She spoke of her experiences in entering gender non-conforming spaces and experimenting with androgyny. She also discussed overcoming her internalized shame she experienced in regards to her struggle with gender, including misconceptions she had and God-fearing tendencies.

"Eventually, all the misconceptions I had about who transgender people were melted away as I go to know them as people and accept them as people, and that helped me to accept myself," Cox said. "And I really believe that can be the journey for each and every one of us; if we just get to know people who are different from us, if we get to know these people, I believe all the misconceptions we have about other people can melt away, and we can accept and love others more and we can love ourselves more."

She said it has been 21 years and a month since she began her medical transition by receiving her first hormone shot.

"I am not beautiful despite my big hands, my big feet, my wide shoulders, my deep voice, my height," she said. "I am beautiful because of those things. I am beautiful because of all the things that make me noticeably trans."

Beyond gaining her confidence in her own skin, she discussed valuing herself and not misplacing her worth.

"I have to really be careful that my worth is not attached to anything that I have accomplished — that because I've been on a magazine cover, or starred in a TV show or rocked a red carpet — that my value is not there. My value, my worthiness, is a birth right," she said.

The crowd was made up of fans, students and members of the general public.

Advertising graduate student Maia Barber said it's important for speakers with different perspectives to come talk to people on campus.

"We need different perspectives, and the funny part about it is the people that they invite here actually show and mirror a lot of people that are here at the university," Barber said. "They’re just not on those platforms, not on those levels where people actually listen; they're students here, and that's why it's so important to have them here."

Advertising student Ciera Kelly said that representation is an important part of finding speakers.

"They're not heard, and when they're not represented, it makes you feel like you shouldn’t be heard or what you're saying isn’t as important," Kelly said. She also said that having speakers that are often looked up to can let people know that their voices and experiences matter.

Arts and humanities senior Elle Callahan said it feels good to "see people like yourself who are successful."