Interview with Ella Marques

There are stories that carry both the softness of hope and the weight of truth. The story of Ella Marques is one of those. A proud Portuguese-American woman now living in Boca Raton, Florida, Ella is a writer, a global citizen, and a radiant voice for the transgender community. Her memoir, “I Was Born a Boy, From Venus. It’s Time to Be Yourself,” is not just a chronicle of transition, it is a heartfelt call for authenticity, acceptance, and love. Born in Portugal and educated at an international boarding school in Switzerland, Ella's life journey has taken her across continents, cultures, and languages, seven of which she speaks fluently. From the cosmopolitan streets of Paris and London to the beaches of Fortaleza, Brazil, and her years in Switzerland, Ella’s life reads like an atlas of resilience and discovery. She brings to every conversation a refined international grace, combined with a grounded understanding of what it means to be seen, misunderstood, and ultimately, celebrated.

 

At the age of 59, Ella stepped fully into her truth and began her gender transition. Her courage to do so later in life, despite societal stigma and personal doubts, makes her a shining example to all women, trans or not, that it is never too late to embrace your authentic self. Her words are full of wisdom, warmth, and often, gentle humor, as she shares her personal experiences navigating gender, self-confidence, discrimination, and the joy of finally being seen for who she is. Ella believes that the true measure of a society’s advancement lies in how it treats its women and LGBTQ+ citizens. With this guiding conviction, she has become an active advocate for equality, volunteering with the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Transgender Equality, and her own group, South Florida TG Social. Her activism is rooted not in anger but in hope, hope that visibility leads to understanding, and that understanding fosters change. It is my sincere pleasure to introduce Ella to you through this interview. Her femininity is graceful, her insights are powerful, and her heart is as vibrant as the coral and red tones she loves to wear. Please meet Ella Marques, a woman of the world, a woman of courage, and above all, a woman who inspires. 

Interview with Molly Cutpurse

There are writers who craft stories, and then there are those who breathe life into entire worlds, Molly Cutpurse belongs unmistakably to the latter. A British author from Stratford in East London, Molly has carved out an extraordinary legacy as one of Amazon’s most prolific storytellers. With over sixty novels to her name, she weaves tales of women who love deeply, persevere stubbornly, and endure elegantly, often against the grain of their time and circumstance. Yet behind her impressive literary output lies a woman of serene solitude, a quiet observer of life who rises at four in the morning to greet her characters before the world stirs. Though she describes herself as a “hermit,” Molly’s inner world is vast and luminous, built on poetic sensibility, wit, and a lifetime of contemplation. Her work spans family drama, science fiction, and haunting period pieces, always centering human emotion over spectacle. The beloved Miriam series, based in part on her mother, follows one woman’s life from cradle to grave, while novels like The Christmas Eve Ghost or Seven Sisters paint Victorian or postwar England with ghostly tenderness and piercing truth.

 

Molly is a transgender woman, though her writing rarely draws overt attention to this. “It’s the work that is important,” she says simply. And yet, her presence in literature matters deeply, her portrait now hangs permanently in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, a quiet yet powerful symbol of trans visibility through creative excellence. Now in her sixties, Molly continues to write daily, surrounded not by noise or fanfare but by the gentle discipline of her craft. She has known great love, thirty years with a beloved partner lost to cancer, and she carries that love with her in each sentence, each sigh between the lines. Though she dresses modestly, avoids social media, and prefers solitude to spotlight, her books speak with eloquence and emotional clarity to generations of women, especially those who understand what it means to quietly fight for their place in the world. It is my pleasure and honor to speak today with a woman whose life proves that literature can be both refuge and revolution.

Interview with Ava

Ava is a radiant spirit whose journey blends resilience, self-discovery, and a boundless sense of wonder. As a transgender woman and professional entertainer aboard Carnival Cruise Line, she has transformed the ocean into her stage and the world into her audience. Whether she's lighting up a performance under the stars or sharing a heartfelt whisper through her ASMR YouTube channel, Ava brings authenticity and warmth to everything she does. Away from the spotlight, she finds joy in the quiet comforts of gaming, experimenting in the kitchen, and sharing new recipes with her beloved family. 

 

Her style, effortlessly 90s, with a flair for elegance, echoes her confidence and playful charm. Though she sails through ever-changing ports of call, Ava’s heart is anchored in gratitude for the love that surrounds her, especially the unconditional support of her parents. Open about her transition, Ava shares her story not to seek validation, but to offer it. Her journey, documented on Reddit and beyond, has become a lighthouse for others navigating their own identity. With humor, grace, and a touch of sparkle, Ava reminds us that the most courageous thing we can do is love ourselves fully, and that, sometimes, the best view comes after setting sail into the unknown.

Interview with Danielle Pellett

Danielle J. Pellett is not just a trailblazing political figure, she is a symbol of what it means to lead with both conviction and compassion. A proud Texan born in Brownsville to a mixed-race family, Danielle embodies the spirit of resilience inherited from her mother, a woman who never let adversity define her limits. From her earliest days as the founder of the first transgender student organization at a Texas university, to her passionate work with the Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the Progressive Alliance, Danielle has stood at the intersection of courage and advocacy. In 2018, she made history by running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas’ 32nd district, bringing a bold and inclusive vision to the national stage.

 

Her political platform championed environmental justice, economic fairness, and the removal of corporate influence from democracy, all while unapologetically defending LGBTQ rights in the face of growing backlash. But behind the headlines and campaign photos is a woman of deep introspection and warmth. Danielle is a loving wife, a dedicated chemist, a self-proclaimed sci-fi fan with a penchant for pop culture tees, and a fierce believer in the power of community. Whether rallying for healthcare reform or quietly mentoring other trans women navigating gender dysphoria, Danielle radiates a belief that life’s truest purpose lies in the paths we carve for others. As we sit down for this interview, we meet not only a political visionary, but a woman of grace, humor, and hope, a woman who reminds us that the journey matters just as much as the destination.

Interview with Melissa Seymour

Melissa Seymour is a deeply honest and inspiring writer whose voice resonates with resilience and grace. Born in New South Wales, Australia, and now living in Melbourne, Melissa is the author of Mel’s New Life and Mark’s Pathetic Life, two emotionally rich novels that blend fiction with autobiography, capturing the complexity of gender identity, self-discovery, and the transformative power of storytelling. Since early childhood, Melissa knew she was a girl, even though the world around her didn’t yet have the language to understand her truth. Her writing reflects that lifelong journey, from a young girl misunderstood in the 1970s to a woman finally living on her own terms. Her novels, reworked and retitled for wider audiences, invite readers into a world of cliffhangers, imagination, and lived experience.

 

Mel’s New Life embraces the dream of becoming, while Mark’s Pathetic Life lays bare the emotional terrain of navigating life before transition. Melissa writes not only to express herself but to reach out, to help others, especially young transgender individuals, feel less alone. Her honesty about past pain, including a traumatic assault at age sixteen and a difficult first transition in 2001, offers strength to those still searching for theirs. She is a woman of warmth, integrity, and quiet power, who believes that loving oneself is the beginning of everything. In this candid conversation, Melissa shares her love of purple and pink, her admiration for trans icons like Jazz Jennings, Eli Erlick, and Kim Petras, and her dream of one day opening a support center for those struggling with gender identity. She reminds us that our stories matter and that even when life feels interrupted or incomplete, it can still be written, one brave chapter at a time.

Interview with Lois Simmons

In the gentle village of Suffern, New York, lives a woman whose life defies convention and exemplifies grace under pressure. Lois Simmons is a tax preparer with a mind as sharp as the pencils on her desk and a voice that harmonizes both scripture and song. She is also a gifted writer whose blog, Being Christian and Transsexual: Life on Planet Mercury, is a heartfelt chronicle of life at the intersection of faith and identity. At 64, Lois has lived many lives, Cornell graduate, financial professional, athlete, singer, and now a mentor and guide to others navigating the complexities of being transgender in a world often quick to judge and slow to understand. Her transition, marked not just by personal strength but also spiritual conviction, was guided by a faith that remains unshaken, even when tested by loss, misunderstanding, or rejection.

 

In her own words, Lois believes she was led every step of the way by the Holy Spirit, making choices that at times baffled even her gender counselor, but which ultimately brought her peace, purpose, and authenticity. Lois finds joy in the everyday, laughing at classic comic strips, watching Dodgers games, singing vocal impressions that range from the high trills of Minnie Riperton to the velvety bass of Jerry Butler. She speaks with tender honesty about the Christian church’s complicated relationship with transgender people, and she offers herself as a quiet bridge for those seeking to reconnect with their faith without surrendering their truth. To meet Lois Simmons is to meet someone who has wrestled with questions most avoid, and who answers them not with bitterness, but with understanding, humility, and a sprinkle of wit. In her story, we are reminded that the deepest faith does not exclude, but embraces. That womanhood, like spirituality, is a journey. And that perhaps, in being exactly who she was meant to be, Lois brings us all a little closer to grace.

Interview with Roxanne Edwards

Some women build cathedrals. Others build lives of quiet, lasting beauty. Roxanne Edwards has done both, and more. A professional architect based in Washington, DC, Roxanne has spent her career shaping physical spaces across the United States and the Middle East. Yet her most courageous creation has been the life she’s crafted as an out and proud transgender woman, activist, spouse, mother, and grandmother. Roxanne transitioned to her authentic self at the age of 50, a step she describes not with regret but with grace. She speaks with tender wisdom about the love she shares with her wife of over 43 years, the joys and challenges of parenting, and the bittersweet costs of becoming visible.

 

A tireless advocate for LGBTQ rights, Roxanne has lobbied at every level of government and continues to fight for education, justice, and compassionate dialogue in a world that too often misunderstands trans lives. Elegant in thought, grounded in experience, and fiercely committed to the truth, Roxanne’s story is a powerful reminder that strength can wear heels, speak softly, and still shake the halls of power. What strikes me most about Roxanne is not just the clarity of her convictions, but the generosity of her heart. Even in the face of rejection or misunderstanding, she never loses sight of the human being on the other side. Hers is a story of becoming, not just once, but continually. And as you’ll see in the pages that follow, she reminds us all that womanhood is not a timeline or a checklist, it is a depth of spirit, a capacity for love, and a fierce commitment to truth. 

Interview with Meredith Guest

There are voices that shimmer quietly, never shouting, never demanding attention, and yet they leave an imprint that lingers in the heart long after the conversation ends. Meredith Guest is one of those voices. A gentle spirit with the clarity of a teacher, the honesty of a memoirist, and the grace of a woman who has lived through pain and transformation with quiet courage. Author of the evocative memoir Son, I Like Your Dress, Meredith invites us into her life with a disarming humility. She describes herself as “unremarkable,” yet her words carry the wisdom of someone who has dared to ask life’s hardest questions and answered them with radical truth.

 

A devoted mother, a joyful grandmother, a lover of this fragile planet, Meredith is also a transgender woman who transitioned later in life, an act that required not only personal bravery, but compassion for those swept along in her journey. Her faith, unwavering even in the face of loss and disillusionment, has been the rock beneath her transformation. Her humor softens the edges of her story, and her denim skirts and cowboy boots ground her femininity in something strong and earthbound. She speaks not of glamour, but of authenticity; not of arrival, but of becoming. For Meredith, the most beautiful thing any of us can do, trans or cis, is to live as truthfully as we can, to love deeply, and to accept the losses that may come with that love. As we sit down together, it’s my honor to share with you the insights of a woman who has found, in the messiness of life, not just meaning, but grace. Let’s begin.

Interview with Holly

Holly’s story is one of quiet strength, profound resilience, and heartfelt courage. Born in 1962 in Connecticut, she has navigated a lifelong journey of self-discovery and transformation with grace and determination. From a very young age, Holly knew her truth, that she was a woman, despite the world around her insisting otherwise. Enduring early years shadowed by misunderstanding, bullying, and the struggle to conceal her authentic self, Holly’s journey is a testament to the power of inner light shining through adversity. A devoted writer and storyteller, Holly chose to share her transition journey on Reddit under the name mikah_rowan, offering honest insights and support to countless others navigating similar paths.

 

Her story is marked not only by her physical transformation through multiple surgeries and hormone therapy, but also by a deep emotional and spiritual awakening that continues every day. Holly embraces her femininity with pride, expressing herself through vibrant fashion and a rekindled love for life. Her dreams extend beyond her own transition, she hopes to inspire others to blossom into their true selves, to pursue their passions boldly, and to find peace in their own skin. As she prepares to step further into the world with newfound confidence, Holly’s story reminds us all that the journey to authenticity is never just about outward change, but about embracing the radiant soul within.

Interview with Ana

Ana is a storyteller at heart, one who weaves her truth through ink and imagination. Living in the quiet reaches of Washington state, she balances a life of introspection, creativity, and self-discovery. Online, she’s known to many as MontanaPython1993, a Reddit user who documents her gender transition with both honesty and quiet grace. Offline, she is a world-builder, crafting intricate settings for tabletop role-playing games, and slowly rekindling her passion for writing after a long creative drought. Ana’s voice resonates with gentle resilience. Her reflections on transition, identity, and self-love aren’t just personal, they speak to a broader experience shared by many transgender women navigating a world that can be both beautiful and brutal.

 

With a sharp eye for nuance and a love for all things gothic and vintage, Ana embraces her transformation with humility, humor, and a steady kind of courage. She may describe herself as a bit of a recluse, but her words reach far beyond the walls of her home. In our conversation, Ana speaks candidly about hormones, haircuts, awkward questions, and the liberation that comes from being seen. She talks about the bittersweet nature of friendships lost, the joy of finding community in unexpected places, and the quiet power of simply continuing on. Ana may still be in what she calls “the weird middle stage” of her transition, but her perspective is anything but uncertain. This is a woman who knows where she’s going, even if the path ahead is still unfolding. It’s my pleasure to introduce you to her.

Interview with Shemiyia O'Bannon-Sweeney

From the vibrant soul of Louisville, Kentucky, to the dynamic heartbeat of the Greater New York area, Shemiyia O’Bannon-Sweeney has never stopped shining. A proud Southern belle with the heart of a trailblazer, Shemiyia embodies resilience, elegance, and a deep sense of purpose. For over a decade, she has served with compassion and excellence as a medical professional, currently working within a major New Jersey hospital system known for its commitment to LGBTQ advocacy. Yet her story stretches far beyond the hospital corridors. Known affectionately as “The Jacqueline of all trades,” Shemiyia balances many roles with grace, wife, daughter, actress-in-training, healthcare advocate, and U.S. surgical coordinator for the Mexico Transgender Center, where she helps others access life-changing gender-affirming care. 

 

A cherished moment in her journey came in 2015 when she stood tall and radiant on Dr. Drew’s television show, offering visibility and hope to countless viewers. Shemiyia is also deeply rooted in her family legacy. Alongside her mother, Sheila O’Bannon, she continues to breathe life into The Prodigal, a moving stage play written by Sheila and now on its way to becoming a screenplay. Together, they are shaping stories that uplift, challenge, and heal. But beyond her professional endeavors, Shemiyia’s story is one of self-love, courage, and authenticity. Her marriage to the love of her life, Bobby, is a testament to the power of love that sees beyond labels and embraces the soul. Through years of inner struggle, faith, and determination, Shemiyia emerged as the woman she was always meant to be, not just beautiful on the outside, but powerful in her truth. It is an honor to sit down with this remarkable woman, who believes that every transgender person deserves to be seen, celebrated, and cherished. In Shemiyia’s words, “The best is yet to come.” And we believe her.

Interview with Bishesh Huirem

She walks with grace, dreams with courage, and speaks with the quiet strength of someone who has fought to live her truth. Bishesh Huirem is not just a beauty queen, a celebrated model, and an accomplished actress, she is a symbol of resilience and elegance for India’s transgender community. Hailing from the culturally rich region of Manipur, Bishesh was drawn to the world of pageantry and performance from a young age, embracing the glamour of the stage while holding fast to her roots and humility. In 2016, she made history as the first Indian transgender woman to represent the country at the Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand, dazzling audiences not only with her beauty, but with her warmth, poise, and unwavering spirit.

 

Her path, however, was not without challenges. Behind the glittering gowns and spotlight was a young woman navigating the deep complexities of identity, tradition, and acceptance, both in her family and in Indian society. Through it all, Bishesh has remained grounded in her belief that being transgender is not a limitation, but a divine difference, a "true gender," as she puts it. Whether she’s walking a runway, gracing the silver screen, or simply wearing her favorite white tee and denim shorts, Bishesh radiates authenticity. Her voice carries a message of hope to countless transgender girls: embrace who you are, fight for your dreams, and never let anyone dim your inner light. It is with admiration and heartfelt joy that I introduce my interview with this remarkable Meitei Nupi, a complete Manipuri woman and a luminous soul.