Interview with Ar’lene D. Lafferty

Monika: Today Let me introduce you Ar’lene D. Lafferty, an American cosmetologist, and electrologist from Chicago, Illinois. Hello Ar’lene! Welcome to “Interviews with Transgender Icons”! How does it feel to be an icon?

Ar’lene: Hello Monika and Darling Friends, Sisters and Brothers. I never thought I was a community “icon”. Thank you for the honor! It makes me feel proud and willing to do more for our “Trans-family”.

Monika: What are you doing these days?

Ar’lene: These days, I’m writing my autobiography, a task that seems highly difficult for me. Since I have a lot of impasses. All my reasons for the impasses will be revealed in my book.

Monika: Where did you grow up?

Ar’lene: I was first raised in Chicago. At age fifteen (15), my family and I moved to Los Angeles after a vacation visit. We spent the first few weeks in Hollywood until my parents found an apartment in Sherman Oaks, a community in the San Fernando Valley.

You might say I became a 'Valley Girl.' I attended the famous U.S. Grant High School in Van Nuys, a school that many celebrities attended, including Tom Selleck (for one year), Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, and members of the band Toto, to name a few. Many movies and television shows were filmed there, including Clueless, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and Dick Clark’s Where the Action Is, among others.

Interview with Marlo Bernier

Monika: Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing Marlo Bernier, a multi-talented American actress, writer, producer, and filmmaker. She is also a US Air Force veteran and the creative force behind Myrna, an original drama television series. Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Marlo’s journey has been anything but ordinary. After serving in the United States Air Force, she spent time in Germany, performing in various bands before returning to the U.S. and immersing herself in the world of acting. She built an impressive career in Baltimore's theatre scene, starring in acclaimed productions such as Angels in America, Love! Valor! Compassion!, and God’s Country.

Later, she made her mark in film and television, with roles in Cold Case, Alias, Las Vegas, and Homicide: Life on the Street, among others. Marlo’s transition in 2007 marked a pivotal turning point, both personally and professionally. As she navigated Hollywood’s evolving landscape, she turned her creative energy toward writing and producing, culminating in Myrna, a deeply personal series exploring the life of a transgender actress rebuilding her career. I am honored to talk to such an inspiring artist who has boldly embraced her truth while leaving an undeniable impact on the entertainment industry. Welcome, Marlo!

Marlo: Hi Monika!

Interview with Aleshia Brevard: Part 1

Monika: Today, I have the immense honor of speaking with Aleshia Brevard, a true trailblazer in the transgender community. Aleshia is a woman of many talents: an actress, writer, and performer who lived her truth fearlessly in an era when visibility for transgender women was nearly nonexistent. Born in Tennessee, she made her way to California, where she became a performer at the famous Finocchio’s nightclub in San Francisco. From there, she transitioned into film, television, and theater, carving out a space for herself in Hollywood while navigating the complexities of being a transgender woman in show business. She chronicled her incredible journey in two memoirs, sharing her struggles, triumphs, and the lessons she learned along the way. A true pioneer, Aleshia’s story continues to inspire generations of transgender individuals seeking to live authentically. Hello, Aleshia! I am very happy that you accepted my invitation.
Aleshia: Thank you for asking that I participate, Monika. I blush a bit at being labeled an “Icon”, but hopefully by my age, one has learned to embrace any and all positive comments that come along – while summarily dismissing the negative.

Interview with Andréa Colliaux

Monika: Today, I am honored to introduce Andréa Colliaux, a French stewardess and author of the autobiographical book Carnet de bord d'un steward devenu hôtesse de l'air (2001) - Memories of a Steward Who Became a Stewardess. Andréa is a pioneer in many ways, as she was featured in several documentaries, including La méthode Cauet (2008) and Nous n'irons plus au bois (2008). Her journey is one of courage and resilience, as she has become a trailblazer for transgender women, particularly in the aviation industry. Hello, Andréa! 
Andréa: Dzień dobry, Monika! 

Monika: What are you doing these days?

Andréa: I’ve been flying a lot, and this has been quite difficult due to the snow we have in France. I was supposed to go to Austria yesterday, and it took me 18 hours! I came back home after a very hard day!

Interview with Josephine Emery

Monika: Today’s interview is with the remarkable Josephine Emery, an accomplished Australian writer, screenwriter, script editor, and media and publishing strategist. Born in New Guinea and raised in Australia, she has had an extensive and diverse career, from being the Director of Literature at the Australia Council for the Arts to serving as the Head of Screenwriting at the Australian Film, TV, and Radio School. She has also worked as a features journalist and contributed to the Australian film industry with screenplays for Freedom (1982), Fever (1988), and The Coming (1981).

Josephine is the author of The Real Possibility of Joy: A Personal Journey from Man to Woman (2009), an autobiographical account of her transition, which was shortlisted for the 2010 Nita Kibble Award for Best Life Writing by an Australian woman.

In recent years, she has embraced a quieter life in a rural village, where she grows her own vegetables, crafts bespoke furniture from reclaimed timber, and plays blues guitar. Despite stepping away from the literary and film industries, she remains a fascinating storyteller with profound insights into identity, creativity, and self-discovery. Hello, Josephine!

Interview with Diana Salameh

Monika: Today's interview features Diana Salameh, also known as Yasmene Jabar, an American film director and stand-up comedian from Noxubee County, Mississippi. She is a remarkable woman and one of the most inspirational transgender icons. Diana is the director and producer of Desiree: A Ghost Story (2012). Welcome, Diana!

Diana: Greetings Monika, and thank you for asking me to take part in this interview. I hope you and your readers will have a better understanding of just who I am.

Monika: How would you define yourself? Do you consider yourself more of a filmmaker, comedy actress, or stand-up comedian?

Diana: I feel myself to be a Renaissance Woman, I’ve had many artistic outlets over the years, photography, painting, sculpting, acting, and now I think it has evolved into film-making, however that doesn’t mean you won't see me doing cameo roles as Hitchcock did in his films or reviving a long-dead comedy character if I feel the time is right.