When it comes to telling the stories of transgender women, no two paths are alike, yet each carries echoes of resilience, creativity, and determination. My guest today embodies all of these qualities and more. It is my pleasure and honor to introduce Andrea Chrysanthe, an American transgender musician, video blogger, and multitalented creative spirit who has been documenting her transition on YouTube with courage and authenticity. Andrea is not someone who can be defined by a single passion. Her background is as multifaceted as her personality, she is a licensed x-ray technician, medical assistant, and phlebotomist, and is close to completing her bachelor’s degree in physics and teaching. Alongside her academic and professional pursuits, Andrea has long been immersed in the world of music and sound. A musician and audio engineer, she has built her own recording studio, performed live sound engineering, and experimented with a wide variety of instruments, from piano, guitar, and bass to cello, violin, and organ. Her musical style has evolved from pop-grunge influences to heavier sounds inspired by bands like Tool and Opeth, and now to more ambient, hypnotic melodies reminiscent of Tycho.
Much of her work can be found on her YouTube channel, where she also shares pieces of her transition journey. Andrea’s artistry extends beyond music into the deeply personal. She has done the majority of her own tattoos, each one a symbolic reflection of her experiences and thoughts. For her, tattoos are not just decoration but a permanent journal etched on the body, a way of making visible what might otherwise remain hidden. In a similar way, her YouTube channel allows her to transform her private journey into a source of connection for others. Inspired by the videos of transgender women she discovered at the start of her own transition, Andrea chose to give back by documenting her story, hoping to reassure others that they are not alone. Her transition has been marked by determination and patience. After beginning hormone therapy in her early thirties, Andrea has navigated surgeries, electrolysis, and the challenges of state health insurance, all while balancing work and family life. She has transformed not only physically, losing 70 pounds through lifestyle changes and embracing a more feminine style, but also emotionally, finding peace in the effects of estrogen and progesterone, which she describes as making her a calmer, more complete individual.
Yet Andrea’s story is not solely about medical milestones. It is also about love, resilience, and community. She speaks openly about the challenges of coming out to her family and her son, as well as about the joy she has found in her relationship with her fiancé, with whom she shares both love and creative collaboration. She reflects on the importance of acceptance, the role of mindfulness in navigating transition, and the power of trans representation in media and politics. In this conversation, Andrea opens up about her journey, her struggles and triumphs, her art and her activism, her hopes for the future, and her advice for those still grappling with dysphoria. Her voice is at once deeply personal and broadly resonant, reminding us of the beauty of authenticity and the strength it takes to live one’s truth. So without further ado, let us begin.
Monika: Today, I have the pleasure and honor of speaking with Andrea Chrysanthe, an American transgender musician and video blogger who shares her transition journey on YouTube. Hello, Andrea!
Andrea: Hello, Monika, it's good to be here.
Monika: To begin, could you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background?
Andrea: I’ve always had diverse interests, so I’m a licensed x-ray technician, medical assistant, and phlebotomist, and I’m nearly finished with my bachelor’s degree in physics and teaching. I’m also a musician and audio engineer. On top of that, I’ve done the majority of my own tattoos.
Monika: You clearly love tattoos. Aren’t you ever concerned that one day you might regret them and face the challenge of having to remove them?
Andrea: I did most of my own tattoos because I wanted them to reflect my thoughts and experiences more personally and accurately. While I’ve considered what it might mean to remove them, I don’t think I ever will, because they’ve become a part of who I am and represent a side of me that would otherwise remain invisible. I still feel I have many more to create.
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| Trying to accept my masculinity led to many experimental looks to try to feel comfortable in my own skin. This photo was when I was at the height of my beard phase. I feel its probably the most striking comparison to how I look now. |
Monika: What inspired you to start sharing your transition journey publicly on YouTube?
Andrea: Videos of other transgender women were a tremendous source of inspiration when I started this journey; I wanted to give something back to the transgender community and let them know they were not alone. Creating my own videos has also helped me process my experiences in a meaningful way.
Monika: Where would you say you are in your transition at this point?
Andrea: Oh, I’m at about two and a half years of HRT, with seven sessions of laser and over 50 hours of electrolysis. This past year I needed cervical and lumbar surgeries, so I’m just rehabilitating until my next authorization. The journey has been long, but I feel stronger for having faced those challenges.
Monika: How do you feel about the results of your hormone therapy so far?
Andrea: It is so different having estrogen and progesterone in the body instead of testosterone, and I felt like changing my endocrine hormones made me a calmer, more complete individual. That’s not to say I wouldn’t have preferred more breast growth, haha, but yes, I’m satisfied with my results thus far. Every day I notice small changes that remind me how far I’ve come.
Monika: Have you ever considered facial feminization surgery? I must say, comparing your photos, you already look very feminine.
Andrea: Thank you! I never did facial feminization surgery, and I don’t think I will. I got lucky with a face I’m comfortable with. This isn’t to say I think I’m perfect, I feel like my hairline could come down, my jaw could be shaved, and a blepharoplasty would be nice, but again, I don’t think I will pursue those surgeries in the future. Learning to accept and embrace my natural features has been empowering in itself.
Monika: You’ve also managed to lose quite a lot of weight. Could you tell me about that process?
Andrea: When I first got on hormone replacement therapy I weighed a good 220 pounds. I felt like my transition would suit me best if I took my weight down to something a bit healthier. Ultimately, I lost 70 pounds by cutting out sugar for a while and refraining from a lot of fried foods. I ate healthier portion sizes and decided to work out lightly and do more stretching and yoga. Losing that much weight also had an effect on my facial structure, which eliminated the need for facial feminization surgery. It was one of the hardest but most rewarding parts of my journey.
Monika: What lessons from your own journey would you like to pass on to other transgender women who are planning their transitions?
Andrea: I transitioned slowly because I was working at urgent care, and I felt like it made it easier on the patients. I’ve also had significant delays in receiving care from state health insurance. So overall, I’d say to the transgender women who are coming out: learn to love yourself for who you are today, and accept whatever quality-of-life improvements come your way as they come. Don’t postpone happiness because you feel like you’re incomplete. Practice mindfulness. Remember, your transition is your own, and you are allowed to move at the pace that feels right for you.
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| Going full-time female meant trying to discover my own feminine style. |
Monika: How do you see the current situation of transgender women in the United States?
Andrea: In the United States, I know many other transgender women who are uncertain about the federal government’s musings to de-federalize transgender equality and give it to state rights, especially when North Carolina banned transgender people from using the restroom of their preferred gender. These uncertainties create a lot of anxiety about our basic rights and protections.
Monika: At what age did you begin your transition, and what was the process like for you?
Andrea: I began my transition when I was 31, and I think it was “time, slipping” that sparked me to finally make it happen. It took me a while to find doctors that could help. Looking back, I realize that the hardest part was overcoming my own hesitation.
Monika: Did you have any transgender role models who inspired you during your early transition?
Andrea: So many! I’m hard-pressed to choose one particular role model because it was the boldness of their decision to transition that inspired me to take a chance and come out properly. Their courage reminded me that living authentically is worth every challenge.
Monika: Are there transgender women you particularly admire today?
Andrea: I respect Laverne Cox for her advocacy in the LGBT community, definitely. Her visibility and activism have opened doors for countless people like me.
Monika: What was the most challenging part of your coming out process?
Andrea: Explaining myself to my family, and my 12-year-old son, about my transition. I lost contact with much of my family, but there are supportive members as well. My son has been very understanding, and I’m proud of his compassion and acceptance. His support gave me the strength to keep moving forward.
Monika: What are your thoughts on the way transgender stories or characters are represented in the media?
Andrea: There was one I saw recently, Boy Meets Girl by director Eric Schaeffer, which I felt was a cute story. In my opinion, there is still so much in the media with incendiary overtones, treating transgender people as something to poke fun at or reduce to comedy. I don’t have a large range of trans films or books, to date. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll see more authentic and nuanced portrayals.
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| 2 years HRT. |
Monika: Within the broader LGBTQ+ movement, do you feel transgender voices and issues receive enough attention on their own?
Andrea: I think so, as many of the rights we fight for (bathroom freedom, updated legal documents, etc.) aren’t the same as the LGB members. I think it is important to note that “LGBT” is now being commonly replaced by “LGBTQ,” to represent queer individuals who do not identify as either male or female or switch betwixt them. My fiancé is queer, and in Oregon, queer individuals can get their gender marker on their identification documents to reflect a neutral (“they/them”) gender identity. I think this sort of inclusion of diversity is a good thing and should be embraced. It shows how much progress can be made when different groups support each other.
Monika: Do you believe transgender women can create real change in politics, and have you personally been active in that space?
Andrea: I do think we can make a difference, and for my part, I hope to be able to contribute to the LGBTQ community more now that my spinal surgeries are over. The YouTube channel is a good starting point, but I’d like to do more. Advocacy takes many forms, and even small efforts can ripple out in powerful ways.
Monika: How would you describe your personal style, and what kinds of fashion choices make you feel most confident?
Andrea: Nothing particular, I just go with the flow, and that generally means something practical and comfortable at home, and something maybe a little cuter to go out. I like camis and skinny jeans, but those are among many others. I wear a lot of black, haha. Fashion for me is more about comfort and expression than following trends.
Monika: What’s your perspective on transgender beauty pageants and their role in the community?
Andrea: Strange. I guess I think any pageant is strange though. They can be fun for some people, but they’re just not my thing.
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| Andrea Chrysanthe's music can be heard on YouTube. |
Monika: How important is love in your life, and what role does it play in your happiness?
Andrea: I'm madly in love with my partner, and always hoped I'd find someone like them. We have an open/polyamorous relationship, because it suits us best, and because we have a lot of love. Couldn't be happier about that aspect of life. I feel you have to be true to yourself in order to expect another to love your true self. Love really has been the anchor that keeps me grounded through everything.
Monika: Many transgender women eventually write memoirs. Have you ever considered telling your own story in book form?
Andrea: Absolutely. Writing a book is on my list of to-do’s. I think it would be an amazing way to share my journey and maybe help others feel less alone.
Monika: What kinds of creative projects are you currently working on?
Andrea: Music, mostly; my partner and I are recording now, and beginning to organize our focus. I believe more YouTube videos will be in order, as we want to record some music videos. It’s exciting to combine creativity with purpose and put something meaningful out into the world.
Monika: How would you describe the style of music you play, and what instruments are part of your repertoire?
Andrea: I used to play a kind of pop grunge inspired by Nirvana. After trying out multiple bandmates, I decided to do a lot of the recording on my own and ended up getting into audio engineering.
Monika: And what instruments do you play, or have you experimented with over the years?
Andrea: While I've played piano since I was a kid, I also dabbled with the clarinet and violin, then got into guitar and bass. Recording forced me to pick up the drums, and these days I dabble with anything I can get my hands on like the cello and now an organ. I had my own recording studio for many years and did live sound including front-of-house and back-of-house engineering.
I also tried to do a bit heavier stuff inspired by Tool and Opeth, but these days I've been a bit more experimental, exploring the more ambient and hypnotic melodies wrapped up in bands like Tycho and Near the Parenthesis. My music is up on YouTube, and while I'm still working on getting all of the style tuning together and the vocals recorded with another vocalist, my fiancé, my uploaded catalog can be heard by checking out my page by searching Andrea Chrysanthe. Music has been the one constant thread weaving through every chapter of my life.
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender girls who are struggling with gender dysphoria?
Andrea: Breathe. Also, avoid the mistake of thinking you are hopeless without changes. Learn to love yourself if you want others to love you. Also, reach out to someone you trust, or a hotline if you feel like hurting yourself or others. You are not alone. Remember that your journey is valid, and healing takes time but it does come.
Monika: Andrea, thank you so much for sharing your story and insights with me today!
All the photos: courtesy of Andrea Chrysanthe.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
