Interview with Gabriella Karlton

Monika: Today I have invited Gabriella Karlton. She is a Belgian model and proud transgender woman who shares her life moments on social media. Hello Gabriella! Thank you for accepting my invitation.

Gabriella: Hello, nice to be with you!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Gabriella: Of course. As said previously, I am Belgian, I was born and have lived all my life in this small, somewhat complex country. I love cooking, exercising, and shopping. I'm also keen on art history and architecture... In the end, I think I'm a pretty ordinary woman.

Interview with Lucy Sante

Lucy Sante is a Belgian-born American writer, critic, artist, and one of the most distinctive cultural voices of her generation, known for her ability to illuminate hidden histories and overlooked details with precision, empathy, and wit. A longtime contributor to The New York Review of Books, she has written influential works that move effortlessly between social history, memoir, photography, music, and film, including the landmark Low Life: Lures and Snares of Old New York and later books such as The Other Paris, Nineteen Reservoirs, and Maybe the People Would Be the Times. Born in Verviers, Belgium, and raised in the United States, Sante’s career has unfolded across many disciplines, from writing lyrics for the Del-Byzanteens and consulting on Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York to exhibiting her own collages and teaching generations of writers and photographers at Bard College. Across her work, she has shown a rare talent for connecting personal memory with collective experience, often focusing on marginal spaces, vanished worlds, and the quiet poetry of everyday life.

 

Her writing is marked by intellectual rigor as well as a deep affection for the strange, the forgotten, and the unfashionable. She has also played an important role as a cultural translator, bringing overlooked voices and images into sharper focus through editing, translation, and critical commentary. As a teacher, she influenced countless students by encouraging attentiveness, curiosity, and ethical engagement with history and images. Her contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including a Whiting Award, a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Grammy for album notes, and prestigious fellowships from institutions such as the MacDowell Colony and the New York Public Library. In recent years, her work has taken on an especially intimate and resonant dimension with I Heard Her Call My Name: A Memoir of Transition, a candid and beautifully crafted account of coming out and transitioning later in life, a book widely praised for its honesty and literary grace, named one of the New York Times’ Ten Best Books of 2024 and shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize. This interview explores Lucy Sante’s life, work, and evolving sense of self, as well as the curiosity and courage that continue to shape her remarkable journey.

Interview with Alice

Monika: Today, I have the pleasure of talking to Alice, a Belgian trans woman, passionate blogger, and self-proclaimed geek. She’s a comics aficionado, a video game lover, and an adventurer who enjoys discovering new countries. But beyond her interests, Alice is also an inspiring figure in the online trans community. She has been openly documenting her transition on social media, sharing her journey with honesty, humor, and warmth. Through her posts, she not only expresses herself but also offers support and visibility to others who may be walking the same path. Alice, welcome to the interview!

Alice: Hi Monika! Glad to have the opportunity to do this!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Alice: Of course! I started transitioning a bit more than two years ago and came out on my socials last year. On my Instagram, I love to share stuff that I like such as comics, video games, music, films, and my travels (I love discovering new countries). But I also use this platform as a way to document my journey as a trans woman.

Interview with Robin Rose

Monika: Today I am going to interview Robin Rose, a young trans girl from Belgium that chronicles her transition on social media. Hello Robin!

Robin: Hello Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Robin: I'm 25 and currently finishing up my bachelor's in HR as well as having my eye on a possible master's in business psychology in the future. Going through depressive episodes due to gender dysphoria as a teenager and adolescent has had a big impact on my career as a student, so I'm quite proud of myself for not giving up.

I hope to make a positive contribution to the community and help against the discrimination against minorities at the workplace. I'm also passionate about makeup, fashion, yummy food and generally leaving this world a better place than when I came into it.

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

Robin: I didn't have many role models when I was growing up. My biggest regret is not transitioning sooner, so if I can inspire someone else to live authentically by sharing my experience I'll gladly do it.

Interview with Lennie Blockmans

Monika: I’m excited to be speaking today with Lennie Blockmans, a young model and social media influencer from Antwerp, Belgium. Lennie, thank you so much for joining me. Hello Lennie!

Lennie: Hello Monika! Thank you so much for having me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Lennie: My name is Len, but most people call me Lennie. I'm 22 years old and I live in Antwerp where I study psychology. My interests are fashion, art, music, pop culture, and things like that. I came out as gay at 15 and when I was 17 I came out as trans. I completed my medical transition last year and I'm happier than ever.

Monika: What inspired you to share your intimate life moments via Instagram?

Lennie: I've always been very open and honest about everything regarding my transition. I use Instagram as a visual diary where I document my life, just like most people. But when I started my transition I figured it would be nice to have a timeline with pictures from start to finish and I'm very happy I did that.

Interview with Marisa Allen

Marisa Allen is one of those rare artists whose energy, humor, and sparkle seem to illuminate every stage she steps onto. A Belgian revue producer, performer, and director, she is best known as the creative mind behind the award-winning show ballet The New Sensations, a spectacular production that has captured audiences across the globe. For more than a decade, she has earned the title of “The Designer of the Stars,” creating glamorous costumes and breathtaking stage concepts for artists and performers worldwide. Her shows have brought elegance and joy to some of the most prestigious theaters and casinos, combining visual beauty, artistic excellence, and a touch of playful extravagance that has become her signature style. Marisa’s journey into show business began when she was only five years old, performing in children’s plays and discovering that the stage was her true home. Over the years, her career blossomed into a vibrant blend of performance and design. Today she continues to shine not only as a designer but also as a stand-up comedian, embodying an array of unforgettable characters, from queens to call girls, from little girls to movie icons like Marilyn Monroe. Her artistic versatility reflects her fearless creativity and deep love for entertaining others.

 

Beyond the spotlight, Marisa is a woman of warmth, grace, and resilience. She is a devoted wife who has shared her life with her husband for nearly three decades, a proud mother, and a deeply compassionate person who values kindness and authenticity above all. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: love and happiness are the true sources of beauty, and respect is the key to being respected. She believes that success in art and in life comes from following one’s passion, staying humble, and always daring to dream. In this interview, Marisa shares her remarkable story, from her early days as a young dreamer to her triumphs on the international stage. She talks about the inspirations behind her artistry, her experiences as a transgender woman in the entertainment world, and her reflections on empowerment, femininity, and self-expression. With her signature mix of humor, honesty, and heart, Marisa reminds us that life, like show business, is meant to be lived in full color and with a touch of sparkle.