Mireya Milan is a dynamic and inspiring young video blogger who has built a loyal following on YouTube by openly documenting her journey of transition. Born in Chihuahua, Mexico, she moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Dallas, Texas, before making the move to Los Angeles to pursue new opportunities. Mireya first started her channel sharing fun, lighthearted videos with her friends, capturing everyday moments of dancing, partying, and enjoying life. As she began her transition, she made the courageous decision to share her personal experiences, creating a space where honesty, humor, and authenticity are at the forefront. Her openness has resonated with thousands of viewers, many of whom look to her for guidance, encouragement, and inspiration during their own transitions. Mireya has become known not only for her relatable storytelling but also for her confidence and unapologetic self-expression. She uses her platform to address challenging topics, including the intrusive questions transgender individuals often face, offering advice on how to navigate them with grace and humor.
Beyond her advocacy, Mireya has a deep passion for fashion, using it as a way to highlight her personality and celebrate her identity. She loves expressing herself through bold colors, striking heels, and outfits that emphasize confidence and beauty. Her journey has also inspired her to explore other creative avenues. She is currently working on modeling and acting projects in Los Angeles, developing a reality show with her friend David Moskowitz, and writing an autobiography that chronicles her life, family, relationships, and transition. Mireya sees her YouTube channel as an ongoing memoir, a space where she can be fully authentic and connect with people on a meaningful level while also making them laugh. Through her work and her story, Mireya Milan exemplifies resilience, determination, and the power of living authentically. She offers practical advice for other transgender women, encourages self-love, and advocates for the visibility and empowerment of the transgender community. Her positive energy, creative spirit, and dedication to helping others navigate their journeys make her not only a role model but also a beacon of hope for those striving to embrace their true selves.
Monika: Today I am thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Mireya Milan, a young video blogger who shares her transition journey on YouTube. Hi Mireya!
Mireya: Hello Monika! First of all, let me say that it is a HUGE honor for me to be interviewed by you and I am super excited about it. I love what you are doing for the transgender community!
Monika: Could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background?
Mireya: Well, my name's Mireya, I am 27 years old. I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico. I came to the US when I was about 8 years old, and I grew up in Dallas, Texas. I moved to Los Angeles, CA, about a year and five months ago.
Monika: Your vlog has become very popular and you answer a lot of questions about your transition. Looking back, what is the strangest question anyone has ever asked you?
Mireya: Thank you, I think it’s getting there ha-ha. Hmm, I would probably have to say “what’s between your legs,” which is so stupid because I just feel like it shouldn’t matter. As someone who is transgender, people will ask that question a lot and it gets annoying because it’s really no one’s business what’s between my legs.
Monika: How do you usually handle questions like that?
Mireya: I always tell other trans girls that when people put you on the spot and ask questions like that, just one-up them and say something sarcastic. You’re not forced to answer any questions that would make you feel uncomfortable.
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| In Dallas for Christmas visiting family. |
Monika: What inspired you to start sharing your transition journey on YouTube?
Mireya: I first started YouTube about three years ago in 2013. When I first started, I would just upload silly and funny videos of me and my friends, either partying, dancing, or taking shots at bars or clubs.
Monika: At what point did you realize that your channel could become more than just fun videos?
Mireya: I just started doing it for shits and giggles, I suppose, and it kind of just took off. People actually started subscribing, leaving comments, and interacting with me, so I got more involved with it. Then I started transitioning and I thought, “Hey, I should totally talk about my transition on YouTube.”
Monika: How did sharing your transition affect your connection with your audience?
Mireya: Once I started talking about my transition, even more people began subscribing and writing me letters for advice and stuff like that. I felt really good about spreading the word and helping people by giving them advice.
Monika: Looking back, what has been the most rewarding part of documenting your transition online?
Mireya: I actually feel very blessed because I got the chance to transition on YouTube. If you go back to the very first video I uploaded, you would see how much I have changed, and that, in itself, is a huge reward. I can always go back and see how far I have come, and I am very proud of that. I think it’s amazing for people who are at the beginning of their transitions to see my before and after pictures because it gives them hope. I remember when I was first starting my transition, I would always look at before and after pictures of other girls, and it would give me hope that maybe, just maybe, one day I could be as beautiful as they are.
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| Before hormones and 2 years on hormones. |
Monika: How would you describe the stage you are at in your transition right now?
Mireya: Umm, it’s kind of hard to classify transitioning into stages. I really don’t know. I mean, I know I’m not at the beginning of my transition, but the way I see it, it’s kind of like growing up. You learn something new every day, I know I do, especially about myself and being a young adult woman in America.
Monika: Are you happy with the results you have achieved from hormone therapy so far?
Mireya: I am, yeah! Before I even began my transition, I never in a million years thought I would ever be beautiful if I did transition. Now that it’s been two years and I look back at myself and see how far I have actually come, that’s why I am very proud of being transgender. My whole body has changed because of the hormones, and so has my face. That’s why when other girls ask me if I think they will be beautiful if they transition, I always say, “FUCK YEAH!” because I am a witness to that.
Monika: What parts of your journey do you think could help other transgender women who are planning their transitions?
Monika: What parts of your journey do you think could help other transgender women who are planning their transitions?
Mireya: I think everything, honestly. I didn’t come from a family with money, and transitioning is very expensive if you plan on having any surgeries. So I had to work my ass off for everything! Nothing was handed to me.
Monika: What advice would you give to someone determined to pursue their transition or any major goal in life?
Mireya: I always say if you are determined and it’s what you really want, then you should go for it, and not just talking about transitioning, I mean just in general, in life. You should be your top priority and make sure that at the end of the day you yourself are happy. Also, know that it’s not going to be easy. Sometimes you have to fight for what you want, but all I know is that it will always be worth it.
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| Having drinks in West Hollywood. |
Monika: How do you feel about the current situation for transgender women in the United States?
Mireya: I honestly think it’s getting a little better, but of course, there are still a lot of trans people all over the world going through hell just for being themselves. We honestly have to all unite as one and stand up for ourselves because if we don’t, people will keep treating us badly. Monika: In your opinion, how has the Internet influenced awareness and understanding of transgender people? Mireya: I think the Internet has helped a lot to spread the word that people like us exist. I believe that we as individuals have the power to change the people we come in contact with, or at least to educate every single person that we meet.
Monika: Can everyday interactions really make a difference in changing people’s perceptions?
Mireya: For example, if I go to the grocery store and come in contact with, let’s say, 50 people, those 50 people have now been exposed to someone transgender and can start to see us as regular people who work, shop, eat, drink, and do normal things like them. I just feel like every transgender person has that power to educate others just by living their normal day-to-day life. Hopefully one day every single person will have met, worked with, talked to, dated, or come in contact with someone who is transgender, and I feel like that’s how the world will change, through education and interaction.
Monika: How old were you when you began your transition, and what challenges did you face during that process?
Monika: How old were you when you began your transition, and what challenges did you face during that process?
Mireya: I began my transition when I was about to turn 25. At first, I felt like I had waited too long and that I was a little old to be transitioning, but I was still very determined to just be happy. It was kind of difficult at first, especially telling my family, but I had reached a point where I just wasn’t happy and the only thing that could make me happy was to transition. So I thought to myself, hmm, if my family doesn’t accept me, what am I going to do? I debated it for maybe a whole month, and then I said to myself, “I'd rather be happy and alone than miserable and surrounded by family.”
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| Los Angeles photoshoots. |
Monika: Why did you wait until that point to begin your transition?
Mireya: The reason I think I waited so long to transition was because I was scared of being rejected by my family. I waited until I was financially stable and had my own place so that whoever didn’t agree with my life decisions didn’t have to be involved in my life.
Monika: Who did you tell first, and how did that conversation go?
Mireya: The first person I told was my mom since I am very close to her. I basically told her, “Hey, I want to be a girl, and if you don’t like it, then I can let you out?” I know I came off a bit harsh and strong, but sometimes you have to do that so people take you seriously. I’ve had friends who told their family, “Oh hey, I think I want to be a girl, but I’m confused,” and they always get rejected. I think it’s all about how you come across.
Monika: How did your mom respond, and what did you learn from that experience?
Mireya: Since I came off very harsh and strong with my mom, I felt like she saw that I was very passionate and deadly serious about my decision. Her response was, “I’m not going anywhere, you are my son and I love you, and we will get through this together.” Now, two years later, we are closer than ever. I now understand why God didn’t want me to transition until I was a little older, stronger, and more mature, because it is hard, especially when you are just starting out. People can sometimes be mean, and you really do have to have a strong backbone when you make the decision to transition. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.
Monika: When you were first considering your transition, did you have any transgender role models that inspired you?
Mireya: I did, actually. I would always jump on the Internet and see before and after pictures of other trans girls because I wanted to know if I could one day be as beautiful as them. In or around 2014, which was when I was really debating my transition, I really looked up to trans girls that I met in Dallas. I would see them out and about at clubs or bars. They really inspired me because they weren’t celebrities and I could actually talk to them and ask them questions. They were also the ones that helped me get hormones and start my journey.
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| Photoshoot for a good friend of mine. |
Monika: Are there any transgender women you admire and respect now?
Mireya: Now that I am further in my transition and have discovered other trans girls through social media, yes. I always looked up to Jenna Talackova, Amanda Lepore, Carmen Carrera, Gigi Gorgeous, Caitlyn Jenner, basically every girl who is in the media. I just think they are doing an amazing job getting the word out that trans girls can be beautiful and sexy.
Monika: What was the most difficult part of coming out to your family?
Mireya: I would have to say telling my family, just because I am very family-oriented, and if they hadn’t accepted me that would have hurt me a lot. I also come from a very Catholic, conservative family, so for me to be the crazy, wild, don’t-give-a-F kind is weird to have mixed in, but I know that at the end of the day they still love me because anyone who truly loves you just wants to see you happy.
END OF PART 1
All the photos: courtesy of Mireya Milan.
© 2016 - Monika Kowalska
