Interview with Shauna Wilson

Monika: Australia is the home country of my guest today. Her name is Shauna Wilson, and she is an Australian nurse, transgender activist, and the author of “You Say Different; I Say Individual: My Journey In Finding The Woman Within” (2021). Hello Shauna!

Shauna: Hi Monika, thank you for the invitation to be a part of your blog.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Shauna: I am a 58-year-old trans woman who has been married to the love of my life for the last 7 years. I am a civilian practicing nurse in the military environment and very much looking forward to retirement at the end of next year.

Monika: What inspired you to write your biography?

Shauna: I had been told many times that I had a story to tell. The more I revealed to friends and colleagues the more I was encouraged. Unfortunately, I was my biggest doubter. Firstly I thought who would be interested in reading about me. Secondly, how much was I willing to share, and lastly could I go back and relive the trauma that had shaped me into the woman I am today?

Interview with Rebeckah Loveday

Monika: Today I have the pleasure of talking to Rebeckah Loveday, an inspirational Australian transgender advocate and activist from Melbourne, actress, fashion model, beauty pageant queen, and radio personality on Joy 94.9. Hello Rebeckah!

Rebeckah: Hi Monika! Thank you so much for the warm welcome and introduction. I really appreciate the opportunity to speak with you.

Monika: You are a woman of many talents. How would you define your vocation?

Rebeckah: Thank you, Monika. I really enjoy all the different avenues I embed myself in. I have always had a passion for helping others, and currently, I am working in Community Services supporting people experiencing homelessness. Alongside that, I do a lot of work within the trans community, creating projects that benefit the trans community through advocacy, awareness, and community collaboration. I think in a nutshell, I define my vocation as being a trans advocate and social activist.

Interview with Chloe Pickard

Monika: Today I am going to take you to Melbourne in Australia where our guest Chloe Pickard lives. Chloe is one of my favorite YouTube vloggers. In her videos, she covers all aspects of her transition, providing inspiration to thousands of her followers. So I am going to chat with her about all that trans girls and women are curious about. Hello Chloe!

Chloe: Hi Monika, I love your blog!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Chloe: Sure, I'm a Trans woman who lived a pretty stealth life (I still do in Australia) and has gone through some rough patches to become the woman I am today.

Monika: Chloe is such a nice name. Why did you choose it?

Chloe: Honestly, it wasn't difficult. In the very early stages of my transition, the name just came to me and I was like: Yeah I feel like Chloe, haha!

Monika: What inspired you to share your intimate life moments on social media?

Chloe: When I began my YouTube channel, it was when I lost my job after coming out as Trans. I began sharing as I felt like I was living this double life. In my day to day, I went to work (at my new job) and could never talk about being Transgender, in case I became unemployable.

Interview with Miss Rose

Monika: Today I am going to introduce you to you Miss Rose, an Australian trans escort girl, model, and former commercial skipper. Hello Rose!

Rose: Thanks for having me. I love being me and sharing my story.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Rose: When talking about myself I always find it hard, despite I have such a story to tell. I'm a post-op trans woman. I have had top, boobs, and bottom surgery, neovagina done, and absolutely loving it; it finally made me myself and I'm very proud of who I'm. It happened only a few years ago but it was so nice to be myself.

I'm an easy outgoing kind of girl, who loves catching up with friends and making new friends. Did I mention I love my job? 

Monika: Haha, I guess we can read it between the lines. When did you decide that you would like to be an escort?

Rose: In my younger years I was once a bit desperate for work, and I worked for a short time as a male escort. So after transitioning and finding out that no one would employ me in the marine industry anymore as a commercial skipper (my former occupation with teaching as well) I decided to become an escort. I had some contacts to help start me up, and haven't looked back.

Interview with Jamie Berthon

Monika: Today I am going to host Jamie Berthon, an Australian model, videographer, future personal trainer, social media influencer, and transgender woman that shares her transition story on social media. Hello Jamie!

Jamie: Hey Monika, I'm hoping to explore myself through this as much as anyone else wants to listen.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Jamie: Well, I'm Jamie and I am trying to kick start my career as a model, and learning about fitness to eventually become a personal trainer along with it. I started hormones in January of 2019 and properly came out in January of 2020. Along with those huge moments for me, I've been enjoying life to its fullest.

Monika: What inspired you to share your intimate life moments on social media?

Jamie: I have had a lot of great friends over the Internet that I have helped in certain aspects, mostly regarding fitness. I want to share my experiences and knowledge to hopefully inspire other trans men and women to grow as themselves. That's the main reason I'm studying to become a personal trainer too, to help trans people be comfortable in the body they have, as I have found a lot of joy in fitness myself.

Interview with Destiny Maylas

Monika: Destiny Maylas is an Australian transgender advocate and vlogger of Filipino origin. Her Destiny Maylas vlog on YouTube can boast over 25 thousand subscribers that follow Destiny's recommendations about HRT, MTF transition, transgender life, surgeries, and everything related to being Transgender. Hello Destiny!

Destiny: Hello Monika. Thanks for having me.

Monika: How are you holding up in the crazy pandemic times?

Destiny: Thank you for asking. I am doing okay but I'd say things can be better, you know. I hope you're doing well too.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Destiny: I am a curly Filipina transgender woman of color who is very passionate about my advocacy of safe HRT for Trans Pinays, which is the main focus of my YouTube Channel, where transwomen all around the world who have no choice but to do DIY-HRT can benefit from.