Interview with Nia Chiaramonte

 

Nia Chiaramonte is a storyteller of transformation, both lived and lovingly told. A mother of five, a devoted wife, and a transgender woman who came out after 35 years of hiding, Nia embodies the kind of courage that blooms quietly in the face of fear. Her life is a powerful mosaic of motherhood, advocacy, and humor, stitched together with threads of faith, empathy, and radical honesty. Professionally, Nia is a seasoned Human Resources executive with over two decades of experience building compassionate, inclusive workplaces across education, health, and global humanitarian spaces. She believes in putting “Employees First,” and brings that same conviction to her advocacy for trans and queer families. Whether guiding an organization toward equity or speaking directly to a parent navigating their child’s coming-out journey, Nia leads with love, and a laugh when needed (which, she’ll tell you, is often).

 

With a B.A. in Psychology and an MBA in Human Resources, Nia has dedicated her career to understanding human behavior, only to discover her greatest revelation in herself. Since coming out as a transgender woman, she has turned her truth into purpose, writing a memoir, co-founding Love in the Face with her wife Katie, and hosting the heartfelt podcast Embracing Queer Family. Today, she lives near Baltimore with her family, a rescue dog, and an enduring love for The Office. She is living proof that healing is possible, families can evolve, and joy is a birthright, even, and especially, in the face of change.

Interview with Kaya Kornecki

At 35, Kaya Kornecki is blossoming into the woman she always knew herself to be. A Danish trans woman in the early years of her medical transition, Kaya began hormone therapy in 2023, though her love for femininity traces back to childhood. From experimenting with makeup at sixteen to dazzling Copenhagen nightlife in drag during her twenties, she embraced the freedom of transformation, but it was never quite enough. Eventually, Kaya made the brave and life-affirming decision to live as her true self, every single day. Her journey hasn’t been without hardship. Kaya has confronted depression, anxiety, addiction, and the weight of what might have been had she transitioned earlier. But through therapy, sobriety, and self-love, she has found healing, and purpose.

 

Today, she’s training to become a pharmacist, a role that brings both structure and pride into her daily life. Kaya’s presence on social media is honest and unfiltered. She shares tender moments of self-discovery, reflections on womanhood, and the small triumphs that make a trans life joyful: her first bottle of perfume, a new passport, the quiet thrill of being called “she” at work. Her name, Kaya, was chosen with care, a blend of personal history and quiet strength, echoing her mother’s love for a Polish singer and her own identity as a Danish woman. Grounded yet glowing, Kaya is not chasing the impossible dream of cisness. Instead, she walks boldly in her truth, offering an image of trans femininity that is both soft and resilient. She may still battle dysphoria and self-doubt, but she has learned to embrace the power of simply being herself. Whether she’s in sneakers or lipstick, Kaya radiates authenticity, and in doing so, helps light the way for others.

Interview with Kyra Rose Griffin

Meet Kyra Rose Griffin, a radiant soul whose courage blossoms like the very flower she bears in her name. Born in Malaysia, where being transgender means facing not only societal rejection but criminalisation, Kyra’s early life was marked by silent resistance and secret dreams. Despite the harsh constraints of her homeland, she nurtured her femininity with quiet determination, often transforming into her truest self in the solitude of her car or behind closed wardrobe doors. In 2023, she made the bold decision to leave everything behind and seek asylum in the United Kingdom, choosing freedom, safety, and self-respect over fear. Her journey is one of resilience and grace, culminating most recently in her breathtaking success at the Miss Trans Global 2025 pageant, where she was crowned Miss Trans Global Asia and Queen of Hearts. With no designer gowns or stylists at hand, she wore borrowed dresses, did her own makeup, and carried herself with such honesty and heart that she won not only titles but the admiration of everyone around her.

 

A former makeup artist and forever a lover of beauty, Kyra lives and breathes authenticity. She wears her femininity proudly, not to match an ideal, but as a declaration of self-love and survival. She draws inspiration from trans trailblazers like Nisha Ayub and pop icons like Nikita Dragun, yet she walks her own path, one that blends glam, grit, and unshakable optimism. Whether she's slipping into a crop top and jeans, reminiscing about her goth days, or smiling through compliments once hard to accept, Kyra’s story is a reminder of the power of transformation, not just in the physical sense, but in the reclamation of one’s voice, dignity, and dreams. Today, she uses her platform to spotlight the struggles faced by the trans community in Malaysia, holding space for hope and healing. As you’ll see in the conversation that follows, Kyra is more than a beauty queen. She is a woman who has fought for her truth with every fibre of her being, and now shines so that others might dare to do the same.

Interview with Julia Shelton

Julia Shelton is a fiercely resilient transgender woman, writer, and advocate whose journey is woven with courage, creativity, and an unyielding commitment to authenticity. She is the author of many books, including The Day the Colors Ran Away (2025), Becoming Me: A Trans Memoir (2025) and The Pronoun Party (2025). Through her memoirs, poetry, and children’s books, Julia offers fragments of her soul, stories that illuminate the often unseen emotional landscapes of transition and the power of embracing one’s true self. Her path has been marked by profound challenges, shifts in how others perceive her intelligence and worth, heartbreaks, and systemic barriers, but also by moments of deep spiritual awakening and quiet joy.

 

Julia’s story is one of transformation not just in appearance, but in spirit; of learning to love fiercely and forgive deeply, and of finding peace in finally stepping out from behind the mask she never knew she wore. As a woman who has fought to be seen, heard, and valued, Julia now channels her voice into storytelling and advocacy, dreaming of a world where healing and authenticity are celebrated, where LGBTQ youth feel protected and uplifted, and where every person can shine unapologetically. Her journey continues, bold, hopeful, and tender, building a legacy that lights the way for others to rise.

Interview with Melia VL Pillay

Melia VL Pillay is a radiant voice of strength, softness, and self-discovery. Born in the Caribbean and now based in the UK, she carries with her the layered experiences of a woman who has traversed oceans, cultures, and personal transformations. A proud transgender woman, Melia’s journey has been one of resilience and self-love, shaped by moments of heartbreak, hope, and healing. Whether speaking about childhood memories of skin bleaching or the quiet power of reclaiming her beauty, Melia brings an honesty that disarms and uplifts. Her voice is thoughtful and full of grace, shaped by the complexities of womanhood, especially in a world where trans identities are too often misunderstood or marginalized.

 

She is open about the pressure to fit in, the longing to be loved, and the bittersweet reality of giving more than she received. And yet, love is central to her world, romantic love, yes, but also the love of chosen family, of late-night laughter, and of the self. In her current chapter, Melia balances a fulfilling career with advocacy, dreams of starting a podcast, and hopes of one day being called “Dr. Pillay.” Her goals are rooted not in ego, but in a deep desire to serve, to create safe spaces, and to be a light to others navigating life’s hardest questions. With elegance, warmth, and a fierce commitment to authenticity, Melia invites us into her world, and we are all the better for it.

Interview with Paula Griffin

Paula Griffin is a radiant spirit whose journey embodies resilience, transformation, and unapologetic authenticity. For years, Paula lived between two worlds, Paul, a devoted football fan and workaholic, and Paula, a vibrant trans woman embracing her true self through nights of clubbing and fearless exploration. Yet beneath this dual life lay a deep fear of acceptance, both from others and from herself. A life-changing cancer diagnosis became the catalyst that shattered denial and gave Paula the courage to finally step into her womanhood. Faced with loss and the fragility of life, her beloved sister Kerry passing away amid Paula’s own fight, she chose renewal over despair. With strength forged in hardship, she quit old habits, embraced her identity, and found confidence that allowed her to stand taller than ever before.

 

Paula’s journey is marked by courage beyond personal transformation. She has broken barriers on the football field, competing with fierce passion while confronting the harsh realities of misogyny and transphobia. Yet her spirit remains unbowed. Through documentaries, modeling, and advocacy, Paula shares her story with grace and fierce determination, reminding us all that femininity is not defined by others, but by the love we carry for ourselves and the lives we choose to live. From trekking the Andes to embracing a new community of sisters, Paula continues to inspire with her warmth, humor, and unwavering commitment to authenticity. She is a beacon of hope and pride, a woman who, against all odds, refuses to disappear and instead shines brighter every day.