Unique Adams

Unique Adams is a fictional character from the Fox musical comedy-drama series Glee who first appeared in "Saturday Night Glee-ver", the sixteenth episode of the show's third season. Portrayed by actor Alex Newell, Unique is notable for being the show's first transgender character. Introduced as shy teen boy Wade Adams, the character is the featured vocalist of New Directions' rival group Vocal Adrenaline. She quickly finds the confidence to perform as trans woman Unique. She later transfers to William McKinley High School at the beginning of the fourth season in order to be in a place where she can be her true self. Unique was initially created as a two-episode guest arc prize in Glees third season for Newell, one of the two runners-up of the first season of Oxygen's The Glee Project. After the well received appearance, Unique returns for a recurring role for the fourth season and is later promoted to the main cast for the fifth season, although she was written out mid season. She returns for two appearances in the final season, including the series finale. For the depiction of coming to terms with her identity throughout her appearance on the show, the character has received favorable reviews and considered to be the most notable mid-run addition to the show. Storylines Season 3 The character makes her debut in the third-season episode "Saturday Night Glee-ver" as a teenage boy named Wade, a student at Carmel High School and the new Vocal Adrenaline lead vocal, who idolizes both Mercedes Jones (Amber Riley) and Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer) and comes to them for advice, despite being a competition rival. Wade is a young trans woman, who wants to perform in competition as Unique but lacks the confidence and is constantly pressured by Vocal Adrenaline's director Jesse St. James (Jonathan Groff). Mercedes and Kurt, under Sue Sylvester's (Jane Lynch) order, advises her to do so in order to sabotage the group. Mercedes and Kurt have a change of heart and when they are about to retract their advice, Unique turns out to be a huge success. During the Nationals, Unique pressed by the new publicity and pressure, considers backing down. Only after the encouragement from Kurt and Mercedes, she performs and received the MVP award at Nationals competition, not before telling the two that she might transfer school next year.