Monika: Fashion is often a powerful form of self-expression. How would you describe your personal style, and do you have any favorite looks or trends?
Shemiyia: Oh gosh, well my number one thing is that I always have to match! And I'm obsessed, for some reason, with barely wearing anything twice. But I'm not a person who is into labels and stuff, really. I'm just your everyday fashionista who can make a dress from TJ Maxx and a pair of shoes from Payless look like they cost a couple of thousand! It's not what you wear, it's how you wear it! I love experimenting with colors and textures, fashion is my daily art form.
Monika: You radiate confidence and femininity. Do you feel your beauty gives you an extra boost of empowerment in everyday life?
Shemiyia: LOL, I'd say once upon a time, yes, but then again I've always been a pretty humble Southern girl with a shy twist because there was a time when I was not always this confident and secure with myself. Now, I see beauty as something that comes more from how you carry your story than from a mirror.
Monika: Transgender beauty pageants are gaining more visibility each year. What are your thoughts on their role in celebrating trans women?
Shemiyia: I feel like it's a way for girls like us to embrace our journey through beauty! Why not celebrate the beauty of a transgender woman? Cisgender women have been doing it for years! It’s about more than looks, it's about pride, strength, and honoring how far we’ve come.
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| NYC Promo Shoot. |
Monika: Many transgender women choose to write memoirs to share their journeys with the world. Have you ever considered writing a book about your own life?
Shemiyia: Well, fortunately, I have my mom to thank for that one, as she already did and made it into a stage play! But I am working on a little something myself, but it's more in the fictional romance genre! Writing has become a fun creative outlet for me, allowing me to explore my experiences through characters and stories.
Monika: What role has love played in your life, and how has it shaped your journey?
Shemiyia: While I have several sources of love in my life from family and friends, there's nothing like having one special person in your life whose one job, one duty, one desire, and one wish in life is to love you. That type of love isn't even explainable. I feel like no one person, especially a transgender person, should ever be deprived of that. Everyone should have the chance to experience that one great love! That kind of love gives you courage to face the world and reassurance that you are truly seen.
Monika: What exciting projects or initiatives are you currently working on that you'd like to share?
Shemiyia: Well, I do have my hands stirring a number of pots right now, but I ask people to be supportive and on the lookout for The Prodigal and also for The Mexico Transgender Center. With Dr. Ivan Aguilar (trained by Dr. Marci Bowers) and Dr. Carlos Mendez based in Guadalajara, they specialize in every transgender procedure you could think of, M2F as well as F2M. I am the US Surgical Coordinator. And keep a lookout for me, because the best is yet to come! I’m passionate about connecting people to safe, affirming healthcare, and that work continues to inspire me daily.
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| "That One Great Love!" |
Monika: What advice would you give to young transgender girls who are currently struggling with gender dysphoria?
Shemiyia: Seek the proper resources to aid in your process. Have a strong support system, even if that support system consists of one person. Don't take shortcuts. Be the leader in your own journey, and most of all, know that there's nothing wrong with you. Your path is valid, and with time and self-love, it gets better, one step at a time.
Monika: One of my pen friends, Gina Grahame, once told me that we shouldn’t limit our potential based on how we were born or by comparing ourselves to other transgender people. She said our dreams shouldn't end on the operating table, that's where they begin. How do you feel about that perspective?
Shemiyia: I do, but I believe that your dreams begin when you look in the mirror and truly see yourself for the first time! That moment of self-recognition can spark a sense of purpose and drive you never knew you had.
Monika: Shemiyia, thank you so much for sharing your time, your thoughts, and your powerful story!
END OF PART 2
All photos: courtesy of Shemiyia O'Bannon-Sweeney.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
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