Zaya Wade has been recognised for her work supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive young people at Los Angeles’ Models of Pride festival. The award spotlighted her advocacy, visibility and nonprofit work, while the free event brought LGBTQ+ youth, families and allies together for workshops, careers advice and community support.

Essential Takeaways

  • A major honour: Wade received the Model of Pride award at the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center’s 34th annual event.
  • Youth-focused work: Her recognition reflects advocacy for transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive young people.
  • A practical festival: Attendees could access workshops, job opportunities, college information and family resources.
  • Visibility matters: Wade has spoken about the importance of seeing Black queer success represented in public life.
  • A growing mission: Through Translatable, she and Dwyane Wade are building an online hub for transgender youth and their families.

Zaya Wade’s activism takes centre stage

The applause was warm, but the message behind Zaya Wade’s award was bigger than one red-carpet moment. At the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center’s 34th annual Models of Pride, the youth advocate and model was honoured for supporting transgender, non-binary and gender-expansive young people.

The event, billed as the world’s largest free LGBTQ+ youth conference and festival, brought together attendees aged 24 and under, alongside parents, professionals and allies. According to the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center, the programme is designed to combine celebration with practical support, which gives the day a welcome sense of purpose rather than simple ceremony.

Wade said the recognition left her feeling proud and humble, adding that community support had helped her feel more connected. Her comments underline why awards like this matter: they don't just celebrate public figures, they reassure young people that their work and identity are visible.

Why representation still carries real weight

For Wade, visibility isn't an abstract idea. She has described seeing Black success within her family as something that helped shape her own understanding of Black queer success, while also stressing the importance of healthy representation in the media.

That perspective sits at the heart of Models of Pride. Coverage from the Los Angeles Times High School Insider highlighted how the festival creates space for queer young people to celebrate themselves while learning about support, education and future opportunities.

It's a particularly important combination. A joyful room can lift spirits, but access to information, trusted adults and practical routes into work or college can make that encouragement last well beyond the final performance.

Translatable aims to turn support into action

Wade's activism also extends beyond public appearances. She co-founded Translatable with her father, NBA Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, to help transgender young people and their families find information, resources and community online.

The project is approaching the end of its second year, having launched in May 2024. GayE Magazine reported that Wade's work with the organisation has helped place her advocacy at the centre of a wider conversation about family support, visibility and belonging.

Her ambitions remain broad. She has spoken about wanting to reach more people and make an impact beyond one family or one location. That's an appealingly grounded goal in an online world that can sometimes confuse attention with progress.

Models of Pride offered more than a ceremony

Away from the awards, the festival had the feel of a busy community fair. Interactive sessions covered LGBTQ+ youth issues, while a job fair offered employment advice and opportunities. Community colleges were also on hand for prospective students, giving attendees a chance to think about life after school.

Parents, educators and professionals could attend the Parents and Professionals Institute, with workshops, discussions and affinity groups for LGBTQ+ families. The Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center has said its youth work extends throughout the year, including outreach in Los Angeles schools.

The Pride LA's coverage also pointed to the event's broader mix of learning, connection and entertainment. That balance matters because young people don't arrive as a single audience. Some may want a workshop, others a career lead, and plenty will simply want a place where they can relax without explaining themselves.

A lively line-up kept the focus on community

Wade wasn't the only person recognised. Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and producer MNEK, along with digital creator and media executive Curly Velasquez, received honours for their contributions to LGBTQ+ representation.

Emmy-winning creator Ruba Wilson, known online as Ruba's World, hosted the event for a third time and led a question-and-answer session with Wade. Wilson described Models of Pride as a place for young people to blaze their own trail and create rules that support their growth.

The event's sponsors included Comcast NBCUniversal Telemundo, Glamazon L.A., Fabletics, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher, Honda, the Automobile Club of Southern California and the GUESS Foundation. With youth services, employers, educators and creators all sharing the same space, the festival offered a useful reminder that representation works best when it comes with real-world support.

It's a small but meaningful shift from simply being seen to being backed.

Explore Models of Pride and youth services through the Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Center for support, resources and future events.

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