Pop star Kim Petras is officially part of the wax elite. The German-born singer and Grammy-winner has been immortalized at Madame Tussauds Berlin, becoming only the second trans woman in the museum’s two-century legacy to receive the honor.
Petras, known globally for her chart-topping hit “Unholy” with non-binary icon Sam Smith, called the wax figure “the highlight of my career—there’s no question about it.” And we believe her. From the platinum-blonde locks to the signature glam, the waxwork is a dead ringer for the star who continues to slay stages and shatter ceilings.
It took four hours in a Los Angeles studio for Madame Tussauds’ team to measure every inch of Petras, capturing her look with surgical precision. The final figure now stands proudly in Berlin, a city that, like Petras, knows a thing or two about transformation, resilience, and fabulous reinvention.
A legacy of visibility
Before Petras, there was Laverne Cox—who made her wax debut in 2015 at Madame Tussauds San Francisco during Pride. The trailblazing actress paved the way, and Petras is walking it in six-inch heels. “I have always felt like a woman,” Petras once said, rejecting the idea that surgery defined her identity. Her inclusion in the wax museum isn’t just a nod to her fame—it’s a cultural milestone.
In an industry that still underrepresents and often vilifies trans voices, Petras stands as a bold, glittering exception. Her wax figure isn’t just an accessory to fame; it’s a statement of presence. It’s a middle finger to the rising tide of anti-trans rhetoric, a full-body wink to every queer teen dreaming of being seen.
“I’m extremely alarmed by society’s treatment of trans people,” Petras recently shared. That fear, unfortunately, is justified. Around the world, trans rights are under siege, from bathroom bans to healthcare rollbacks. But this waxwork is a rare and welcome cultural gesture that says: “You belong here. You matter. You’re iconic.”
Wax, but make it political
Let’s be clear—wax figures might seem frivolous, but visibility is anything but. In a time when trans existence is politicized, Kim Petras standing frozen in fierce perfection at a major tourist attraction is its own kind of activism. Young trans people walking through Madame Tussauds can now see themselves reflected, not erased. That matters.
The LGBTQ community, particularly trans women, needs champions in pop culture who don’t just thrive despite their identity, but because of it. Kim Petras is one of those champions—unapologetically queer, wildly talented, and now, permanently fabulous in wax.
This isn’t just a celebrity moment. It’s a cultural checkpoint. So take the photo, blow the kiss, and thank the trans women who got us here. Kim’s in wax now—but her impact is anything but frozen.