Laverne Cox, a transgender advocate and an actress on the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, spoke at UNT in April about how race, class and gender shaped her experience as a transgender woman.

The lecture, presented by UNT's Fine Arts Series, was part of her ongoing series titled "Ain't I a Woman: My Journey to Womanhood." She spoke of overcoming challenges as she grew up in Mobile, Ala., went to college in New York to pursue a career in acting and found the courage to become the woman she always knew she was.

Cox told the audience that these challenges taught her how to move beyond gender expectations and live a more authentic life. This lesson, in turn, led her to a successful career as an actress and activist.

Today, she's the first transgender woman to produce and star in her own television show, TRANSForm Me; appear on the cover of Time Magazine; and be nominated for an Emmy, for her role on Orange is the New Black.