And the category is: history. The nominees for the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards were announced on Tuesday morning, and history was made as the actress Mj Rodriguez (Luke Cage), star of the FX series Pose, became the first transgender performer to be nominated for the Outstanding Lead actress in a Drama Series Award, as reported by Deadline. 

Rodriguez was nominated for her portrayal as the fierce and loyal Blanca Evangelista in the third season of Pose, as she navigates her dreams and ambitions in late 80s and early 90s New York City. Immersed in the ball culture world, she becomes a mentor and friend to various LGBTQ youth, changing their lives forever. 

Alongside Rodriguez, her fellow nominees in the Lead Actress category include Uzo Aduba (In Treatment), Elisabeth Moss (The Handmaid’s Tale), Olivia Colman (The Crown), Emma Corrin (The Crown), and Jurnee Smollett (Lovecraft Country). 

In addition, Pose received several other nominations. Billy Porter (Like a Boss) was nominated for the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of the emcee, Pray Tell. Porter previously won the Outstanding Lead Actor Emmy for his work in season one back in 2019. Porter’s fellow nominees this year include Sterling K. Brown (This is Us), Jonathan Majors (Lovecraft Country), Josh O’Connor (The Crown), Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton), and Matthew Rhys (Perry Mason). 

Pose was also nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, where it will compete against Amazon’s The Boys, Netflix series The Crown and Bridgerton, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, HBO’s Lovecraft Country, Disney+’s The Mandalorian, and NBC’s This is Us. 

Running for three seasons, Pose just aired its series finale a month ago on June 6. It received critical acclaim for its history-breaking portrayal of ball culture during the late 20th century, in addition to its examination of societal and cultural norms at the time. The 73rd annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air on CBS Sunday, September 19.