Ashlee Marie Preston is an award-winning Multi-Media Personality, Producer, Cultural Commentator, Social Impact Strategist, & Civil Rights Activist. She is historically the first trans woman to become Editor in Chief of a national publication and the first openly trans person to run for state office in California. Ashlee Marie was named one of The Root 100's "Most Influential African Americans of 2017", profiled as one of LOGO/NewNowNext’s 30 Most Influential LGBTQ Influencers of 2017 & 2018, PopSugar's top 40 LGBTQ's of 2017, OUT Magazine’s OUT100 of 2018, made her TED talk debut in September of 2018, and was chosen as one of Coca-Cola’s “Next Generation LGBTQ Leadership” influencers of 2018. In addition she was honored as one of Essence Magazine’s “WOKE 100” of 2019 and is a former national surrogate for Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 Presidential Campaign.