Therese Wonnacott, known to many as Aunty Anita, is a Hawaiian pioneer, a former beauty pageant promoter, and a tireless activist for trans women of color. Her story is one of resilience, transformation, and deep cultural pride, a life woven with both hardship and triumph. Born in Wailuku, Hawaii, Therese’s early years were marked by instability and pain within a troubled family, yet she found solace and unconditional love in the care of her grandmother. That bond helped her develop the strength she would need to navigate the challenges of growing up in an environment where acceptance was often denied. From an early age, she carried within her a sense of Hawaiian identity and patriotism, rooted in the knowledge of her people’s history and the injustice of the stolen Hawaiian kingdom. Her saying, “Hawaiian by blood, American by force,” reflects her unbreakable pride in her heritage and the struggles of her community. In her youth, she began experimenting with drag performances, where she found both self-expression and a sense of belonging. Those first steps onto the stage eventually led her to the legendary House of Lee Sei, a chosen family that welcomed her when she needed it most.
