Cooks in America titled "Best Of The Worst," where fan-favorite recruits from past seasons returned for another shot at redemption. The show premiered on April 25, 2021, and concluded on May 30, 2021. Javier finished as the finalist for Chef Michael Symon's Blue Team and ultimately placed as the runner-up.[22][23]

As an actress, she appeared in a 2013 episode of Adam Devine's House Party titled "Front Yard Comedy"[24][better source needed] and was cast as Sü, the lead character in The Switch, a comedy series that became the first television series produced and directed by a transgender person and with all transgender roles played by transgender actors; because it was a Canadian production that requires certain rules and regulations, the role eventually had to be recast.[4][25][26]

She has also played small roles in a number of other TV series and feature films, including the 2015 horror short Lucid Dark.[27]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2014Captain America: The Winter SoldierER NurseFeature film
2015Lucid Dark[27]Nurse BarnesShort film
2017DismissedHigh School TeacherFeature film
2023Another Day in America[28]Starling "Star" SmithFeature Film (Post-Prod)

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011True Life[9]HerselfEpisode: "I'm Passing as Someone I'm Not"
2011Anderson Live[18][19]HerselfEpisode: "Children & Teens Trapped in the Wrong Body"
2012True LifeHerselfEpisode: "Then and Now"
2013True LifeHerselfEpisode: "True Life's Greatest Moments Ever"
2013Adam DeVine's House Party[24]Annie's BestieEpisode: "Front Yard Comedy"
2014ParenthoodFrat GirlEpisode: "The Enchanting Mr. Knight"
2014Mike & MollyBar PatronEpisode: "Rich Man, Poor Girl"
2014RevengeOpera AttendeeEpisode: "Disgrace"
2014PerceptionNurse2 episodes
2014The BridgePrison NurseEpisode: "The Acorn"
2016Angie TribecaLibrary PatronEpisode: "Commissioner Bigfish"
2016The SwitchTeaser Pilot[25][26]
2017Game ShakersWedding GuestEpisode: "Wedding Shower of Doom"
2020Worst Cooks in America[8][20]Herself5 episodes (5th place)
2021Worst Cooks in America: Dirty Dishes[21]Herself8 episodes
2021Worst Cooks in America: Best of the Worst[22]Herself6 episodes (Runner-up)[23]
2022KenanDoctorEpisode: "Destroying Miami"

References