Interview with Bobbi Dare

Monika: Today it is my honor and pleasure to interview Bobbi Dare, a Canadian poet, writer, and transgender activist that documents her transition on Reddit.com. We are going to chat about her amazing journey to womanhood and other related topics. Hello Bobbi! 

Bobbi: Hi Monika, good to be here thank you for inviting me.

Monika: Could you introduce yourself to the readers of my blog?

Bobbi: First of all I want to say that Bobbi Dare is a pen name that I have used for about 20 years. I am an out trans woman so I will share that my real name is Roberta Jane Heggie. I am 56 years old and I live in Toronto, Canada.

Professionally, I work in technology as a senior project/ program manager for diverse companies and I am a member of PMI - The Project Management Institute. I do volunteer work for PMI, being a past president of the Toronto Chapter, currently, I am the Chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for PMI Toronto and the Executive Director for the Chapter.

Interview with Hannah Decker

Monika: Today my guest is Hannah Decker, a Canadian transgender woman that documents her transition on Reddit.com. Hello Hannah!

Hannah: Hello Monika and thank you for contacting me. It never occurred to me that anyone would want to interview me but I’m happy to share my story.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Hannah: I am a 59-year-old freelance photographer/designer living in Canada. I have been married for over 20 years to a wonderful woman. I transitioned socially 9 months ago and started on hormones almost 6 months ago.

Monika: Why did you decide to share your transition details on social media?

Hannah: I did it for one reason. To hopefully inspire others who are doubting themselves like I was. I usually post in r/translater because I’m “older” and I found that people of my age needed more inspiration and hope than younger people. When I receive comments saying I have inspired them I feel so good. Unlike many people, I make a point of posting before and after photos to show the incredible change that can happen when you believe in yourself and follow your heart.

Interview with Brooke

Monika: Hey everyone, welcome to today’s interview! I’m thrilled to introduce you to someone whose story is as inspiring as it is heartwarming. Meet Brooke, a proud Canadian transgender woman. She’s been sharing her transition journey on Reddit, giving others a window into her world as she seeks her own little slice of happiness - just like all of us. Brooke, it’s such an honor to have you with me today. Thanks for being here!

Brooke: Hi Monika, it’s a pleasure to speak with you!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Brooke: Sure, I’m a 38-year-old Canadian woman. I am blessed with a beautiful fiancé and daughter, and like everyone else, I’m just trying to find my own little slice of happiness in life.:)

Monika: Why did you decide to share your transition details on Reddit?

Brooke: Well, mainly because my formative years were long before the Internet and the information accessible there. It was due to sheer ignorance that my own transition was delayed for so long, so I wanted to do what I could to provide as much information as possible for those questioning.

Interview with Joelle Circé Laramée

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Joelle Circé Laramée, a Canadian artist and feminist, painter, authoress of the biographical book titled “Breaking Free: 45 Years In The Wrong Body” (2020). Hello Joelle!

Joelle: Hello Monika, nice to be having this interview.

Monika: You are a woman of many talents. Could you say a few words about yourself?

Joelle: First I think you for thinking of me as I'm now just getting back to creating my art (paintings) and find this an excellent moment to speak out a little. I was born in a lower working-class home and neighborhood in Montreal, Canada, and have always known of my difference though not necessarily in terms like transsexual or queer which I came to understand later on in life. My whole world has been one of observing from the outside and I think this made me becoming a visual artist.

Interview with Shandi Strong

From the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, emerges a woman whose resilience and advocacy have carved out a path of courage, compassion, and transformation. Shandi Strong is not only a powerful voice for transgender rights in Canada, but a symbol of what it means to rebuild a life with fierce authenticity and tender hope. As a public speaker, author, photographer, musician, and dedicated community leader, Shandi's journey is one of deep losses and even deeper triumphs. Crowned as the first transgender Grand Marshal of the Winnipeg Pride Parade in 2015, honored with the Trail Blazer Award by the Winnipeg LGBT* Chamber of Commerce, and currently serving in multiple leadership roles, Advocacy Coordinator for Pride Winnipeg, Executive Secretary for Manitobans For Human Rights Inc., and a constituency assistant at the Manitoba Legislature, Shandi has committed her life to lifting others even as she walked through her own storms.

 

Her story, detailed in a forthcoming book and widely shared across Canadian media, is a mosaic of personal reinvention, political ambition, and quiet grace. From performing live music at Pride events to organizing Winnipeg’s first Trans March, she embodies the beautiful intersection of creative spirit and civic service. What stands out most, however, is her unwavering belief in the power of visibility, empathy, and the strength found in simply being oneself. In this interview, Shandi speaks openly about her journey, her heartbreaks, her rediscovered connection with her daughters, and her unrelenting hope for the next generation of trans youth. Her words are honest and warm, touched by a lifetime of growth, and a heart that never stopped loving, dreaming, and believing in a better world for all of us.

Interview with Samantha Lauzon

There are women whose strength takes the shape of quiet resilience, and then there are those like Samantha Lauzon, radiant, outspoken, unapologetically fierce, and unmistakably feminine. A Canadian model, actress, adult film director, and beloved YouTube vlogger, Samantha is not only a powerhouse in the entertainment world, but also a heartfelt voice for transgender visibility, mental health awareness, and self-love. Her journey began early, transitioning at just 13, in a time when role models for trans girls were almost nonexistent, and when love, both from others and for herself, had to be fiercely fought for. With a career that dances between vulnerability and boldness, Samantha shares her life online with unfiltered honesty, offering everything from beauty advice to deeply personal reflections on depression, sex work, and empowerment.

 

Her storytelling invites us into the real, messy, beautiful corners of a woman’s life, one built on courage, compassion, and an endless willingness to uplift others. Her resilience is grounded in experience, her words in truth, and her laughter in knowing that nothing, not stigma, not rejection, not even fear, can outshine authenticity. In a world that often underestimates transgender women, Samantha stands tall, camera in hand, heart on sleeve, a living example of what it means to never shrink for anyone. As she says herself: “I don’t need a man, I want a man. There’s a difference.” And that difference is called power. It’s my honor to introduce you to Samantha Lauzon: a woman who has transformed her pain into passion, and her voice into a lifeline for those still learning to love the reflection in the mirror.