Transcendent Hollywood Evening: The TEAs Awards Show Gives a Community Their Flowers

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — It is now a yearly tradition: as Winter gives way to Spring, the most glamorous entertainers and movers and shakers in the trans community of the adult industry gather at the Avalon, in the storied heart of Hollywood and Vine, to celebrate the year’s achievements at the Trans Erotica Awards (TEA), presented this year by Pornhub.

Quite serendipitously, the evening of the 2024 edition of the TEAs on Sunday coincided with that other Hollywood awards event for mostly cis entertainers: the Oscars were being held a few blocks up Hollywood Blvd. So, as the limos carried Tinseltown royalty up and down Vine St., the world’s top celebrities in non-sex acting and filmmaking would have witnessed a parade of the world’s top trans celebrities in adult performance lining up for red carpet interviews with Pornhub-endorsed legends Foxxy and Natassia Dreams.

Entering the venue, the stars were received by Lindsey “Banksie” Banks, gift-wrapped in pink satin — bow and all — creating even more viral content starring the evening’s on-point fashions.

Following drinks — including a VIP lounge — in the historic Hollywood venue, the show itself kicked off with a performance by superstar trans pop group The Gurls, led by the evening’s now-traditional Mistress of Ceremony Domino Presley, under her ballroom royalty name Domino Balenciaga. Presley, Alissah and Raquel star debuted as The Gurls during the 2022 TEAs, returned for a triumphal performance last year and went for the trifecta on Sunday with a rendition of one of their crowd-pumping dance singles, preceded by Presley — accompanied by and a jazz pianist and a cabaret dance trio — belting a Jessica-Rabittastic version of the standard “Why Don’t You Do Right.”

Foxxy and Natassia Dreams came onstage to introduce the first presenters Apollo Moon and Nyxi Leon, who introduced  the first award of the evening for Best DVD, sponsored by Adult Empire. The winner was “Slut Fantasies Vol. 2” by TGirls Hookup.

The bestowing of that first award gave Presley the chance to change into the first of two Mistress of Ceremonies outfits for the evening, a black dress with dramatic slits that showcased her toned legs in thigh-high leather boots.

“Apparently, I’m not supposed to make fun of the cisgender people that much this year,” Presley playfully teased. “But if Dave Chappelle has three fucking Netflix specials making fun of us, y’all can take a fucking joke!”

Presley demanded the crowd take their phones out, flashes on, to document her stage grandeur, before introducing the next presenters, Eva Maxim, with a futuristic metallic mouth mask, and Aubrey Kate, in hair-to-gown pink. They announced the winner for Best Scene Producer, Ricky Greenwood, the most casual of the evening in a t-shirt and jeans. Kate then held the microphone at crotch-level, and Greenwood was very game to deliver his speech into the impromptu phallus.

“Thank you everybody for all your work,” Greenwood told the assembled top trans talent in the crowd. “I really appreciate this award because it means something special to me. When I came into the business many years ago, they asked me what type of scene I wanted to direct and I told them ‘I wanna direct trans scenes.’ And it’s really the most fun I have any time I shoot trans scenes!”

The next award, for Best Industry Professional, was bestowed on Takedown Piracy’s Nate Glass, preceded by a moving introduction by his wife and partner Reba Rocket.

“After 25 years being in this business, you start to think you’re just going to be a background guy,” Glass said. “So to get this recognition is really awesome, and to get with all of you here is incredibly awesome. There’s literally no adult award show that I would rather get this recognition from than this one right here.” Glass thanked the Grooby team, his wife and industry sociologist Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals.

The Streamate Best Cam Performer award was presented by Daisy Taylor and Megan Mistakes to blonde stunner Julia Jane, who wore a striking red gown, and thanked her hormone doctor, her face doctor and her past self, “for not committing suicide.”

A specially moving moment came next, when Natassia Dreams and Ana Foxxx presented Grooby’s Black-Tgirls Model of the Year award to an awestruck Leilani Li, who received a standing ovation as Dreams and Foxxx compelled to crowd to celebrate Black excellence and to give Li her flowers.

“It’s really hard to be a Black performer in the porn industry,” Dreams said in her introduction “It’s very hard. And it’s great to even just be recognized, because we have to show up 10 times harder than everybody else to get a percentage of what everybody else gets. We must give it up for the Black trans performers. We’re really happy and so honored to present this award to someone who really deserves this — she’s been working her ass off since day one.”

Li thanked Grooby’s Buddy Wood and Steven Grooby for giving her “a platform when there was no platform many years ago” and Erika Icon from the Rub PR.

“And last, but definitely not least, and actually the most important, I would like to thank all of my peers that have embraced me,” Li concluded.

Kira Noir  and Colby Jansen presented the Best Internet Personality, sponsored by Nelson Thane Unlimited, to Emma Rose, who received it in a Classic Hollywood red gown.

“I just wanted to win this one so bad because I’ve been working so hard,” Rose enthused, before thanking her team.

Keith Eros and Goddess Tangent presented the award for Best Content Creator to redheaded sensation Shiri Allwood, who took to the stage in pantless stockings.

“I wasn’t expecting to win this, and it’s so great to be back here after three years of not being here,” Allwood said. “I missed you all.”

Even though the award is for content creators, she added, “I can’t do it alone, so thank you to my partner Nicko Wolfe for always being willing to take pictures of my butthole taking.” Allwood also thanked her team and her cats.

The Best VR Scene award was presented by Rick Fantana and Valeria Atreides to Kasey Kei and Spencer Bradley for VRB Trans’ “My Slutty Babysitter.”

“Bitch, we did this,” Kei beamed at Bradley. “It was our first scene together and it was so organic,” Bradley retorted. “We had crazy chemistry!” Kei added, before thanking scene partner Pierce Paris.

GenderX’ Jim Powers and Deacon awarded the GenderX Films Model of the Year to Brittney Kade, in a lime-green Tinkerbell look that was marveled at by many in the crowd.

Powers and Deacon explained that Kade epitomized a full-package performer “who is a great model, who does everything, who is versatile, who shows up on time, who’s responsible and reliable, who does good acting and who is absolutely gorgeous and does a great sex scene.”

Kade thanked the company and the directors, her agent Riley from Hussie for taking her on as their first trans performer and “every performer out there who has taken me in and supported me from the beginning.”

TGirl Nights’ Jamie Jameson and Ember Fiera presented the Best Girl/Girl Scene award to Gracie Jane and Leilani Li for “Hot Pink Baddies.” 

Grooby’s Radius Dark and Moe Scoville presented the Producer’s Choice award to Lianna Lawson, with Shiri Allwood accepting on her behalf.

Kasey Kei and Khloe Kay, in virtually matching black and red gowns, presented the Best Transmasc Scene award to Nicky Zea, Zeke Nix and Zariah Aura for Transnificent’s “Nicky and Zeke Share Zariah.”

Aura explained how thrilled it was to win with her “two best boys, my amazing fiancé Nicky Zea and the super hot Zeke Nix.” Zea thanked Niki Sequoia for “fighting trans boy every single day. You are the one, Niki, that’s why we have new categories, that’s why we’re being respected and being honored, so thank you!”

“I told myself if I win something, I have to tell my mom this year,” Nix added to the audience’s cheers. “I started making content and producing because I didn’t feel like I was seeing a lot of other Black two-spirit or Black trans masculine performers, so it is an honor to be able to accept my first award with two other trans people of color who are so deeply in love.”

“That’s the trans Jay-Z and Beyonce — I fucking love them… I kind of wanna get in the middle of that,” Domino quipped as Aura and Zea left the stage.

The Best BBW Performer category was presented by Emily Adaire and PF Bhangs. The winner was Mini D, who accepted via video.

The TS Virtual Lovers Model of the Year award was presented by Kelly Quell to blonde stunner Izzy Wilde, in a revealing, barely-there black ensemble.

Wilde gave a moving speech revealing that in six months she was scheduled to have bottom surgery as part of her transition, and she shared her hopes and fears with the supportive crowd, in a striking moment of public vulnerability.

The annual Transcendence Award was presented by sponsor Dr. Sinclair and Yasmin Lee. Dr. Sinclair gave an introduction revealing “secrets” of Domino Presley, Foxxy and members of the Grooby team, disclosing their multifaceted works of charity and public engagement. In keeping with the theme of the Transcendence Award, which rewards well-rounded industry figures, Dr. Sinclair named Shiri Allwood this year’s winner.

“You’re not just trans, you’re not just adult performers,” added Lee. “But you’re first and foremost a human being existing in a world where sometimes you’re not even welcome, but you’re out there to do good and you’re out there to represent this community in the most uplifting way. I admire you — and by definition you are transcending.”

Allwood returned onstage and thanked the sponsor for the “really great message.”

The Chaturbate Trans Broadcaster of the Year award was presented by Zariah Aura and Nicky Zeal. The winner was Danni Daniels, in a skintight green gown, who gave an acceptance speech saying “being in this industry you can be as conservative as you want, and live a conservative life.”

The Best Boy/Girl Scene award was presented by Nikki Vicious and Ava Holt to Jade Venus and Roman Todd for Transsensual’s “My TS Stepsister 8.” “I wasn’t expecting to win this,” said Venus, in Burgundy Honey Birdette lingerie. “But thank you Grooby and thank you Ricky Greenwood for directing this.”

PornCrush’s Austin King and Cloudy Vi presented the award for Best Threesome/Moresome Scene to the first scene of GenderX’s “Lesbians Love Trans,” co-starring Kasey Kei, Brittney Kade and Aliya Brynn. Kei and Kade received the award.

The evening’s Ms. Unique award, “to celebrate models who stand out from the crowd,” was presented by Shiny and Angela Longcock to Ana Andrews, who took the stage in a low-cut black velvet short gown.

Andrews thanked “my wonderful supportive partner Andy, my wonderful supportive wife Nicola — she’s my everything — Monique Miles, Kira Noir and every Black trans performer in this crowd!”

Wicked Sensual Care’s Jessica Drake introduced the two Lifetime Achievement Awards, for performance and for behind the scenes work, alongside Aubrey Kate and Aiden Starr, who were the recipients of the awards.

“I would like to present this award to a very good friend of mine who arguably, maybe not started my career, but she sent it into orbit — that would be Miss Aubrey Kate,” said Starr.

“I thank you so much to everybody in this room,” said Kate, who is currently running the management company Transcending. “I probably worked with a lot of you guys. And I haven’t really filmed in a while professionally, but I started Transcending and I’m trying to help all my trans sisters out there make as much money as we can.”

Starr remarked on how nice it was to be at the Avalon. “It’s really fucking nice because usually trans people are not the majority but tonight they are! And that’s how I want to live every day for the rest of my life.” Starr also thanked Kate for her career direction. “I was just a fucking porn director before you, and then you got to contract with Evil Angel and then we did a showcase movie, which had never been done on that scale before, and now I’ve done soooooo many showcase movies with trans women, and I hope I get to do so many more!”

The  Grooby Girl of the Year was presented by Grooby’s Chris Epic  and Buddy Wood to Amanda Riley, who wore a black silk slip dress. The Best Non-Trans Female Performer, presented by Erica Cherry and Rodrigo Amor, was a tie between enbee performer Sydney Screams and Robin Coffins, wearing her vampire goth best.

“Fuck yeah, enbees,” said Screams, celebrating the visibility in the win. “I’m so honored to share this with you,” added a moved Coffins, who thanked wife Sarina Havok. “Without her, I wouldn’t be here. The reason that I have focused my entire career on the trans industry was because my wife told me growing up when she went to the therapist they told her that she could not be trans because she was into women. And I just wanted to flood the internet with as much trans lesbian porn I fucking could! I love you baby, and I’m gay as fuck for you!”

Kalli Grace and Paradise presented the Best Non-Trans Male Performer to Steve Rickz, who accepted it via video. The Best Non-US Performer award — presented by the glamorous trio of Jade Venus, Tori Easton and the always hyperstylish Ariel Demure — went to Canadian performer Angellica Good.

“I am from a really small town originally on the east coast of Canada,” she said, “And to have come this far in this amazing industry just means the world to me. I’d like to thank my amazing family back home and my best friend Brittney Kade and also my amazing management team Transcending with Aubrey Kate.”

Foxxy and Sana from Pornhub presented the evening sponsor’s Pornhub Model of the Year award to Austin Spears. The Fan Choice Award was presented by Justice and Spencer Bradley to Ariel Demure, who thanked Erika from the Rub PR and “everyone who has been in my camp actively making this year easier for my benefit.”

The Best Transmasc Performer award was presented by Nikki Sequoia  and Jake Waters to Jaq Quicksilver, who recently relocated to Amsterdam and sent a video from there.

“Give it up for trans men,” said Presley. “You want a real gentleman? Get yourself a trans man. I have one!”

The prestigious Best New Face award was presented by Jasmine Lotus and Dillon Diaz to rising star Eros Orisha. 

“I just wanna thank my mom and my dad for loving me so much and so unconditionally through my transition and my career, I can’t thank them enough,” said a visibly moved Orisha. “They are my lifeline. And thank you so much to all my peers. Everyone is so nice — I love everybody here.”

The Best Solo Model award, sponsored by Bad Dragon, was presented by the ebullient duo of Jessy Dubai and Lindsey Banks. The winner was Rachael Belle, in striking blue, who thanked “everybody who has been so very very nice to me from the very start. I love all of you, this community is the best one to be a part of, and this just made my whole year.”

The last award of the evening, for Best Hardcore Performer was presented by Andre Stone and Crystal Thayer. The winner of the evening’s top accolade was the statuesque Zariah Aura, who joined the hallowed pantheon of trans performers of the year at the TEAs.

 “I have never had as much attention or as much affirmation for everything I’ve done.,” Aura confessed to an enraptured crowd . “And in anything I’ve ever done when it comes to work, I have worked my ass off. When I started in this industry, I got so much attention, so much affirmation in everything I was doing and I appreciated every moment of it, but I never really believed it. And the last four months of my life have been some of the toughest, and I can’t believe I’m accepting this award. This means so much to me.”

Mistress of Ceremony Domino Presley then wrapped up the evening thanking once again Steven Grooby and the rest of the Grooby team, especially Kristel Penn, for yet another flawless celebration of trans adult excellence.