Ariana DeBose

Personal context

Summary

Ariana DeBose is an actor, singer, and dancer known for stage and screen musicals including Hamilton, The Prom, and West Side Story, as well as film and television roles across genres. She has described herself as queer and has spoken about the importance of Afro-Latina representation in Hollywood, including how her identity informed her portrayal of Anita in West Side Story. DeBose co-created the Unruly Hearts Initiative to connect LGBTQ+ youth with support organizations and serves on the Covenant House International board. At the 2022 TIME100 Gala, she spoke against laws restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ identities in schools and urged support and protection for LGBTQ+ youth.