Laverne Cox Makes History As Cosmopolitan's First Ever Transgender Cover Girl

Actress, producer and LGBT activist Laverne Cox just made history as the first-ever transgender woman to grace the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine for the February 2018 edition.

This month's cover of Cosmopolitan South Africa is set to showcase an empowered Cox wearing a swimsuit. On the cover, her feature will center on an inspiring message for the mostly-young female readers: "The Truth Will Set You Free."

"Trans women deserve to be loved out in the open and in the light," she said in an interview posted by Cosmopolitan South Africa to Twitter on Monday. "Let go of fear and live a fun, fearless life. If I can do it, you can do it."

During the interview, she said she'd like to be stuck in an elevator with Oprah Winfrey and her celebrity crush is Canadian rapper Drake. Cox added that her most treasured possession is an Emmy Award.

"As a black transgender woman, I've often been kept a secret by the men I've dated," Cox said, when asked about the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for her. "So, when my ex-boyfriend introduced me to his dad, and invited me to spend Hanukkah with him and his family, it was the most special thing ever."

The Orange Is The New Black star posted a picture of the magazine cover with the hashtag, "#NewProfPic" on Sunday.

She's the cover girl of the magazine's #SayYesToLove issue, which features 17 LGBT advocates alongside Cox, including YouTube vlogger Glow Mamiii and musicians Desire Marea and Fela Gucci.

The point behind the special issue is to explore "the need for increasing visibility with regards to various forms of gender identity and sexuality," according to the magazine's publisher.

"Love is inclusive and does not discriminate," Fashion Editor Cleo Marcopoulos said in a statement. "Our generation has been dubbed the 'gender-fluid' generation for a reason. We're defying the binary and sexual norms that are alienating for so many."