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She made history before the cameras even started rolling. When Amiyah Scott was announced as a cast member of The Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2015, she became the first transgender woman ever cast in the entire Real Housewives franchise, a watershed moment for LGBTQ+ representation on mainstream American television.
Born Arthur Scott on January 11, 1988, in Manhattan and raised in New Orleans, Scott is an actress, model, author, motivational speaker, dancer, and beauty entrepreneur. This complete Amiyah Scott biography covers her birth name, early life, career in movies and TV shows, her book Memoirs of a Mermaid, her personal life and partner history, her net worth, and where she is now in 2026.
Early Life and Background
Amiyah Scott was born Arthur Scott on January 11, 1988, in Manhattan, New York City. She was raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a household she has described as loving and supportive. Her mother, whom she has called her “number one supporter and twin,” played a crucial role in her eventual acceptance and self-actualization.
From the earliest age, Scott knew she was different. In her own words, she felt “trapped in the wrong body” her entire life, even before she had the language to articulate it. New Orleans, with its rich culture, music, and long history of fluid gender expression, shaped her artistic sensibility and gave her a vibrant community to draw from.
As an adolescent, she endured severe bullying because of her transgender identity. The cruelty she faced from peers pushed her toward independence far earlier than most. At just 15 years old, she moved out of her parents’ home to live authentically and explore opportunities on her own terms, a decision that required extraordinary courage for a teenager.
She began her physical transition at 15 with partial surgery and completed her full transition at 17. She has spoken candidly about this timeline, saying: “My parents were supportive, and I was lucky to have parents that were. I had my surgery at 17, but I wish I could’ve had it sooner.”
Career Beginnings
After leaving home, Scott immersed herself in two worlds that would define her rise: the ballroom scene and social media.
The LGBT ball community, a primarily Black and Latino underground culture built around performance, fashion, and self-expression, became Scott’s proving ground. By age 17, she was dominating ballroom competitions in Atlanta and earning a reputation as one of the most magnetic performers on the circuit. Today she is recognized as the overall mother of Haus of Maison Margiela, a coveted title within the ballroom hierarchy.
Her ballroom performances began circulating on YouTube, introducing her talent to a wider audience. Then came Instagram. A single before-and-after photo, showing her younger self, styled as male, alongside her fully transitioned present self, went viral and made her “Insta-famous” almost overnight.
She amassed over 1.6 million Instagram followers, earning her the title “King Amiyah” and establishing her as one of the first transgender women to build a massive social media following.
Before television came calling, she worked as a makeup artist, event host, and beauty guru, building an entrepreneurial foundation that would later fuel her beauty brand.
Major Career Highlights
The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Season 8 (2015)
In 2015, Bravo announced that Amiyah Scott would join the eighth season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She would replace departing cast member NeNe Leakes. The announcement made national headlines. Audiences immediately celebrated Scott as a historic first. She became the first transgender woman to join the Real Housewives franchise across all its cities.
She filmed with the cast for approximately four weeks. However, she ultimately left the show before her scenes aired. Scott has been direct about why: she felt the producers wanted to exploit her transgender identity rather than show her as a full, multidimensional person. She later said, “I enjoyed filming and I enjoyed the ladies. What is meant for you is for YOU! Obviously, that wasn’t for me.” Bravo producers offered a different account, but Scott’s version resonated loudly with her fans and the LGBTQ+ community.
Star on Fox (2016–2019)
Shortly after departing RHOA, director Lee Daniels, who discovered Scott through her social media presence, cast her in his musical drama series Star, which premiered on Fox on December 14, 2016.
Scott played Cotton Brown, a transgender woman and the daughter of Carlotta Brown, played by Queen Latifah. The role was a landmark: Scott became only the third openly transgender actor to play a transgender character in a U.S. scripted drama series, following Laverne Cox and Jamie Clayton.
She appeared in 48 episodes throughout the show’s three seasons. The series ended on May 10, 2019, following its cancellation. Her portrayal of Cotton earned praise for its depth, authenticity, and emotional complexity. For many viewers, especially young transgender women of color, she brought meaningful representation to prime-time television for the first time.
Memoirs of a Mermaid, The Book (2019)
On March 31, 2019, Amiyah Scott published her memoir, Memoirs of a Mermaid. The book is a raw, unflinching account of her life, covering her transition, bullying, sex, domestic violence, financial struggles, family feuds, and failed relationships.
Her stated goal with the memoir was to “inspire others to discover their truth and pursue it.” It remains available on Amazon and stands as one of the most candid first-person accounts of the transgender experience in popular literature.
Amiyah Beauty (2019–Present)
In 2019, Scott launched her own beauty line, Amiyah Beauty, in partnership with Rival World, a lifestyle and beauty e-commerce platform. The debut product was a signature lip gloss. Scott described it as “a galaxy, slightly iridescent, clear but with a special shine.” The line reflects her lifelong passion for cosmetics and her dedication to inclusive beauty. She creates products that everyone can wear and love.
Operation: Aunties (2025)
Scott’s most recent film credit, Operation: Aunties (2025), marks her ongoing presence in front of the camera even as her advocacy work continues to expand. Her filmography also includes the 2021 film Sugar Baby.
She also appeared as a guest judge on HBO Max’s Legendary, a ballroom competition series, bringing her full-circle back to the underground culture that first made her famous.
Amiyah Scott as a Public Speaker
Alongside her entertainment career, Amiyah Scott has built a reputation as a powerful motivational speaker and activist, with a specific focus on uplifting transgender women of color.
Her speaking engagements focus on three core themes:
- Anti-bullying, drawing on her own experience of severe adolescent bullying
- Self-esteem and self-worth, particularly for LGBTQ+ youth and transgender individuals
- Self-acceptance and authentic identity, living openly and unapologetically
At a GLAAD event in Atlanta, GLAAD President Sarah Kate Ellis recognized Scott with the organization’s prestigious Rising Star Award in 2018, saying that Scott “uses her voice to uplift transgender women of color and educate fans everywhere about transgender people and issues.”
She has also been vocal on political platforms, criticizing policies targeting the transgender community alongside prominent activists like Laverne Cox and Janet Mock. Her willingness to speak truth to power, even at personal risk, makes her a particularly compelling keynote presence.
Amiyah Scott Net Worth 2026
Amiyah Scott’s estimated net worth in 2026 is approximately $1.5 million, built across a diverse range of income streams over more than a decade in the public eye.
Her primary income sources include:
- Television acting, 48 episodes of Star on Fox (2016–2019), Real Housewives of Atlanta, Legendary (HBO Max), and Operation: Aunties (2025)
- Modeling, fashion campaigns, runway appearances, and brand partnerships championing diversity and inclusion
- Instagram Sponsorships: With over 1.6 million followers, Justin Baldoni can reportedly earn at least $15,000 per sponsored post.
- Amiyah Beauty, her beauty line with RivalWorld
- Book sales, Memoirs of a Mermaid (2019), sold on Amazon
- Event hosting and motivational speaking, keynote fees from campus and corporate engagements
- Makeup artistry, the career that preceded her TV fame
Scott has never chased eight-figure Hollywood deals. Instead, she built her wealth through consistent work across multiple platforms. As an entrepreneur and entertainer, she grew her audience from the early days of social media.
Personal Life
Amiyah Scott has maintained significant privacy around her romantic life, though pieces of her relationship history have surfaced publicly.
Is Amiyah Scott married? No. As of 2026, there is no public record of her ever having been married. She has no publicly confirmed husband or long-term partner.
Does Amiyah Scott have children? No children have been publicly confirmed.
Her most publicized romantic link was with Kellon Deryck, a Boston-based hairstylist. The two became connected in 2015 while she filmed RHOA. Multiple sources later claimed that they staged the relationship to make her appear more “interesting” to producers. Deryck has since announced his engagement to another partner.
Rumours have linked Scott to Micah Dixon, a social media personality and model. However, neither has publicly confirmed their relationship. Scott has also spoken vaguely about her past encounters. She stated: “I’ve had a few encounters with high-profile men and that’s all that I’m going to say. I won’t ever name them.”
During her sobriety journey, Scott made a pivotal personal decision on October 11, 2023. She committed to staying sober for a year and later called it “the best decision she’s ever made.” She credits this choice with helping her rediscover herself and become more self-aware and grounded.
Her faith stems from Christianity, and her mother remains her closest confidante. She is also an avid Pokémon fan and has cherished the franchise since childhood. Scott lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where she began her ballroom career and continues to build her professional and social life.
Amiyah Scott Best Quotes
On living authentically:
“You get one life, and it’s yours to live, not society’s, your parents’ or [anyone else’s] decision to tell you how you should live.”, Her defining philosophy on identity, widely shared across social media.
On her existence and visibility:
“We are here; we’ve always been here, and we’ll always be here; we exist.”, Said while accepting the Rising Star Award at the GLAAD Awards in 2018, one of her most celebrated public statements.
On leaving The Real Housewives of Atlanta:
“I enjoyed filming and I enjoyed the ladies. “What belongs to you will always find its way to you!” Obviously, that wasn’t for me.”, Her measured but pointed explanation for her departure from Bravo’s flagship reality series.
On evolving identity:
“As a society, we’re pushed to make decisions and stick to them from a young age… What I wanted at 15 might not be what I want at 25 or 35. We can switch careers and locations as many times as we like, it just means we’re evolving, and it’s okay to transition.”, From her 2024 interview with MEFeater, reflecting on growth and change.
On her childhood and knowing she was different:
“I knew that I was different my entire life. When you’re younger, you don’t always have enough information to define your identity. However, I always felt like I was trapped in the wrong body.” In the same MEFeater interview, she spoke openly about her earliest experiences with gender identity.
On her beauty line:
“I’ve always loved beauty, and I want my first product to feel special and inclusive. I want everyone to enjoy and wear it with confidence.” – On launching Amiyah Beauty with RivalWorld in 2019.
On her relationship with her mother:
“My mom and I are best friends. She’s my number one supporter and twin, so she had no problem accepting my identity.”, Revealing the family dynamic that grounded her during the most difficult years of her transition.
On her sobriety:
Committing to a year of sobriety on October 11, 2023, Scott described the decision as transformative, crediting it with her renewed confidence, clarity, and what she called her “powerful re-emergence” as the Phoenix.
Frequently Asked Questions
Amiyah Scott’s birth name is Arthur Scott. She was born on January 11, 1988, in Manhattan, New York City. She grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana. Amiyah began her gender transition at age 15 and completed it by age 17. During this journey, she adopted the name Amiyah Scott. She has used this name throughout her entertainment and advocacy career.
Amiyah Scott has never been married and has no publicly confirmed husband as of 2026. She was linked romantically to hairstylist Kellon Deryck in 2015, though that relationship was later reported to be staged for her Real Housewives of Atlanta filming. She has also been connected to social media personality Micah Dixon. Scott is currently believed to be single and has maintained significant privacy around her romantic life.
Yes, Amiyah Scott is alive and active as of 2026. She continues to work in entertainment, advocacy, and the ballroom community. Her most recent film credit is Operation: Aunties (2025). She remains vocal on social media, where she has over 1.6 million Instagram followers, and continues her work as a motivational speaker and transgender rights activist. Her 2023 commitment to sobriety marked a significant personal turning point, and she has spoken publicly about her ongoing journey.
Amiyah Scott’s book, Memoirs of a Mermaid, published on March 31, 2019, is a personal memoir recounting her life story. It covers her gender transition, experiences with bullying, domestic violence, financial struggles, family dynamics, and failed relationships. The book is raw and candid, with Scott’s stated goal being to inspire readers, especially transgender individuals, to discover and pursue their own truth. It is available on Amazon.
Amiyah Scott is best known for playing Cotton Brown on Fox’s musical drama Star (2016–2019), appearing in 48 episodes across three seasons alongside Queen Latifah. She also appeared in the eighth season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta (2015) as the franchise’s first-ever transgender cast member. Her film credits include Sugar Baby (2021) and Operation: Aunties (2025). She was also a guest judge on HBO Max’s ballroom competition series Legendary.
Conclusion
From a teenage girl dominating ballrooms in Atlanta to a GLAAD award honouree, Fox primetime actress, published author, and motivational speaker, the Amiyah Scott biography is a story of radical self-determination. She has never waited for Hollywood to create a space for her; she carved it out herself.
At 38 years old in 2026, with an estimated net worth of $1.5 million, a landmark role in Star, a published memoir, a beauty line, and an ongoing mission to amplify transgender voices, Amiyah Scott is still very much in her chapter. Her story is proof that living authentically is both the hardest and most powerful thing a person can do.
In the news
Sources
- Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
- IMDb imdb.com
- Rotten Tomatoes rottentomatoes.com
