Aubrey Kate

Last night, Grooby Productions mounted its annual Transgender Erotica Awards Show, held once again at the Avalon nightclub in Hollywood. After last year’s blowout tenth anniversary celebration, this year’s TEA Show was quieter but still showcased the strides made by the trans community—both in adult entertainment as well as in society.

Each year, the TEA Show has continued to draw both established and new transgender performers. But it also continues to grow in popularity among mainstream porn companies, garnering new sponsors and content producers.

At this year’s show, presented by ManyVids, musical act Alissah Brooks took the stage first, revving up the crowd with an energetic number, accompanied by two buff male dancers. Then came Domino Presley, taking over hosting duties for the first time. The stunning adult performer looked spectacular in long golden locks, and her gown was a delightful confection with an hourglass-shaped skirt made entirely of sky-blue feathers. Presley could barely walk in the elaborate skirt, giving her a mermaid-like appearance. But this fanciful mermaid could be fierce, shutting down chatter whenever she deemed the audience wasn’t sufficiently attentive.

The mainstreaming of trans porn was evident in the numbers of cis-gendered performers who participated in announcing awards, starting with the first pair of presenters: Ella Nova and Riley Nixon. They announced the winner for Best DVD, which went to Trans Pool Party (Gender X). That win drew the biggest crowd to the stage and also represented a triumph for Gender X, one of the newer brands in TS erotica. There to accept were veteran director Jim Powers and Gender X company rep Steve Volponi, formerly of Devil’s Film, and also quite a few cast members, among them Natalie Mars, Janelle Fennec, Lena Kelly, Colby Jansen, and Pierce Paris. “It actually was a party—I just happened to film it,” director Powers said.

This awards show continues to be the place for trans women and men to shine, both newbies and longtime supporters of the genre. One of the newcomers was Transational Model of the Year Janelle Fennec, who trilled, “This is my first TEA Award.” The Best New Face winner was Khloe Kay, only eight months into her new career. (Before announcing the winner, a rep from award sponsor Shemale.com revealed the site's upcoming rebranding, eliciting cheers.) And the winner of the Fan Choice Award, sponsored by Wicked Sensual Care, was Daisy Taylor. (In addition to a trophy, Taylor will get a chance to be cast in an upcoming Wicked Pictures movie, as announced by presenter Jessica Drake.)

The big winners this year were Natalie Mars and Lena Kelly, who won the third award of the night: Gender X Model of the Year. “We looked for somebody who would give it their all,” said presenter Jim Powers. Kelly also picked up a trophy for Best Self-Producer, an award sponsored by LordMorpheous.com. (It was mentioned that Morpheous has a photography book coming out that features a bounty of trans performers.)

Mars hit big, going up on stage for three separate awards. First came Best Girl/Girl Scene for her work with Ella Nova in “Learning the Joys of Anal” on TransAngels.com. “Her asshole smells amazing,” Mars purred about her co-star. Dressed in a full-length champagne-colored gown with a plunging neckline, Mars also was named MV Trans Model of the Year (“Thanks to ManyVids for being my primary content platform. And thank you to my fans putting up with the weird shit I produce”) and the final award of the night: Best Hardcore Performer.

Lifetime Achievement Awards went to two industry veterans: Fran, Sammy Mancini’s right-hand woman at Transational Fantasies (“Most of you know me as a very private person. Thank you to everyone who has been kind to me”), and longtime red carpet hostess Morgan Bailey (the legendary performer saluted “the change we’ve all seen in the last 10 years ... growth and change in the world”).

Grooby founder Steven Grooby hit the stage himself to present the Industry Professional Award to XBIZ founder Alec Helmy, who expressed his delight at being honored by a company that is “pushing for change, pushing for progress and pushing for respect.”

It was far from a shutout for AVN’s most recent Transsexual Performer of the Year winners. Reigning star Chanel Santini earned the Transcendence Award, presented by Dr. Sinclair, and Natalie Mars read a rousing speech on her behalf, commenting on trans rights and noting “we should all have each other’s back.”

Two-time AVN Performer of the Year winner Aubrey Kate also got up on stage, wearing a tiara and pale apricot-colored gown over a huge, bell-shaped petticoat. “Give her some room,” host Presley joked when Kate came up to accept Best Boy/Girl Scene honors for her gangbang in Aubrey Kate Plus Eight (directed by Evil Angel’s Aiden Starr, who also won Best Scene Producer).

Other veterans celebrated at the show were Foxxy and Natassia Dreams, named joint winners by Bob Maverick of BobsTgirls.com to celebrate his 20th year in the business.

The full list of winners is below in alphabetical order:

Best Boy/Girl Scene— Gangbang (Aubrey Kate Plus Eight, Evil Angel)

Best Clip Site Star—Mandy Mitchell

Best DVD—Trans Pool Party (Gender X)

Best Girl/Girl Scene—Natalie Mars and Ella Nova, “Learning the Joys of Anal,” (TransAngels.com)

Best Hardcore Performer—Natalie Mars

Best Internet Personality—River Enza

Best New Face—Khloe Kay

Best Non-TS Performer (Female)—Lindsey Love

Best Non-TS Performer (Male)—Michael DelRay

Best Non-US Performer—Marissa Minx

Best Photographer—Radius Dark

Best Scene Producer—Aiden Starr

Best Self-Producer—Lena Kelly

Best Solo Performer—Casey Kisses

Best Solo Website—MiaMaffia.xxx

Best Transman Performer—Eddie Wood

Best VR Title—Korra Del Rio, “Hypnotrans” (VRB Trans)

Black Tgirls Model of the Year—Megan Snow

Bobs Tgirls Models of the Year (20th Anniversary)—Foxxy and Natassia Dreams

Cam Performer of the Year—Jessica Fappit

Fan Choice Award—Daisy Taylor

Gender X Model of the Year—Lena Kelly

Industry Professional Award—Alec Helmy

Kinkiest Tgirl Domme—Jessica Foxx

Lifetime Achievement Award—Fran of Transational Fantasies

Lifetime Achievement Award—Morgan Bailey

Ms. Unique—Demi D Best

MV Trans Model of the Year—

Transational Fantasies Girl of the Year—Janelle Fennec

Transcendence Award—Chanel Santini

Jessica Foxx