You’ve probably seen her lighting up the judges' panel on RuPaul’s Drag Race or heard her booming, iconic voice sampled on Beyoncé’s "Cozy." TS Madison is everywhere. But because she’s been a staple of internet culture since the Vine days, there’s always a bit of a scramble when people try to pin down the details. Specifically, folks are always asking: how old is TS Madison anyway?
Honestly, the answer isn’t just a number on a calendar. It’s a whole timeline of a woman who has lived about ten different lives in the span of one. As of early 2026, TS Madison is 48 years old.
She was born on October 22, 1977. That makes her a Libra, which honestly explains the perfect balance of "sweet as pie" and "don't mess with me" that she carries into every room. But to understand why people are so obsessed with her age, you have to look at how much she’s squeezed into those four-plus decades.
The Miami Roots and the Early Hustle
Madison Hinton (yep, that’s the name on the birth certificate) didn't just wake up as a TV mogul. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, her journey started in a deeply religious household. That’s a tough spot for any queer kid, but for a Black trans woman in the 80s and 90s? It was a battlefield.
She’s been very open about the fact that she started her transition early, around age 17. Think about that for a second. In 1994, there wasn't a "how-to" guide on TikTok. There weren't mainstream role models. She was building the blueprint while she was walking on it. Because she faced so much discrimination in traditional workplaces—getting fired just for being herself—she had to find other ways to survive.
Why the 2013 Viral Moment Changed Everything
Before the world knew her as a prestige actress in movies like Zola or Bros, she was the "New Weave 22 Inches" girl. If you were on the internet in 2013, you couldn't escape that Vine clip. She was 35 or 36 at the time.
That’s actually a really important detail. Most "viral stars" are kids in their teens or early twenties who burn out after six months. Madison was a grown woman with a business mind. She had already run her own production company, Raw Dawgg Entertainment. She knew how to take 15 seconds of fame and turn it into a decade-long career.
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Breaking the Reality TV Glass Ceiling
A lot of people think she just "appeared" on Drag Race, but she’s been grinding for "yes" for years. In 2021, she finally got her flowers with The TS Madison Experience on WE tv.
This wasn't just another reality show.
It made her the first Black transgender woman to star in and executive produce her own reality series.
Basically, she wasn't just the talent; she was the boss.
By the time the show aired, she was 43. She used that platform to show the "healing" she talks about so often—the relationship with her mother, Ms. Mary, and the reality of navigating the world as a Black trans woman. It proved that there is a massive audience for authentic, unfiltered stories that don't rely on trauma-porn.
Beyond the Screen: The 2026 Perspective
So, what is a 48-year-old mogul doing in 2026? She’s not slowing down. If anything, she’s pivoting toward legacy work.
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One of the coolest things she’s done recently—and something that doesn't get nearly enough headlines—is the TS Madison Starter House. Opened in Atlanta around March 2025, it’s a re-entry home specifically for formerly incarcerated Black trans women. She’s providing housing, healthcare, and business workshops.
She’s also keeping her foot on the neck of the podcast world. Her show Outlaws just got a GLAAD Media Award nomination for 2026. She’s sitting down with everyone from Tina Knowles to Chappell Roan. It’s wild to see how her voice, which was once relegated to the corners of the adult industry because the mainstream wouldn't have her, is now the voice leading the cultural conversation.
Fact Sheet: TS Madison at a Glance
- Real Name: Madison Hinton
- Birth Date: October 22, 1977
- Birthplace: Miami, Florida
- Current Age (2026): 48
- Key Titles: Actress, Producer, Activist, Judge, Icon
What We Can Learn From the "Maddie" Timeline
If you're looking at TS Madison’s age and feeling like you’re "behind" in life, stop. Madison didn't get her major mainstream TV "yes" until she was in her 40s. She spent twenty years in the trenches, being told "no" because of her identity.
She’s a living lesson in what she calls "glamour and grit." You can wear the 22-inch weave and the designer gown, but you better have the work ethic to back it up.
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Next Steps to Follow Her Journey:
- Watch her early work: If you only know her from Drag Race, go back and find her "Queens Supreme Court" episodes on YouTube. The chemistry she had with Khia (before the fallout) was legendary digital history.
- Support the Starter House: Check out the TS Madison Starter House initiatives in Atlanta. It’s one of the few places doing real, boots-on-the-ground work for the most marginalized in the community.
- Listen to "Outlaws": Her podcast is where you get the most unfiltered version of her wisdom. It’s less about the "bit" and more about the woman behind the brand.
TS Madison is 48, but honestly, she’s just getting started. The "Godmother" of the internet has a lot more history to make.