Petty Officer Second Class Gizelle Howard-Smoot, US Navy  

Petty Officer Second Class Gizelle Howard-Smoot grew up in Springfield, Ohio, raised by her grandparents while her mother worked tirelessly to provide for the entire family. Her grandparents gave her the structure and support she needed, though she remembers family members saying, “Oh, he’ll grow out of it,” when noticing that she was a little different. But Gizelle didn’t “grow out of it”—she grew into the authentic person she was always meant to be.

Now serving in the U.S. Navy, Gizelle is not just a sailor but also a vibrant entertainer, performing under her drag name, Ariel Jackson Hollywood (Fantasea). Off-duty, she embraces her adventurous spirit alongside her husband and their beloved dog, Mr. Harvey, exploring new places and creating memories. Gizelle’s dual passions--her commitment to service and her creative expression—reflect her unwavering determination to live freely and authentically.

“It takes a lot of courage to even try to transition in the military,” Gizelle says. “A lot of people are scared to transition or be trans in the military, because there’s so much going on in this country, and in this world, that is very scary.” Acknowledging the risks and fears that come with being openly transgender, she adds, “That’s why I wanted to tell my story, because I am here, and I’m making sure that a lot of people understand that we are here and we still will be here to the ends of the earth and time and everything in between.”

Gizelle’s story is one of resilience, courage, and representation. Whether she’s serving her country in uniform or performing on stage, she stands as a testament to the power of authenticity. She reminds us all that visibility matters, and that living your truth is a form of strength that inspires others.
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You can read more of Gizelle’'s story, including how she thought she’d joined the pirate navy, in 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘝𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘝𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘦𝘹𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦

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