Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Plastic Martyr, an American Transgender high fashion print, runway model, and singer. Hello Plastic Martyr!
Plastic Martyr: Hello love!
Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Plastic Martyr: Well, for those of you who are new to hearing my name I am a 25-year-old transgender celebrity. Mostly known for being one of the big Transgender models and recently just started doing some music!
Monika: At what age did you decide that you would not be restricted by gender stereotypes anymore?
Plastic Martyr: Hmmm, probably around 2 or 3 years old. Honestly, I’ve always been like this. I played with Barbies and wore pink and played with my mom's make-up and always wanted to be a princess when I was a little kid.
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| Photo by fashion photographer Michael Danger. |
Monika: How did you start your modeling career?
Plastic Martyr: It was so random. I never wanted or expected to be a model. I was just a weird kid with blue hair and cool clothes a photographer on MySpace asked to photograph me when I was 14 I said okay and one photo went viral and I got more and more requests to model for photographers and then designers started contacting me and then magazines… and it just grew.
Monika: Who is your favorite fashion designer?
Plastic Martyr: That’s a tough one… I have SO many. But Versace and Mugler are the two I live for.
Monika: The fashion industry is full of beautiful transgender models: Roberta Close in the past, now you, Lea T, Felipa Tavares, Andreja Pejić, Valentijn de Hingh, and many more. How could you explain such a great interest of the fashion industry in transgender ladies?
Plastic Martyr: Fashion is a universal addiction. It doesn’t matter if you’re black, white, gay, straight, or biologically male or female. I think it’s amazing that FINALLY the fashion industry is taking transgender beauty and putting it to good use. We have many “high fashion features” that I don’t think we’d have had if we were born biologically female.
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| Album cover for Plastic Martyrs new single "Waiting" (photo by Josh Romine). |
Monika: Could you elaborate more on your most successful fashion shows and collections?
Plastic Martyr: They have all been a success to me. With every show or shoot comes another project or opportunity for me. So I am so grateful to everyone who has given me a chance and believed in me. It’s in large part to these photographers and designers that I am where I am. And not a day goes by that I don’t silently thank and appreciate them.
Plastic Martyr: I'm usually in black leggings a black sports bra and big sunglasses. I am pretty low maintenance actually.
Monika: In addition, you are a singer …
Plastic Martyr: Yes, well…..I’m no Adele. But I’ve always loved music.
Monika: Did you have any role models that you followed?
Plastic Martyr: I mostly marched to the beat of my own drum. But 1 of the artists who truly inspired me growing up is Marilyn Manson. Also, Madonna and Fiona Apple were 2 others that still to this day inspire me with their “Give No Fucks” attitude.
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| Photo by fashion photographer Michael Danger. |
Monika: Are there are any ladies that you admire and respect now?
Plastic Martyr: My Mommy, for sure. She is the only person who has ever had my back 100% from day 1 and been there for me and made me feel like I had the power to be who I wanted to be.
Also, my amazing publicist Julie Anderson from Blu PR is another woman who has shown me so much respect and believes in me as an artist. And I admire and respect pretty much all ladies, it’s still a very different world for women and we (yes I include myself in that) need support and strength.
Monika: What was the hardest thing about your coming out?
Plastic Martyr: Honestly, I never really came out. I was always this way and embraced it. I knew from day 1 this is who I am and this is who I was supposed to be.
Monika: What do you think about transgender stories or characters which have been featured in films, newspapers, or books so far?
Plastic Martyr: Some of them I appreciate. Like Laverne Cox’s character in Orange Is The New Black I think is amazing. And Jill Soloway’s show Transparent I love and think really humanizes trans people. It’s amazing. Some other stories I feel still do a disservice to the trans community and make a mockery out of us.
Monika: Are you active in politics? Do you participate in any lobbying campaigns? Do you think queer people can make a difference in politics?
Plastic Martyr: I am not very active in politics, I do however vote and encourage everyone else to do the same. I do think trans and LGBT people DO very much make a difference in politics.
In fact, I’d like for more to get involved. There is still SO much hate in America towards LGBT people and it’s very scary. Something definitely needs to be done.
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| Album cover for Porcelain Fangs. Photo by Michael Danger. |
Monika: Could you tell me about the importance of love in your life?
Plastic Martyr: At the moment I’ve taken a little hiatus on men, sex, romance…etc. I have been focusing on my work. Boys are such a distraction.
I have always dated straight-identifying men and they don’t always treat me with the respect I deserve so I’m no longer willing to be a dark secret of theirs and degrade myself just to have a little romance.
Monika: Are you working on any new projects now?
Plastic Martyr: I'm releasing my next single “Waiting” in April. And I have a few other surprises in the works.
Monika: Plastic Martyr, thank you for the interview!
Main photo credits: Polina Neshpor.
All the photos: Courtesy of Plastic Martyr.
© 2015 - Monika Kowalska
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