Some conversations stay with you long after they end, not because they are loud or dramatic, but because they are honest. This interview with Andrea is one of those moments. Andrea Glose is a Bolivian trans woman living in Florida, a barista, a survivor, a daughter, a mother, a partner, and above all, a woman who has learned to keep choosing herself in a world that often makes that choice unbearably costly. What unfolds here is not a polished success story or a neatly wrapped narrative of triumph. It is a life spoken in full sentences, with humor, grief, warmth, and defiance woven together.
Andrea talks about sunshine and humidity, coffee orders and gothic style, but also about loss, loneliness, survival, and the quiet miracle of still being here. She speaks with tenderness about her family, with gratitude about chosen community, and with clarity about the political violence facing transgender women today. This conversation moves gently between the everyday and the existential, between laughter and heartbreak. It reminds us that femininity has no single shape, that self-worth is an act of resistance, and that sometimes the bravest revolution is simply continuing to exist, to love, and to hope. Andrea’s voice carries all of that, unfiltered and deeply human, and I am honored to share it with you.
Monika: For those who may not know you yet, could you share a little about yourself and your background?
Andrea: Hey, hi everybody. I’m Andrea, a Bolivian trans girl living in sunny Florida, USA. I’m 45 years old, and I started my transition fifteen years ago. It’s been a long, challenging, and incredibly rewarding journey.
Monika: Florida looks amazing. What’s your favorite part about living there?
Andrea: The weather here in Tampa, the city where I live, is almost exactly the same as the weather in my hometown, Santa Cruz. I really love the sea and the beach, although I’m very conscious about my skin health and try not to overexpose myself to the sun. Tampa Bay also happens to be a very LGBTQ+ friendly area, despite the horrible anti-trans policies coming from local, state, and federal governments.
Monika: I bet the sunshine helps, but seriously, how do you survive the humidity without melting?
Andrea: I’m really good with hot weather and very bad with cold weather, as incredible as that sounds. Thirty-nine degrees Celsius doesn’t bother me at all, I’m basically a reverse Elsa from Frozen. Cold weather, on the other hand, is my true villain.
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| I’m very grateful for what Starbucks has helped me achieve in my life and in my transition goals. |
Monika: Speaking of surviving, coffee seems essential. What’s your secret for making it irresistible?
Andrea: My super quirky, obnoxiously extroverted personality. Lol, in coffee we trust. Honestly, good energy makes every cup taste better.
Monika: Okay, be honest, have you ever judged someone’s coffee order, or is that Starbucks magic too?
Andrea: Only when someone orders a decaf, just kidding. I’m always intrigued and excited by new orders, no judgment at all. Every cup tells a little story.
Monika: I’ve heard Starbucks is super supportive of trans girls. Does that make your day feel a little brighter at work?
Andrea: Oh my God, yes. The health insurance coverage for gender-affirming healthcare at Starbucks is honestly one of the best out there. I’m very grateful for what Starbucks has helped me achieve in my life and in my transition goals.
Monika: Let’s talk about your place of birth, when you think of Bolivia, what memory or feeling hits you first?
Andrea: Aww, my grandpas and grandmas smiling at me when I was a kid. I think of my little son playing with his dog, my twin brother and my little sister, and my parents being both so loving and so annoying. It’s a mix of warmth, chaos, and pure love.
Monika: If you could bring a piece of Bolivia to Florida, maybe a dish or tradition, what would it be?
Andrea: Bolivian cuisine is so rich and diverse, there are so many dishes I wish I could bring with me. As for traditions, the most important one is that welcoming everyone is basically the law for us. Hospitality is part of who we are.
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: Because I have Italian ancestry, I discovered that Andrea is a bi-gender name. At the time, I learned that for boys it means manly and strong, while for girls it means the brave one. That dual meaning felt perfect for my journey and for who I am.
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: My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader since the very beginning, and yes, we are definitely best friends. Even though I always looked up to my mom when I was a child, I think I grew into my own very particular self, lol.
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| "My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader since the very beginning." |
Monika: Do you remember the first time you met a transgender woman in person? What was that experience like, and how did it make you feel?
Andrea: Ahhhh, yes, I do remember. My heart was pounding so strongly, and to me she looked so confident and powerful, I thought she was genuinely happy. It made me feel that maybe I could have some hope of finally being happy with myself.
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: The hardest part of choosing to be myself was that my son was taken away from me. I still mourn the empty nest, and it’s probably an injury that will never fully heal, I will always carry a broken heart. I learned to survive by taking things one day at a time.
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: When I began my transition, I never expected to be passable at all. I just wanted to be happy and feel whole in my own body, and a well-constructed self-esteem really helps in building a healthy lifestyle and taking care of ourselves. I focus on that, I feel pretty, and that is enough for me.
Monika: What are your thoughts on the current situation for transgender women in your country?
Andrea: The situation is atrocious. Despicable people are spreading lies about our community, harming us, and trying to erase us from civil life. What we are living through, to me, can only be compared to the early beginnings of the Nazi Holocaust.
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: At the beginning of my transition, I was broken and for a while even homeless. I did try a few things I had always wanted, but I quickly realized that not every piece of clothing fits me well, so I became more selective and mindful of my body type to avoid overspending. Makeup-wise, I’ve always been very simple, my basics are eyebrows, mascara, eyeliner, and lipstick.
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’m definitely an alternative, slightly gothic girl. Black is the new black, lol, and it always makes me feel like myself.
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| "I never expected to be alive this long." |
Monika: Do you love playing around with makeup, or is it more of a “throw on the basics and go” kind of vibe for you?
Andrea: I do like playing with makeup once in a while, but as I mentioned before, I’m very simple with it. Less really is more for me.
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?
Andrea: I do appreciate compliments, yes indeed. I’ve left behind the imposter syndrome, but I think what’s most important is learning to look at yourself, compliment yourself, and truly believe in you. You are perfect and beautiful just the way you are.
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: Gosh, yes, I absolutely did. Then I learned that women come in different sizes, shapes, and styles too, and that there is no single right way to be feminine or to express womanhood. That realization helped me come to terms with the kind of woman I wanted to grow into.
Monika: When I came out at work, my male co-workers suddenly started treating me as if my transition had lowered my IQ. Did you experience a similar shift in how people perceived your intelligence or competence?
Andrea: Actually, most of my coworkers have been super supportive of my transition. I don’t think I’ve ever really felt looked down on, but every time I go to a mechanic, they talk to me in a very condescending way while also trying to ask me out, lol. That contrast is always wild to me.
Monika: What was the most surprising part of your transition, something you never expected, whether good or bad?
Andrea: I never expected to be alive this long. I have outlived the life expectancy of our community, and I am incredibly grateful for all my friends and my chosen family who helped me get this far. That alone feels like a quiet miracle.
Monika: For a lot of trans girls, loneliness can become a part of life. Did you ever feel that, or were you lucky enough to avoid it?
Andrea: I am very familiar with loneliness. I’m lucky to have an amazing partner now, but for a long time I was lonely, and I learned to embrace it. I promised myself I would never settle for less than what I believe I deserve as a person and as a woman.
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 have thought about it at one point in my life. There are already so many incredible books out there, but if I did write one, the central message would be, “I am a true social revolution.” Sometimes just existing is the message.
Monika: Finally, what’s next for Andrea? What dreams and goals are you working toward now?
Andrea: Aww, I don’t have any big plans yet. Maybe travel the world a little more, hopefully buy a house, adopt a fourth dog, and just take life one day at a time. Peace feels like the biggest goal right now.
Monika: Andrea, thank you so much for sharing your journey and insights.
Andrea: Monika, I’m so thankful for this opportunity to share my story with you and with the dear readers who follow you. Thank you for holding space for my voice.
All the photos: courtesy of Andrea Glose.
© 2026 - Monika Kowalska
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