Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Michelle Austin, an American entertainer and adult movie actress, 2013 Tranny Award winner for Voluptuous Model. Not only an entertainer but producer, director, and video editor. A powerful businesswoman! Hello Michelle!
Michelle: Hello Monika! Thank you for having me!
Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Michelle: Well, as you all know already I am Michelle Austin. I have been in the adult industry for four years now. I don’t just work in front of the camera, I work a lot behind the scenes as well.
Monika: How did you come into the adult movies industry?
Michelle: At 21 I was early into my transition when Shemale Yum had approached me to do a set for them. At that time I had been on the cover of Ladylike Magazine and really wasn’t ready to be in porn. I didn’t think I wanted to be seen as a sex object that early on in my transition. Fast forward to being 30, and I was asked again by Shemale Yum, and I was ready in my life and had been full-time and comfortable in my own skin by then to do it!
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| Lady in red. |
Monika: Is it possible to make both ends meet with being a transgender adult actress?
Michelle: No! I suggest any girl wanting to get into this business, don’t do it for the money. I love what I do, but it helps push my other jobs. I work a lot at promoting my brand and doing tons of other things that help me live off of it.
Monika: Who is the average viewer of transgender adult movies?
Michelle: I would say they are a straight male, curious, or already there.
Monika: Some transgender activists say that transgender adult movies create a negative image of the whole transgender community. What would be your answer in this respect?
Michelle: I don’t think so! As for me, I work a lot with the queer porn world last year and their porn is used in colleges as an educational tool.
I think that can be the same for trans porn as well. I also feel like I am a role model to many girls, I am showing them that you can be beautiful at any size, and love your body and who are. We all look at porn!
Monika: Do you take part in transgender beauty pageants?
Michelle: I did years ago, I loved it but it’s a lot of money and time that I really don’t have right now in my life. I love being on stage and entertaining. As for pageants though, most look down upon girls who have done porn. So, the only way I would get back into it would be when I completely leave the industry.
Monika: Being beautiful always produces a lot of girl power and empowerment. Do you often use it?
Michelle: I don’t think beauty produces girl power, I believe strength does. I think you need strength and inner love to be empowered. And of course, to live the life I live and do the things I do, I have to be empowered.
Monika: At that time of your transition, did you have any transgender role models that you could follow?
Michelle: Oh, my God, YES! That’s the beauty of the trans sisterhood that I cherish to this day. The minute I walked into this world and started to transition I had so many beautiful women take me under their wings. One of the greatest trans women to influence me was Erica Andrews, the first trans woman I ever met.
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| Ready for a beach. |
Monika: What was the hardest thing about your coming out?
Michelle: I had two coming-outs, so my second one was a little easier on things. But it was still rough. But when I decided to transition as a woman, I moved away from my family to do the change away from them. I didn’t want them to have to go through the experience with me.
By the time I told them I had already been living full time for three years. So coming out to them was a little easier, but they knew I was openly gay so being trans wasn’t that much more of a stretch to shock them.
Monika: What do you think about the present situation of transgender women in American society?
Michelle: I think it sucks being a second-class citizen in America. We are slowly being viewed in a positive light in some media but still, most of the country has no clue what a transgendered person is. We have many more years before it becomes something of the norm.
Monika: Could transgenderism be the new frontier for human rights?
Michelle: Oh, it is getting there, but here in America, the human rights focus is on gay marriage. I don’t think we will see trans human rights for another decade or so. Which is sad.
Monika: Are you active in politics? Do you participate in any lobbying campaigns? Do you think transgender women can make a difference in politics?
Michelle: I think trans women can make great strides in politics, but when it comes to me and politics I don’t agree. I think politics are what’s killing this country and it's hard to change what is already done. As for me, I sit on the side and watch!
Monika: Could you tell me about the importance of love in your life?
Michelle: I think you need love to be happy. I have so much love in my life from the great friends I know, to my amazing family and my husband of six years. I am a blessed person to be so loved and live the life I want. I know many trans people don’t have that opportunity.
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| At 6th Annual Tranny Awards gala. |
Monika: Do you like fashion? What kind of outfits do you usually wear? Any special fashion designs, colors, or trends?
Michelle: I love fashion but I live a very quiet life outside of porn, so when it comes to buying the hottest thing and showing it off, you really only see that on my site. As for trends I try to stay in fashion. But for the most part, I am a very casual kinda girl. Summertime it’s all dresses.
Monika: Many transgender ladies write their memoirs. Have you ever thought about writing such a book yourself?
Michelle: Well, I basically write a column about my life for Transformations Magazine called A Tgirl's Life. But one day, I plan to write a book, if not a book, a play. I was a theater major in college, so plays and musicals are my things. So to see a play about me would be pretty cool.
Monika: What is your next step in the present time and where do you see yourself within the next 5-7 years?
Michelle: Have my porn empire built! Most likely I have announced I will be retiring from in front of the camera at end of 2014, but I will be producing stuff and shooting a lot of trans men and women for my new site AlternaTRANS.com which will be a hot spot for all trans porn needs.
Monika: What would you recommend to all transgender girls, thinking about the entertainment career?
Michelle: First off, know who you are. Find yourself, and love yourself and be comfortable in your own skin. This industry will eat you up and spit you out. Also, don’t do it for the money but do it for the love. Then, from there go for it!
Monika: Michelle, thank you for the interview!
All the photos: courtesy of Michelle Austin.
© 2014 - Monika Kowalska
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