When it comes to telling transgender stories, there are many different ways to raise awareness, foster understanding, and build community. Some take to the streets, marching with banners and megaphones. Others dive into politics, lobbying for much-needed reforms. And then there are those, like Crissy Red, who choose the power of storytelling through the lens of a camera. A Canadian video blogger, Crissy has carved out a unique space on YouTube where she shares her life experiences as a transsexual woman with honesty, wit, and warmth. Crissy’s journey began in the late 1990s, a time when conversations about transgender lives were far more limited than they are today. In 1999, after years of feeling as though something fundamental in her life was missing, she entered therapy and was told that what she was experiencing had a name: gender dysphoria. From that moment, she set her life in motion toward authenticity, beginning hormone therapy, legally changing her identity, and preparing for gender reassignment surgery. By 2004, she had completed her transition and describes the experience as if “being released from prison.” But Crissy didn’t stop there. Recognizing that not everyone has access to real-life role models or supportive communities, she turned to YouTube to create the kind of resource she wished she had found years earlier.
Drawing on her background in theatre, Crissy built a channel that is engaging, spontaneous, and refreshingly approachable. Rather than focusing on fashion tutorials or shock-value content, she developed a wide-ranging platform where humor, openness, and heartfelt advice take center stage. Whether she’s answering questions about hormones, responding to parents who are trying to support their transgender children, or sharing her thoughts on beauty standards and representation in the media, Crissy approaches each topic with both candor and compassion. Her online presence has not only given visibility to her own story but has also provided hope and encouragement to countless others navigating similar paths. And while she is not one to seek the spotlight in politics or parades, her contribution to the transgender community is undeniable. Through her videos, Crissy demonstrates that activism does not always need a stage, it can happen in living rooms around the world, one viewer at a time. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Crissy about her life, her transition, her reflections on the evolving landscape of transgender representation, and the message she continues to share with those who find their way to her channel.
Monika: Today, I’m thrilled to interview Crissy Red, a Canadian video blogger who shares her experiences as a transsexual woman on YouTube. Hello, Crissy!
Crissy: Hello, Monika!
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| "Transgender Awareness Month" (YouTube) |
Monika: Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Crissy: I started transitioning in 1999 when I finally realized why I felt so limited in life. I always knew something was wrong because I could not have a romantic relationship; it never felt right. I went into therapy, and that’s when I was told that I was suffering from gender dysphoria. I immediately started taking steps, changing my identity, beginning hormone therapy, and arranging for surgery. By 2004, I had completed my surgery and have never looked back since. It was like being released from prison.
Monika: What inspired you to start sharing your transition journey on YouTube?
Monika: What inspired you to start sharing your transition journey on YouTube?
Crissy: I wanted to contribute somehow. I am not big on marches or parades. I’m also not incredibly political and didn’t find success in helping my local community. So I realized that video blogging was a great opportunity to share my experiences with a worldwide audience. I am theatre trained, so speaking and improvising words and ideas comes easily to me.
Monika: How did you decide what kind of content to create for your channel?
Crissy: I figured out that in the transgender community, people want advice and want to hear different experiences and views. Too many videos are about makeup, hair, and fashion. There are also too many vloggers out to shock and cause controversy. I wanted to do something that was light, friendly, and wide-ranging in topics. I also like to use humor a lot to make viewers feel at ease.
Monika: You must receive a lot of questions from your YouTube fans. What kinds of things do they usually ask?
Monika: You must receive a lot of questions from your YouTube fans. What kinds of things do they usually ask?
Crissy: I receive a variety of questions; many are about hormones and development. I try not to dispense too much about hormones as I am not a doctor, so I limit answers to my personal experience. I always advise that they see a doctor for medical questions and issues. I, of course, get dating advice questions on how to handle situations regarding being transgender. What has touched my heart most are emails and private messages from parents asking how to handle their transgender child or how to handle their community’s prejudice.
Monika: Have you ever received any questions that were particularly unusual or difficult to answer?
Crissy: Luckily I don’t get too many whacky questions; in fact, I rarely get negative comments in general! The weird questions are those ones it’s impossible to answer, like “does your vagina feel like a real one?” or “do you orgasm like a real woman?”. I have no clue what any of those things feels like, so I just ignore them.
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| Crissy as a boy aged 11. |
Monika: Do you usually write scripts or outlines for your videos, or do you prefer to improvise?
Crissy: I rarely write an outline for my vlogs. The more technical or serious ones I will have something written to guide my thoughts, but mostly it’s just freestyling. Speaking publicly in any situation comes easy to me.
Monika: At what stage of your transition are you currently?
Crissy: Like I said, I had my SRS in 2004. I feel complete; however, I wouldn’t mind having facial feminization done. I have never had my breasts augmented, as I was fortunate to develop rather well with hormones.
Monika: Are you satisfied with the results of your hormone therapy?
Crissy: Very pleased with the results. I was 32 years old when I transitioned, but fortunately, I was never a ‘man,’ didn’t have muscles, and with my heritage, was never hairy, etc. So the hormones reacted fast and I developed well. I love what it did for my skin and hair. It’s miraculous to me. I am still on hormones to this day.
Monika: Do you have any transgender role models who have inspired you?
Crissy: I am old school; I love April Ashley, Christine Jorgensen, and Caroline Cossey! When I was very young, these women seemed like magic to me. I couldn’t believe what they had done was possible. It seemed like fantasy and far out of my grasp, so much so that I waited until I was 32 to take action.
Monika: And among Canadian transgender women, I’m a big admirer of Jenna Talackova…
Crissy: Jenna is quite beautiful. I relate to her in that we are both native Indians, she is Babine Nation and I am Blackfoot. She's not big on advocating or putting herself in the media regarding transgender issues, and why should she? Just because we are transgender does not mean we are activists. However, she is young, so who knows what the future holds for her.
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| Crissy in 2013. |
Monika: How do you feel about the current situation for transgender women in Canada?
Crissy: I am very proud of our community today. My only concern is the pressure on those who have not transitioned, that beauty and glamour are required to transition. We are still too sexualized as well.
Monika: Do you see differences within the transgender community itself?
Crissy: I also feel there is a difference between being a transsexual and being gender fluid. If you are okay with your male body parts (in the case of MtoF) and have no desire to have reassignment surgery, then you are not suffering from gender dysphoria. I get in trouble for this point of view, but I stick to my opinion on this. However, I love that being transgender has such a variety of meanings. But those of us who are unable to live a normal life with the body parts we were born with are a special group and the core of what it is to be transsexual.
Monika: How do you feel about the way transgender stories or characters have been portrayed in films, newspapers, or books so far?
Crissy: It’s a slow, tedious process for Hollywood to incorporate transgender people, but it’s happening. Inspirational stories and articles are more available than ever before. Unfortunately, there are still too many things in movies, TV, and print that depict transgender people as psycho sex killers, etc. It still appears to me that we are seen as deviants by the majority of the public.
Monika: Are you involved in politics, such as lobbying campaigns, and do you think transgender women can make a difference in that arena?
Crissy: I am not political and do not participate in marches or protests. I have a fear of large crowds, for one thing. It takes the very brave ones to put themselves out there like that, and I am so grateful for these people. I know a couple who do get involved in changing the political landscape for transgender folks, and they always have my full support.
Monika: How active are you in your local LGBTQ community?
Crissy: I don’t get involved too much in person with local activities. I donate my clothes regularly and attend the yearly vigil for murdered transgender women and men. With that said, I never hesitate to speak my mind when faced with contentious issues. The college I am currently attending has little awareness regarding transgender people, so I have been vocal on this, and they have started bringing the subject into view. I do not tolerate any type of prejudice from teachers or other students, and so far, I have been successful in that.
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| "I Don't Sound Like a Girl?" (YouTube) |
Monika: The transgender cause is often grouped together with other LGBTQ communities. Do you feel that the transgender community is able to promote its own issues within this larger group?
Crissy: It is another subject I face criticism for because I personally do not like being lumped into one big group that, for the most part, has little to do with each other. Being gay is about sexuality, while being transgender is about the body and mind not matching.
Monika: Have you ever experienced rejection or criticism from within the LGBTQ community itself?
Crissy: I have also faced rejection by my gay friends after transitioning, which shocked and hurt me deeply. I also remember being at a party that was mostly for lesbian women. I was cornered by a group of lesbians asking me, “Who do you think you are, thinking you can steal our womanhood?”… I was flabbergasted!
Monika: How would you describe the reality of the LGBTQ community compared to public perception?
Crissy: The LGBTQ community is not the loving rainbow family the world thinks it is. There are many in the gay community who think it’s okay for them to call us ‘trannies,’ but if we used the obvious derogatory terms on them, we would be in deep trouble. Those who identify as bisexual are still often questioned, as the medical profession does not fully recognize that word.
Monika: What concerns you most about the state of transgender rights, both locally and globally?
Crissy: I am mostly concerned with the transsexual community, their rights to free SRS, hormones, and gender markers on their identification. It breaks my heart that many are suffering because their governments do not provide these much-needed services and funding. I am in Canada, and my government paid for everything, right down to the taxi fare!! This is how it should be worldwide.
Monika: Really?! That sounds like a dream for transgender women! Does Canada also cover procedures like facial feminization surgery or breast augmentation?
Crissy: Canada funds the reassignment surgery only. But that is major and necessary.
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| Crissy in 2016. |
Monika: Do you enjoy fashion, and how would you describe your personal style?
Crissy: As a very tall woman at 6’2”, I am conscious of what I am wearing. My style is simple, tasteful, and practical. I love pink and red. I love leggings, maybe too much. I have lots of dresses but rarely wear them. Style is so personal, so I love it when people express themselves, no matter how crazy.
Monika: Do you like dressing in a sexy or bold way, and how much effort do you put into your appearance?
Crissy: I am conservative by nature, so dressing sexy is not something I do regularly, but I don’t consider cleavage sexually overt. I do put effort into my appearance every day; my hair has to be perfect, and even though I don’t wear much makeup, I still want it to look flawless. I do have a couple of videos on my makeup routine and want to do one on skincare.
Monika: How do you feel about aging and style, does age affect your fashion choices?
Crissy: I am 50 years old and have incredible skin, but I put effort into it. We are so blessed to be living in an age now where we can basically create our own styles without being judged too much. Age is less of a factor in what’s appropriate now.
Monika: You’re 50 years old?! I can’t believe it!
Crissy: I made a video on turning 50. I think my ethnic heritage contributes to my good skin.
Monika: What are your thoughts on transgender beauty pageants?
Crissy: I love them. I think they can be very empowering for women of all varieties! They can also be a stepping stone to great career opportunities. Transgender women probably put more effort into being beautiful than cisgender women!
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| Crissy in 2013. |
Monika: How important is love in your life?
Crissy: I am single and open to love with a man. It’s not an easy road for transgender women. Obtaining sex is the easiest thing to do; for me, I could snap my fingers and have a hot young man at my door in a second. However, this is not real love, and my fingers aren’t magical enough to snap up love. From what I have seen though, it is possible, just keep an open mind and heart!
END OF PART 1
All photos: courtesy of Crissy Red.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
