Break-out star of ‘Orange is the New Black’ and trans activist, Laverne Cox, had some words of wisdom for one of her youngest fans.

Marlo Mack is the proud mother of a 7 year-old trans girl, and when she heard the inspirational Laverne Cox was going to be speaking at an event nearby, Mack knew she had to bring 7 year old M. to meet the trans trailblazer . On her blog, Gender Mom, Mack explains that she want her daughter to meet Cox,  to show that she was “talented and smart and famous and beloved by the multitudes.”

Obviously, the Netflix series which made Cox famous is not suitable for her age group, M. knew that Cox was a big deal.

“Orange is the New Black isn’t really appropriate viewing for seven-year-olds, but I had shown M. the photo of Ms. Cox on the cover of TIME when it came out last year, so M. had a vague idea that this was someone important who was also transgender.  But I don’t think she really got it until we showed up for the event.”

She continues,

Laverne burst through those doors, and the crowd went nuts once again. But this time, a tiny person in a flowery sundress stood between her and that crowd, looking her in the face, waiting to be noticed.

 

Laverne waved her Hollywood wave at the crowd, thanked us graciously, and then looked down at the little girl blocking her path.

 

“Well, hello,” she said.

 

“I’m M.,” my daughter said.

 

Laverne smiled down at her. “Hello, M.”

 

“And I’m trans,” M. said.

 

I don’t think Ms. Cox saw that coming. The crowd around me gasped their approval (“Did you hear what that little girl said?”). Laverne seemed at a bit of a loss. She looked around the room. “Is anyone with her?”

That’s when Cox gave M. some simple, yet powerful words to live by.

I stepped forward. “I’m her mom.” Then I got tongue-tied in the face of celebrity, and forgot how to speak like a normal human. I have no idea what I said.

 

But M. knew what to do. She went in for a hug. Ms. Cox crouched down to meet M.’s hug at eye level, and as I frantically snapped photos for posterity, I heard her say to my daughter, “Remember, honey, transgender is beautiful.”

Laverne, never change!

READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH LAVERNE COX.