When I approach Sofía Saunier’s story, I don’t see just a biography, I see a journey woven with courage, sensitivity, and beauty. Born in Montevideo in 1974, she first found her stage in Buenos Aires during the 1990s underground scene, where drag, dance, and performance carved out cracks of freedom in a society that often preferred to look away. There, Sofía not only learned how to inhabit the stage, but also how to turn her body and voice into a declaration of existence. Two decades later, upon returning to Uruguay, she began to unfold a multi-layered artistic language: photography, audiovisual work, painting, drawing, and writing. It was not dispersion but a single thread: the urgency of telling trans and queer lives with truth, tenderness, and dignity. That urgency took form in Transur, a project that since 2013 has gathered more than seventy interviews, becoming an invaluable archive of stories that might otherwise have been silenced. Through Transur, Sofía opened a window onto diversity, showing that our lives are much more than what sensationalist television used to portray. Her free spirit also led her to create another project, Transmotoqueras, where together with her companions she rode through the roads of Uruguay, filming each kilometer as an act of visibility and freedom. Taking the road is no small gesture: it means claiming public space, confronting prejudice, and reminding society that trans women also build full and open lives.
Her exhibitions, such as Future Warriors and Transur: Honoring Those Who Are No Longer Here, are another way of intertwining memory and creation. In them, Sofía rescues silenced voices, honors those who can no longer tell their own stories, and offers audiences work that is at once sensitive and political. Her art has been exhibited in Uruguay, Argentina, France, and Chile, extending a cultural bridge that carries the force of both the personal and the collective. On screen, her presence has been equally powerful. In Carmín she took on the leading role, stepping into another person’s narrative, and in the documentary Fugas: Art as a Trench she shared the screen with other LGBT voices from South America. There, too, it became clear that Sofía is not only an artist but also part of a generation that chose to make art a tool of resistance. Today, speaking with Sofía feels like a privilege. Her path cannot be measured only through her works, but through the emotional and political imprint she has left in every space she inhabits. Sofía is a woman who has transformed vulnerability into creative strength, and silence into a collective voice. This conversation seeks to approach her journey not as a chronological record but as an intimate exchange between two women who understand that telling life stories is also a way of protecting them and projecting them into the future.
Monika: Hello Sofia! Thank you for accepting my invitation.
Sofía: Hello Monika, it’s a pleasure to greet you from here, Montevideo, Uruguay, South America. A hug for you and for everyone who reads this interview.
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| "Sometimes it would be better to stay in the shadows and go unnoticed by society." |
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?
Sofía: Sometimes it would be better to stay in the shadows and go unnoticed by society. But that wouldn’t truly be me. Since I was 15, it was difficult for me to leave my family behind and continue my path alone in this world. I was just beginning to get to know myself and discover my sexuality, personality, etc. I always showed myself as I felt and as I am, and that cost me many things. But I will never stay in the shadows of the closet. I understand that many people do it for various reasons, and that is understandable. But I chose to step into the light.
Monika: You began your artistic journey in Buenos Aires during the 90s, surrounded by drag, dance, and performance. Looking back, what memory remains most vivid from that period of your life?
Sofía: I remember the nights of parties where everyone felt happy dancing, dressing however we wanted. At night, in those places, I felt sheltered from society and truly myself. It was a time of openness and sharing with others. There were no social networks, and people socialized more in groups.
Monika: You call yourself a multi-artist. How do these different artistic languages help you express the complexity of your identity?
Sofía: I express myself in many different ways through art, and it helps me show what I feel and think. My identity is expressed every day by being myself, going out into the world, and facing it.
Monika: With Transur, you’ve built a space where trans lives are shown in their fullness. Was there an interview that touched you so deeply it changed your way of seeing things?
Sofía: I have truly seen and experienced so many things in my life that Transur and its stories move me a lot. The Transur from the prison, the ones of Marisol, Natasha, Nanda, those are very moving. And many of the people interviewed are no longer here.
Monika: “Transmotoqueras” is both a journey and a statement of visibility. What did you discover about yourself while traveling the roads of Uruguay with your companions?
Sofía: An exciting experience on the road, traveling with three very different trans women, stopping in places and making our identities visible. I discovered about myself that I am brave.
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| "I express myself in many different ways through art." |
Monika: In Guerreras Futuras you imagined future warriors. What did you want to say to the next generations of trans women through that work?
Sofía: Guerreras Futuras is a surviving tribe in a hypothetical future, where the members of the tribe are diverse beings who do not question their identity. It’s like a fresh start for humanity, without focusing on gender or differences.
Monika: You have worked in audiovisuals, exhibitions, film, and digital platforms. In which of these spaces do you feel your voice resonates most authentically?
Sofía: In audiovisual media and digital platforms. Cinema.
Monika: In Carmín you took on the role of protagonist. How was the experience of lending your body and emotions to someone else’s story?
Sofía: It was challenging and a time-consuming process. But I really loved it, since Aldo Garay is a person I admire. In the film, my life and different moments are showcased. It’s a documentary that also presents different realities of trans people.
Monika: You’ve said that showing trans lives without sensationalism was essential. Do you believe art has the power to transform society’s way of looking at us?
Sofía: Yes, I believe so. In every space where it’s possible to express and show trans lives, that’s what matters: visibility.
Monika: Your work has been exhibited in Uruguay, Argentina, France, and Chile. How does each place shape the way your art is received?
Sofía: In general, it is well received everywhere. Each place has its own style and magic. I adapt to wherever I am.
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 Sofia? Does it carry a special resonance for you, perhaps representing a part of your journey or embodying a particular feeling or aspiration?
Sofía: At birth, my mother baptized me. She never raised me; my names were Carlos Javier and, honestly, they never bothered me. But when I changed my identity and had the chance to change them, I did. My current names are Sofía Victoria. I like Sofía for how it sounds, and Victoria for what the word means.
Monika: Transitioning is not just a personal journey; it also reshapes our relationships, especially with those who support us. Have you noticed a shift in how people treat you since your transition?
Sofía: Yes, now they treat me better. I’ve gone through many changes and different stages of society.
Monika: During your transition, did you have any transgender role models who inspired you or helped guide your journey?
Sofía: No, never. I’ve always liked my own aesthetics and style.
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| "I’ve always liked my own aesthetics and style." |
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?
Sofía: In my adolescence, at 15, I felt for the first time that I was myself by being free. From then on, there were other important moments: changes, surgeries, etc. Today I feel very good when I look back and see the path I’ve taken.
Monika: Many transgender women have a variety of experiences with hormone therapy. Looking back, how do you feel about the physical and emotional effects it’s had on you?
Sofía: I took hormones as an adult. I experienced mood swings and hot flashes, and I felt my body changing slowly. But I stopped the treatment after 8 months, because it also interferes with the sexual part. And I feel good with what I was born with.
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?
Sofía: It was confronting my mother, and from then on, most of my life was spent alone, facing society.
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!”?
Sofía: I met famous artists like Cris Miró, Flor de la V, among others. Yes, I loved them, but I was their age and a Drag Queen, I still didn’t feel like changing my body or identity. I only dressed as a woman for the shows.
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?
Sofía: I stopped expecting anything from the outside world. I can’t please everyone. So I focus on myself to improve and become a better person.
Monika: What are your thoughts on the current situation for transgender women in your country?
Sofía: Yes, here we are better; there is a comprehensive law for trans people. It’s not enforced 100%, but we hope it will keep improving. Compared to other countries in the region, I think we’re doing well.
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?
Sofía: I’m very versatile and I like different styles. I’ve always been that way. I love aesthetics. I like wearing things that are vintage as well as futuristic. Everything very changeable and chameleonic.
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| "I’m very versatile and I like different styles." |
Monika: By the way, do you like being complimented on your looks? Do you find it easy to accept compliments, or do you struggle with believing them?
Sofía: I like them and I accept them. Ever since I was young, I’ve been exposed to that, and it really doesn’t bother me.
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?
Sofía: No. Because I’ve always followed my own style. I didn’t let myself be influenced by the pressure of others.
Monika: What was the most surprising part of your transition, something you never expected, whether good or bad?
Sofía: The most surprising things, aside from surgeries, are very important changes.
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?
Sofía: Love is within me and all around me. Every day, I try to get to know myself, look within, and connect with the universal love that every being has. I haven’t yet discovered romantic love.
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?
Sofía: Yes, I’ve thought about it, and I also have photos and material for the book or biopic. The central message would be the resilience of a human being who, despite adversity, has overcome many obstacles.
Monika: When future generations of trans women in Uruguay look back at your path, what would you like them to find in your story?
Sofía: A fighter and free person, despite the adversities.
Monika: Sofia, thank you so much for sharing your journey and insights.
Sofía: Thank you, and a hug to you and to anyone who reads these lines.
All the photos: courtesy of Sofia Saunier.
© 2025 - Monika Kowalska
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