It is easy to mistake Andrea Montanez’s life for the plot of a thriller. One moment she is raiding cartel hideouts in Colombia, dodging bullets, and negotiating with kidnappers. The next, she is in Orlando, with purple glasses and a trans flag fluttering from the vents of her Nissan Sentra, rushing from one public hearing to another in a fight for the dignity of her community. From undercover narcotics officer to TSA worker to full-time activist, Andrea has carried one thread through all of her lives: an unshakable courage to face danger head-on, whether it comes from armed guerillas or bureaucrats in suits. In Florida, that danger no longer hides behind machine guns, it hides in the technical language of state regulations, in manipulated medical reports, and in “emergency rules” designed to make health care nearly impossible for transgender people. When the state’s board of medicine moved to restrict gender-affirming care, Andrea did not sit back. She borrowed a van, drove activists across the state, charmed opponents who called her community “mutants,” and pushed back in rooms designed to silence her. If Pablo Escobar could not scare her into silence, neither could the board of medicine.
Yet Andrea’s story is not only about defiance. It is about reinvention, survival, and finding joy in the most unexpected places. From hiding with her sister’s Barbies in Manizales to striding into boardrooms embroidered with flowers and trans-rights pins, she has learned to transform risk into resilience. Her journey from Colombia to Florida, from secrecy to visibility, and from survival to leadership is not just remarkable, it is instructive. She embodies the paradox of being both deeply vulnerable and unshakably strong, a reminder that resistance is not only about fighting systems, but also about building communities, nurturing hope, and laughing in the face of absurdity. Today, Andrea is not just one of Florida’s most prominent trans activists. She is also a strategist, a negotiator, and, perhaps most importantly, a woman who knows that winning a war is never about one decisive battle, but about the countless inches you refuse to give up. It is my honor to share this conversation with her.
Monika: Andrea, you’ve lived several lives already: soldier, undercover agent, immigrant, mother, activist. When you wake up in the morning now, which Andrea greets you in the mirror first?
Andrea: I love this question, lol. The magical Andrea greets me, reminds me who I am, what special human I am, where I came from, and gives me a smile. I love who I am. In these difficult times, I love my life.
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| "Educate people and share your powerful histories. Disarm the hate." |
Monika: You once faced Pablo Escobar’s men and survived. Do you ever find echoes of those old battles in your current fight against Florida’s political machinery?
Andrea: Sometimes I feel that is because there is too much hate, blind dark hearts that ignore all our histories. I feel similarities because the cartel was always looking for ways to ambush us. They failed. The Florida politicians are always looking for ways to ambush trans rights with horrible legislation.
Monika: You’ve had to charm opponents who openly insulted trans people. What’s your personal recipe for turning fury into strategy without losing yourself in the process?
Andrea: Smile, ignore, have conversations with the purpose of gaining respect. My personal recipe is to ignore, keep smiling, disarm the hate with sarcastic love, and bricks are used in different ways. Educate people and share your powerful histories. Disarm the hate.
Monika: In Colombia you dreamed of going undercover as a woman. Now you’re fully visible. Does visibility feel like the most dangerous undercover role of all?
Andrea: Be me, be visible, don’t be undercover, be the real me. I don’t say it is the most dangerous role. It’s sad that being yourself brings hate from the ignorant. Visibility is risky, but for me the tool is the way people know you, listen to you, and maybe that hate is over. People hate the unknown. I’m visible, I don’t look for acceptance, I look for RESPECT.
Monika: Florida politics has turned medical consent forms into weapons. If you could redesign those forms yourself, what single sentence would you insist on including?
Andrea: “We don’t need your permission to exist.”
Monika: When you look at your activism, do you see yourself as a warrior, a negotiator, or maybe even a magician making allies appear where none should exist?
Andrea: All of the above, but I’m a connector, a builder, a great negotiator, and a leader. The magic is essential. I don’t look for allies, I look for ACCOMPLICES.
Monika: You’ve compared politicians unfavorably to criminals, saying the latter at least had fewer choices. If you could put one Florida lawmaker through your old DEA interrogation, what question would you ask first?
Andrea: Why are you afraid of my magic?
Monika: Do you ever miss the adrenaline of your old undercover raids, or do you find the same rush now in stepping up to a microphone at a hostile board meeting?
Andrea: It’s a different feeling, because in the raids I had weapons in case I was attacked or needed to defend others. Now my powerful weapon is my VOICE, and it could be more effective because I speak with my heart.
Monika: Your Nissan Sentra with its “existir es resistir” sticker has carried activists all over Florida. If that car could speak, what story would it tell about this movement?
Andrea: Oh gosh, how we traveled around Florida chasing the infamous Board of Medicine, always bringing more magical people with me or accomplices. Answering interviews with journalists. A lot of miles and secrets in that rebel Sentra.
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| "People hate the unknown." |
Andrea: You know, I always played with Barbies, made her a superhero, always with the cape. I think that younger Andrea was preparing for this.
Monika: So many of us navigate the roles of wives, mothers, and daughters, often carrying the weight of our pasts and sometimes longing to leave it all behind. Yet, you’ve chosen to embrace your identity with such strength, becoming an advocate for transgender rights and vocal about presenting a positive image of our community in society. In the face of all this, have you ever felt the pull of staying in the shadows, of simply being seen as a woman, without the added layers of being a transgender woman?
Andrea: Oh well, when I started my transition it was never in my mind that I was going to be an advocate or visible everywhere. That was not my plan, actually. I was working with the federal government as a supervisor for TSA when I started my transition, but I also started to see injustices against immigrants and trans people, so organically I became an activist. I was involved in nonprofit organizations, and at a rally at city hall someone passed me the microphone and my voice came. I was in all the news and my passion started. I resigned from the government, and my life as an activist began.
Monika: Choosing a name is such a deeply personal decision, one that can hold layers of significance and meaning. How did you come to choose the name Andrea? Does it carry a special resonance for you, perhaps representing a part of your journey or embodying a particular feeling or aspiration?
Andrea: When I was an undercover narcotics agent, I had some informers. One of them was a beautiful transsexual sex worker. I was in shock when I met her. We had meetings when I received information from her. I started to ask questions about her life, and she was defensive and asked me if I wanted sex or what. I said no, I only wanted to be her friend. She started to ask me personal things, like if I was hiding something, if I had feelings about who I really was. I was so vulnerable with her and started to tell her what I was feeling, so she offered to dress me up in private to see how I was feeling.
I was afraid that she would talk about this to others, but I did it. She did my makeup and brought me a sexy dress and a wig. I was so happy when I saw myself in the mirror. I was afraid but happy… unfortunately, the drug dealers found out that she was my informant. They tortured and killed her. That was tough, and I blocked my mind about being a woman. So several years later, when I couldn’t hold my identity anymore, I chose her name. In honor of her. ANDREA was her name.
Monika: When you came out, did your mother embrace you as her daughter? And do you feel any connection to her in the way you look, carry yourself, or even in your style and mannerisms?
Andrea: Mom is almost 90. She said “mija” to me, that’s a feminine word for daughter, and she corrected my dad when he misgendered me. I have a connection with her, I think I got her style. She loves dresses. Me too. I was not organized, now I have OCD with cleanliness at home, like her.
Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models who inspired you or helped guide your journey?
Andrea: Yes, when I figured out I was not the only unicorn in the world. I met beautiful humans in Orlando. Gina, she has a beautiful story and taught me courage. Angela told me key words: learn to love yourself first before you care for others. Ancestors like Sylvia Rivera. And now I feel so attached to Miss Major, a beautiful activist for years. The immigrant transgender woman in my life.
Monika: I finally felt free after my transition. How about you? Was there a single moment, or maybe a series of moments, where you truly felt like you had stepped into your most authentic self?
Andrea: Yes, several moments. I travel a lot, and I have worked at Orlando airport for too many years. It’s such an incredible feeling when I travel and some officers who haven’t seen me in years approach me and hug me, salute me with all the respect, and sometimes give me VIP treatment. Also, some people I don’t know approach me and say, “Thank you for all you do, for my presence, for the way I fight for rights.” That is everything.
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| "I don’t care to be the unicorn of the room." |
Andrea: Oh yes, totally incredible feelings. That change of mood, lol, laughs, tears, and sometimes temperament. It’s beautiful, and also physically your skin and breasts growing is wonderful. And after surgeries, too many feelings in your body, totally new, and that only we can describe.
Monika: The journey to being our true selves often comes with a heavy price, losing friends, family, and sometimes even our jobs. What was the hardest part of coming out for you, and how did you navigate it?
Andrea: Yes, it’s hard, but in the end we don’t lose, they are losing. What I hate is that some supposedly friends are in love with you in private, but never invite you in public or at their homes like they did before my transition. I keep going and enjoy the moments.
Monika: Do you remember the first time you saw a trans woman on TV or met one in real life that helped you realize, “That’s me!”?
Andrea: Yes, Roberta Close, a beautiful Brazilian trans model in the 80s. First one to have surgery, first to appear in a Playboy magazine. I kept it as a treasure for years, wishing I was so beautiful like her.
Monika: Many of us feel the pressure to “pass” as women, and even after surgeries, society keeps judging us. How do you personally deal with the outside world’s expectations?
Andrea: I was so worried about passing after HRT and surgeries until I figured that people don’t see you. I was thinking everyone was looking at me. So now I don’t care to be the unicorn of the room. If they feel uncomfortable, well, I don’t go anywhere.
Monika: What are your thoughts on the current situation for transgender women in your country?
Andrea: Colombia has better legislation; however, the machismo over there brings too much violence against transsexuals. It’s horrible crimes; however, the trans community is so beautiful, doing great Pride marches and fighting for their rights. I am looking to be more involved with the Colombian trans community.
Monika: I remember the time right after my transition, it was pure euphoria. My closet is still full of dresses and shoes that I literally bought by the dozens back then, and I must have tried on hundreds. I felt like I had to make up for all those years that were taken from me. Did you feel the same way?
Andrea: Yes, it is part of the process. Before, I had to have full makeup to feel safe. Now, basic cuter makeup, my nails so important, my hair, and my eyelash extensions, that makes me happy.
Monika: How would you describe your personal style? Do you follow any specific fashion trends, or do you have go-to outfits that make you feel confident?
Andrea: I totally love cute dresses, skirts, and cute blouses. Sneakers and dressy looks, depending on circumstances, cute business attire. I am not into pants. I love colors combined, black, red, blue, pink, and white are my colors. And I love winter for beautiful outfits: jackets, boots, skirts.
Monika: Did you ever feel pressure to meet a certain ideal of femininity, like I did by trying to look like the women around me?
Andrea: I pressured myself, tried to mimic others until I found my own femininity.
Monika: What was the most surprising part of your transition, something you never expected, whether good or bad?
Andrea: Learning to cry, express my feelings, and have a beautiful smile like I have now. The respect of my law enforcement colleagues was incredible. They knew me in customs, and they are happy to meet Andrea. That was unexpected.
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| "Love from my son and daughter is everything for me." |
Monika: How has love shaped your life and your journey as a transgender woman? Could you share what role love plays in your personal growth and happiness?
Andrea: Love from my son and daughter is everything for me. Learning to love myself. Right now, I’m loving myself. I already had surgeries, lifestyle, and after that soon looking for love. I don’t want to be alone for the rest of my life. I have great friends, gays, trans men, trans women, cis women, and men. My love attraction is female. I have good male friends but never attraction to them.
Monika: Many trans women are writing their memoirs these days. Have you ever thought about writing your own book, and if so, what would its central message be?
Andrea: Yes, I think it is so important because you can let the world know how great magical humans we are. I did some interviews for national and international journalists. I’m working on a book, and why not a documentary or a movie?
Monika: Finally, what’s next for Andrea? What dreams and goals are you working toward now?
Andrea: Oh, keep my voice until it is necessary and work to have a happy retirement. The lives of transgender elders need too much work so we can retire in peace. I hope we can give lessons for a better life for future generations.
Monika: Andrea, thank you so much for sharing your journey and insights.
Andrea: Thank you for this space. It’s important for people to see us as humans, special ones, beautiful ones, magical ones, who are only looking for happiness like everyone. And we don’t look for acceptance, we look for respect. No estoy buscando aceptación, estoy buscando EL RESPETO. Gracias, “Trans is Magic!”
All the photos: courtesy of Andrea Montanez.
© 2025 - Monika Kowalska
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