Interview with Ada Arencibia

Monika: Few voices in transgender and LGBTQ+ advocacy resonate as powerfully as Ada Arencibia. As the host of Out of the Closet, Into the World, she has created a platform where authenticity is celebrated, empowering listeners to embrace their truth. Born in Cuba, Ada's journey has taken her across borders and personal evolutions. After moving to the U.S., she navigated cultural shifts, bullying, and self-discovery. Coming out first as gay and later as a transgender woman, she has faced rejection and adversity but emerged as a fearless advocate.

Ada openly shares the realities of the transgender experience, from mental health to relationships, offering insight and hope. Her honesty about her own struggles makes her a guiding light for others seeking their path. Today, I have the privilege of exploring Ada’s journey, advocacy, and the lessons she has learned along the way. Let’s step Out of the Closet, Into the World with Ada Arencibia. Welcome to my blog, Ada!

Interview with Yuni Carey

Yuni Carey is an American model, dancer, and beauty pageant queen of Cuban descent, known not only for her striking beauty and magnetic stage presence but also for her resilience and spirit. Born in 1981 in Santa Clara, Cuba, Yuni moved to the United States as a child, where she was lovingly raised by her grandparents, whom she calls her parents. America became the place where she could fully realize her identity and pursue the life she had always dreamed of. With a deep passion for fashion, beauty, and performance, Yuni began her modeling career in Los Angeles in 2004. Her charisma quickly caught attention, and she soon found herself immersed in the pageant world, where she truly flourished. In 2006, she won the coveted Queen of the Universe title, marking her as a rising star among transgender beauty queens.

 

Her pageant career includes multiple accolades, most notably two appearances at the prestigious Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand. In 2011, she placed in the Top 10 and was crowned Miss Photogenic, while in 2014 she returned to earn the titles of 2nd Runner-Up Best Talent and Miss Congeniality, charming judges and audiences alike. Yuni is celebrated not only for her elegance but also for her sincerity, humor, and warmth. She brings fierce glamour to the runway but remains grounded in her values: self-love, compassion, and authenticity. Outside the pageant world, she dedicates herself to mentoring young transgender girls preparing for competitions, sharing her knowledge and uplifting the next generation of queens. As a proud trans woman, Yuni has built her life on strength and perseverance. Without a roadmap or role model to follow, she created her own path guided by faith, determination, and the power of a Mariah Carey ballad. Today, she uses her story to inspire others, reminding us that dreams are real and that beauty begins with the courage to be yourself.