TS Madison is everywhere right now. If you haven’t seen her sitting pretty on the judges' panel of RuPaul’s Drag Race or heard her iconic voice sampled on Beyoncé’s Renaissance, you’re probably living under a very quiet rock. But the TS Madison before and after journey isn't just about a change in filters or better lighting. It’s a decades-long saga of survival, radical self-acceptance, and a middle finger to anyone who said a Black trans woman couldn't be a mainstream mogul.
Honestly, the "before" for Maddie—as her friends call her—starts long before the viral 6-second clips. It starts in Miami, in a house where the church was the law and being "different" was a demon to be cast out.
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The Miami Roots and the Early Transition
Before she was the "Queen of the Internet," TS Madison was Madison Hinton. Born in 1977, she grew up in a strict, religious household in Miami. Imagine being a teenager in the 90s, feeling like your body is a lie, and the only people you're supposed to trust are telling you that you’re "confused."
Maddie didn't just wake up one day and decide to be famous. She transitioned early, starting her journey at just 17. That's a brave move today, but in the mid-90s? It was basically a death wish for your social safety net. She’s been open about the fact that she was fired from job after job once people realized she was trans.
"I had to decide," she once said in an interview. "Am I going to live for them or am I going to live for me?"
She chose herself. But choosing yourself when the world refuses to hire you usually leads to one place: the survival economy.
Survival Sex Work and the Adult Industry Era
This is the part of the TS Madison before and after timeline that some people try to gloss over, but Madison owns it. She has to. It’s her armor. Because she couldn't get a "traditional" 9-to-5, she turned to sex work.
She didn't just survive it; she took over. Madison realized early on that she had a business mind. She eventually formed her own production company, Raw Dawgg Entertainment. This was the "before"—a period of intense hustle where she was building a brand in the shadows of the adult industry because the light of Hollywood wouldn't have her yet.
During this time, her physical "after" was also taking shape. Madison has been transparent about her surgeries, but she’s also been vocal about the dangers. She’s talked about the "pumping" parties and the silicone scares that many trans women of her generation faced because they didn't have access to safe, gender-affirming healthcare.
The Medical Reality of the "Before"
- Hormones: Started at 17, often without the medical supervision available today.
- The "Pumping" Scare: Madison has spoken about the complications of black-market silicone injections, which were common in the 90s and early 2000s.
- The Pivot: She eventually sought professional corrective surgeries to ensure her health matched her aesthetic goals.
The 2013 Viral Big Bang
Then came Vine.
If you weren't on the internet in 2013, it’s hard to explain how a 6-second video could change a life. The "New Weave 22 Inches" clip didn't just go viral; it became a cultural reset.
Suddenly, the "before" Madison—the one restricted to the adult industry—was being quoted by everyone from suburban teenagers to A-list celebrities. But here’s the thing: most people would have been a "one-hit-wonder." Madison saw the opening and kicked the door down.
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She started The Queens Supreme Court, a digital show that proved she could host, produce, and read anyone under the table. This was the bridge. The "after" was starting to look less like a niche internet star and more like a media powerhouse.
TS Madison After: The Mainstream Mogul
Look at her now. The TS Madison before and after comparison is staggering.
In 2021, she made history with The TS Madison Experience on WE tv. She wasn't just the star; she was the Executive Producer. That made her the first Black trans woman to lead her own reality series on a major network.
Then came the films. Zola. Bros. The Perfect Find.
She isn't playing "trans character #3" anymore. She’s playing roles written specifically for her energy. And we have to talk about the "Cozy" sample. When Beyoncé sampled Madison's "bitch, I'm comfortable in my skin" speech on the Renaissance album, it was the ultimate validation. It signaled that Madison wasn't just a meme; she was a philosopher of self-love.
Why the "After" Matters for the Community
Madison isn't just sitting on her success. In 2025, she opened the TS Madison Starter House in Atlanta.
It’s a reentry home for formerly incarcerated Black trans women. Why? Because Madison remembers the "before." She knows what it’s like to have no place to go and no one to hire you. She’s turned her personal glow-up into a blueprint for community survival.
Dealing with the Backlash
It hasn't all been roses and red carpets. As she’s moved into the "after" phase of her career, Madison has faced heat. There have been controversies regarding her comments on other marginalized groups, specifically within the Asian and Latinx communities.
Some fans feel she’s "doubled down" on certain prejudices, while others argue she’s just being her unfiltered self. It’s a complex part of her legacy. Being a pioneer doesn't make you immune to criticism, and Madison’s journey shows that even in the "after," there is always more room for growth and accountability.
What Most People Get Wrong About Her Transition
People look at "before and after" photos and think it’s all about the knife. With Madison, the biggest transition was mental.
She spent years believing she was "possessed" because of her religious upbringing. The real "after" happened when she realized she could be "crass and Christian" at the same time. She stopped trying to fit into the "respectability politics" that often plague the LGBTQ+ community.
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She’s loud. She’s bold. She’s sometimes "too much." And that’s exactly why she’s successful.
Actionable Insights from Madison's Journey
If you're looking at TS Madison's life and wondering how to apply that "Step Into Your Power" energy to your own life, here’s the breakdown:
- Own Your Past: Don't hide the "survival" years. Madison’s history in the adult industry is part of her business acumen, not a stain on it.
- Diversify Your Platform: She didn't stay on Vine. she moved to YouTube, then TV, then film, then music. Don't let one platform define your reach.
- Build Your Own Table: When Hollywood wouldn't cast her, she produced her own shows. If the door is locked, build a new house.
- Health Over Aesthetics: If you are on a transition journey, prioritize safe, medical-grade care. Madison’s openness about silicone complications is a warning to the next generation to choose health first.
The TS Madison before and after story isn't finished. As of 2026, she’s still expanding her empire, proving that the "after" is a continuous state of evolution. Whether you love her or find her polarizing, you can't deny that she’s changed the landscape of what it means to be Black, trans, and unapologetic in America.
To truly understand Madison's impact, you have to look past the wigs and the makeup. You have to look at the resilience of a woman who was told she didn't exist, and decided to become the biggest thing in the room.
Next Steps for Readers:
- Watch The TS Madison Experience to see the behind-the-scenes reality of her business ventures.
- Research the TS Madison Starter House to understand how celebrity status can be leveraged for grassroots activism.
- Follow her current work on RuPaul's Drag Race to see how she’s influencing the next generation of queer performers.