“I’m Queer, But I Was Terrified My Own Community Would Turn On Me” — Karla Mosley Opens Up About Fear, Representation, and Finding Courage Through Love
When Karla Mosley appeared on The Bold and the Beautiful as Maya Avant — a glamorous, vulnerable, and ultimately groundbreaking character who came out as transgender — she wasn’t just acting. She was holding her breath.
“I knew the story needed to be told,” Mosley says. “But I was scared — not of the press, not of the public — I was scared of my own community not accepting me.”
Yes, Karla Mosley identifies as queer. Yes, she believes in inclusive storytelling. But in an industry that often confuses representation with tokenism, her acceptance of a trans role — as a cis woman — felt like walking a tightrope without a net.
“When my boss asked if I’d play Maya as a transgender woman, I almost said no,” Karla reveals in a recent People interview. “I felt like I might be taking space away from someone else.”
But what changed her mind? Love. Fierce, loud, relentless love from fans who saw themselves — or their children — in Maya. From mothers who hadn’t spoken to their sons in years. From fathers who wept in silence after a storyline cracked something open.
A Role That Healed More Than It Entertained
“I remember answering questions for hours,” Mosley recalls. “People didn’t want drama, they wanted truth. They were asking how to support their kids, how to say the right thing, what it meant to love someone unconditionally.”
That’s when Karla stopped doubting and started listening.
“I had this one message from a mom in Kansas,” she says, eyes welling. “She said, ‘After watching Maya’s story, I hugged my daughter and told her I was sorry. I hadn’t said her name in three years.’ That’s why I kept going.”
From Fear to Power — And Knowing When to Step Away
Mosley played Maya from 2013 to 2019, until she made the difficult decision to step away — a move that she believes was the right one.
“At a certain point, it became truly inappropriate for me to continue in the role. It wasn’t about guilt anymore. It was about integrity.”
Still, Karla never turned her back on stories that matter. In 2024, she returned to daytime drama in Beyond the Gates, portraying Dani Dupree — a woman just as complex, layered, and deeply human as Maya.
“I don’t need to play a trans character to tell a meaningful story,” she smiles. “But I’ll always fight for those stories to be told.”
The Courage to Stand Still
What makes Karla Mosley remarkable isn’t just her talent. It’s her willingness to admit fear — and walk through it anyway. To know when to step forward… and when to step aside.
In a world hungry for representation, Karla didn’t just take the stage. She made room for others to stand beside her.
“Being queer doesn’t mean I have all the answers,” she says. “But it does mean I’ll keep asking better questions.”
