Interview with Solena Chaniago

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Solena Chaniago, an Indonesian celebrity, actress, model, and hairstylist based in New York, USA. Hello Solena! How are you doing?

Solena: Hi Monika, I've been very busy nowadays, going back and forth every 3 weeks between New York City and Jakarta. I still have my job in the US as a Master Barber for Paul Labrecque Salon, on the Upper East Side of NYC. Currently, I'm working on a movie that is being filmed in Jakarta.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Solena: I'm a dreamer! I always try to think positively. I am very fortunate to have been surrounded by such great family and friends throughout my life.

Interview with Jennifer Maidman

Monika: Today it is my pleasure to interview Jennifer Maidman, a talented British musician, songwriter, actress, music producer, humanistic counselor, and writer. Hello Jennifer!

Jennifer: Hi Monika. Thanks for getting in touch.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Jennifer: Well you've covered quite a few things with your introduction. I suppose it seems like I’m someone who wears ‘different hats’, but I think of everything as belonging under one creative umbrella. Being human is about creativity, and I think any activity can be approached with an artistic perspective. I’m also fond of a term that is used in the world of counseling, the idea of the ‘reflective practitioner’. It’s an approach that can be applied to almost any field. That seems like a good place to start a conversation!

Interview with Samantha Collins

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Samantha Collins, a British criminal lawyer, happy wife, and mother. Hello Samantha!

Samantha: Hello, thank you for wanting to speak with me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Samantha: Well, what is there to say. I'm in my mid-forties, I've six children from two marriages. I'm with a lovely caring woman who I have been 2ith mow for fifteen years, I'm a lawyer and a lecturer in law, and oh I'm transsexual. Sorry, I don't really let that define me.

I'm a person, a parent and a partner first being trans to me is no real difference to being blond or having blue eyes. It's a part of me but it's not ME. That said I transitioned a year ago, everything went fantastically, home life was superb work, was really supportive, and my friends and family were absolute rocks.

Interview with Simone Whitlow

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Simone Whitlow, a singer, guitar player, transgender activist, former member of the Ishtar hard rock group from New Zealand. Hello Simone!

Simone: Heya Monika lovely to meet you.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Simone: Hmm let’s see, I work a day job I don’t like to define myself. Music runs through my veins though I don’t have the time at present to do much with it. I am passionate, creative, and intellectual and in fledgling steps towards entrepreneurship at the moment. I’m very happily post-transition and in the process of achieving my ideal life unencumbered, however, I have more pieces to the jigsaw than space to lay it down right now.

Interview with Joann Prinzivalli

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Joann Prinzivalli, a transgender activist, title insurance lawyer, blogger. Hello Joann!

Joann: Cześć Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?
Joann: Certainly! The problem with me saying a few words is not always knowing when to stop. But I’ll try. I’m a lifelong resident of the New York metropolitan area. I was the child of working-class parents of Italian-American extraction (half Sicilian, a quarter Napolitana, and a quarter Abruzzeze).
When I was four years old, I knew I did not fit in with the boys, but by the time I was six, I realized that if I wanted to live, I had to hide the real me from everyone. As a teen, I read Christine Jorgensen’s autobiography and realized that I was not the only person in the world like me.

Interview with Imanni da Silva

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Imanni da Silva, an Angolan model, painter, and beauty pageant queen. Hello Imanni!

Imanni: Hi Monika. Thank you for the opportunity and is a pleasure to take part in this interview.

Monika: Imanni, you look absolutely stunning! What is the secret of your everlasting beauty?

Imanni: Thank you for the compliment. I always find it important to have a healthy lifestyle. I take care with what I eat, I drink a lot of water and homemade fruit juices I also take good care of my skin, and from time to time I do pay a visit to a beauty clinic. But the most important thing also is to have a good mind and positive attitude towards everything around you as it truly helps you glow.

Interview with Yasmin Lee

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Yasmin Lee, an American entertainer and adult movie actress, TV celebrity, model, and make-up artist. Hello Yasmin!

Yasmin: Hi Monika, thank you for having me.

Monika: Yasmin, having so many talents, which fields you are most interested in: acting, modeling, or maybe something different?
Yasmin: To be honest I’m not quite sure what I would be content with most. I had always been drawn to different things, and enjoy the experience of it all too much to settle for a specific. I love the arts.

Interview with Victory “Vi” Lê

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Victory “Vi” Lê, an American Student from San Francisco, singer, performer, one of five transgender women presented in Cecilio Asuncion’s documentary “What’s the T?”. Hello Vi!

Vi: Hello Monika! What a pleasure and honor it is to be interviewed by you. I hope you’re doing well.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Vi: Well, to start off, I am a proud Transgender woman here in beautiful San Francisco, CA. I’m currently a student, finishing up my psychology degree. I also work at DPH(Department of Public Health) and AsiaSF, a restaurant that employs transgender women waitresses/hostesses who are also showgirls; where we all serve and entertain in a dinner PG-13 cabaret/show. I am their only live singer at the moment, and I’m blessed to be able to call the girls who I work with, family.

Interview with Giselle

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Giselle, a young video blogger that documents her transition on YouTube. Hello Giselle!

Giselle: Hi Monika, thanks for having me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Giselle: Sure. I’m a trans woman from Minnesota. I live with two roommates in Minneapolis and work full time as a Web Business Specialist for a healthcare organization. I like to occupy my time with friends and families, shopping, reading, and sometimes, just relaxing with a glass of wine.

I am a pretty open-minded and easy-going person. I have many interests such as traveling, fashion, make-up, and photography. I try to live my life to the fullest and be open about learning new things.

Interview with Ingrid Ung

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Ingrid Ung, a Finnish visual artist based in Helsinki/Turku and Berlin/Leipzig. Hello Ingrid!

Ingrid: Hello Monika! Thank you for inviting me and kind words!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Ingrid: Well, I could say that I am quite a happy person nowadays because I'm able to do what I really love and have passion for, and at the same time, perhaps give people a bit of inspiration and hope.

Interview with Ellah A. Thaun

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Ellah A. Thaun, a transgender woman, an artist from France, singer & guitarist, co-founder of the electronic duo Valeskja Valcav and playing solo as a folk songwriter. Hello Ellah!

Ellah: Hi Monika!

Monika: When did you decide that music will be your profession?

Ellah: I was 5 or 6, after watching the documentary "Imagine" (about John Lennon) with my mother, I think. I remember being deeply moved without knowing why exactly. I started my first band at 13 after listening to 'Nevermind', like a lot of teenagers born in the eighties and I haven't stopped playing since.