Interview with Véronique Renard

Véronique Françoise Caroline Renard, born on May 26, 1965, in Jutphaas, Netherlands, is a woman whose life has been a tapestry of grace, courage, and profound transformation. Known by her spiritual name, "Pantau," which she received after a life-changing meeting with the Dalai Lama in 2000, her name means “to be helpful” or “beneficial,” a fitting reflection of her deep dedication to making a positive impact on the world and those around her. Véronique’s journey is not just about the milestones she achieved but about the quiet strength she embodied as she navigated the complexities of her identity. At the tender age of 17, with the love and support of her family and friends, she courageously began her transition into womanhood. Her mother lovingly renamed her Véronique, a name that symbolizes the beautiful, new beginning she embraced. In 1983, she legally changed her name and completed her gender-affirming journey, becoming one of the first people in the Netherlands to undergo gender reassignment surgery. As Véronique embraced her true self, she became a pioneer, someone whose personal transformation touched the lives of many. 

 

Her memoirs, Pantau in India and Pholomolo: No Man No Woman, have been more than just stories, they have been windows into her soul. Through her words, she has shared not only the intimate experience of her gender transition but also the beauty of her spiritual journey. Her time in the Himalayas, where she lived in the presence of the Dalai Lama, was a period of profound inner peace and growth, culminating in the creation of the Pantau Foundation in 2000. This foundation supported Tibetan refugee children, a cause that became deeply entwined with her own heart. Her life has not been without its challenges, but Véronique’s resilience has always shone through. After leaving India, she spent years in Thailand before returning to the Netherlands in 2011 to care for her mother. But it was in 2023 that Véronique took yet another courageous step, moving to Cambodia to bring her vision of Kikiyaya Zen Gardens to life. This serene project is a testament to her unwavering belief in nurturing the soul and fostering peace, both within and around us.

Interview with Ellen Jansen

Get ready to meet the inspiring Ellen Jansen, an inspiring woman from Maastricht, the Netherlands. Ellen is a passionate entrepreneur and founder of Cheappower4U, a company specializing in energy transition solutions for residential construction. She has developed an innovative technique to make sustainable renovations accessible to lower-income households and holds a patent for her invention. In addition to her business endeavors, Ellen is a certified coach and speaker, guiding individuals, teams, and organizations through transformative change. She is also an ambassador for Workplace Pride, a global foundation that promotes workplace inclusivity. In 2023, Ellen published her deeply personal and motivational book, Eindelijk Ellen: De Odyssee van een transgender vrouw (Finally Ellen: The Odyssey of a Transgender Woman), where she shares her courageous journey of living authentically. Ellen’s life and work reflect her belief in the power of transformation, resilience, and self-acceptance. She is a proud advocate for living life true to one's identity while inspiring others to do the same.

 

Monika: Hello Ellen! Thank you so much for accepting my invitation.

Ellen: Hi Monika! You’re welcome, happy to share my story.

Interview with Gaby van der Brug

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Gaby van der Brug, a Brazilian-born model living in the Netherlands, beauty queen, and transgender woman that shares her transition story on social media. This year she is going to represent the Netherlands in Miss Trans Star International, a beauty pageant for transgender women, which was first held in 2010 in Barcelona, in Catalonia, Spain. Hello Gaby!

Gaby: Hello Monika! Thanks for having me.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Gaby: I'm Gabriela but you can call me Gaby. I'm 21 years old, I'm a hairdresser and upcoming model. I have been living in the Netherlands since I was 11 years old.

Interview with Claire Slingerland

Monika: Today I would like to present to you Claire Slingerland, a Dutch filmmaker from Almere, the Netherlands, the director of the documentary "De Oversteek'' (The Step) and owner of film production company Blits Motion, as well as a proud transgender woman. Hello Claire!

Claire: Hello Monika! Thank you for inviting me.

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

Claire: Yes, I can. I'm a sixty years old woman from the Netherlands. I'm married to my wonderful wife and together we have two grown-up kids. With my team at Blits Motion we make movies for companies. And I'm associated with a foundation wherefore I make documentaries about inclusive and diversity subjects.

I'm now preparing a documentary to pay attention to 1000 to 2000 homeless LGBT young people in my country. They became homeless because they were not accepted by their parents. I want to make people aware of this problem because most people have no idea this is happening in our country. And I want to explore whether there is room within the parents' beliefs to accept their child.

Interview with Geneviève van Lynden

Monika: Today I have invited an inspirational woman. Geneviève van Lynden is a Dutch transgender woman, model, former police officer, mountains lover, and one of the icons of the Dutch transgender movement in the ’80s and ’90s. We are going to talk about her life and transgender experience in the previous century. Hello Geneviève! 

Geneviève: Hi Monika. Let me start by complimenting you on your great initiative. I love that you put so much time and energy into interviewing so many people for many years now. Your website has become a great time document; a resource that is rich in information about the past and presence of the lives of hundreds of transgender women.

You have interviewed so many inspiring transgender women. Like you, I admire many of them. How can I stand in their shadow? Nevertheless, I also have a story to tell and I am honored that you give me that chance.

Monika: Geneviève, you look like a million dollars. How are you doing this?

Geneviève: Thank you Monika. I'm happy and I radiate that, I think. In my younger years - I am now 62 years old - I knew of course that I looked good. At least that's what everyone told me. And I thoroughly enjoyed that. It pleases me that apparently I am still considered attractive to some even today.

Interview with Victoria Caram

Monika: Today I have invited an amazing woman. Victoria Maxima Caram is an Argentinian hairstylist, makeup artist, model, media personality, adult entertainment producer, and former stage performer living in the Netherlands. She is the Executive Director of Miss Trans Star International, a well-known transgender beauty pageant that is held every year in Barcelona, Spain. Hello Victoria!

Victoria: Hello Monika, I feel honored to be here today. I’ve seen so many talented and famous women in your interviews that I still don’t believe I am here.

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

Victoria: Well I wouldn’t say talents, I am a well-prepared woman, but above everything, I have been persevering with an almighty faith.

Monika: Victoria is a nice name. How did you choose it?

Victoria: In Roman mythology, Victoria was the name of the goddess of victory.

Monika: Before we have a closer look at your amazing professional career, I would like to ask you about your years in Argentina. Did you have a happy childhood there?

Victoria: Not at all, I was a kid with ADHD, so there were moments that even I did not want to be with me, hahaha. I come from the north of Argentina, Tucuman, from a very wealthy family; I went to the best elite schools. My mother is a doctor and my father is a businessman.

Interview with Lisa van Ginneken

Monika: Today I am going to introduce you to Lisa van Ginneken, a Dutch politician, human rights advocate, and LGBTQI+ activist. Lisa is the President of Transvisie, an organization that supports the trans community in the Netherlands. This year she is running for a Member of Parliament seat, representing D66, a social-liberal political party in the Netherlands. Hello Lisa!

Lisa: Hello Monika! I feel very honored to be here today with you and your readers. 

Monika: We are meeting a couple of weeks before the General Elections in the Netherlands. Our whole trans community is keeping fingers crossed for you, and I am very grateful that you have found some time to present yourself to the readers of my blog. Why do you want to enter the world of politics?

Lisa: Politics might feel a world apart from our own daily lives sometimes, but it is not. It affects our lives hugely, not only through the decisions politicians make but also by the example they set with their behavior. The tone of public debate really worries me, in the Netherlands and worldwide. In my years of advocating transgender rights in the Netherlands, I got familiar and intrigued with the ways of politics. And it felt like this is the right point in my life to put forward this and other experiences I have.

Interview with Solange Dekker

Monika: Today it is my pleasure and honor to interview Solange Dekker, a fashion model from the Netherlands, hairstylist, beauty pageant queen, Miss Netherlands at Trans Star International 2019, Miss Evolution 2019, and Finalist Miss Beauty of Noord-Holland 2020. Hello Solange!

Solange: Hi Monika! Thank you for taking the time to interview me.

Monika: You have already taken part in three beauty pageants! What is so special about being a beauty queen? :)
Solange: Thank you for your question. I have actually taken part in 2 beauty pageants! Miss Evolution is a title I won during my participation in 2019 Miss Trans Star International held in Barcelona, where I was the first-ever Miss Netherlands. The title goes to one woman who has shown the absolute most interest in the pageant and who has been the most 'evolving' girl in the pageant. Things such as being on time every time, taking extra catwalk lessons, trying to learn Spanish to talk to the girls, etc. Since this was my first ever pageant and I showed so much determination, I earned the title of Miss Evolution 2019.

Interview with Stephanie Postma

Stephanie Postma entered the spotlight at an age when most of us were still figuring out who we wanted to be. She uploaded her first YouTube video at fourteen, bravely opening a window into her transition for other young transgender girls who might have needed exactly that kind of courage. Today she is a 22-year-old beauty and wellness student who has already completed her transition and is enjoying life with a confidence she fought hard to earn. Her story includes the difficult parts, such as losing the support of her parents, and the joyful parts, such as her first holiday with “F” in her passport and building a new life with her partner. She speaks openly about what it means to live simply as a woman in a world that too often expects transgender women to perform femininity rather than embody it. Grounded, honest, and refreshingly direct, Stephanie’s perspective reflects the dreams of someone who hopes to swap the cold Dutch climate for sunny Barcelona, where she wants to open her own beauty salon. It is my pleasure to share our conversation.

Interview with Angela van Bebber

Angela van Bebber is a remarkable Dutch transgender activist from Tilburg, the Netherlands, whose life story is a testament to authenticity and quiet strength. A businesswoman, blogger, lecturer, and the author of the autobiographical book “Eindelijk, ik lééf!” (Finally I Live), Angela has spent decades finding her way toward herself, and then generously opening that path for others. After coming out in 2001 and completing her transition in 2006, she transformed years of struggle, solitude, and perseverance into a source of wisdom that now reaches schools, universities, and audiences across the country. Angela’s story is not one of easy victories, but of courage built step by step, often without role models, and with an unshakable belief that every experience carries meaning. Through her lectures, writing, and advocacy, she speaks honestly about pain, growth, and the long journey toward inner peace, always with the intention to educate, inspire, and foster understanding.

 

Her voice carries a universal message, one that goes far beyond transgender experiences, reminding us all of the power of being authentic, open, and compassionate, both toward others and toward ourselves. What makes Angela’s journey especially powerful is her willingness to share not only her achievements, but also her doubts, vulnerabilities, and ongoing process of healing. She does not present herself as someone who has all the answers, but as someone who keeps learning, reflecting, and growing. By standing on stage and speaking openly about her life, she turns personal history into collective insight. Her work shows that visibility can be an act of service, and that honesty can change minds and hearts. Above all, Angela embodies the idea that living fully is not a destination, but a courageous, lifelong practice.

Interview with Johanna Kamermans

Johanna Kamermans (born 1938) is a writer, translator, and former striptease dancer from the Netherlands. With a career spanning nearly 15 years, she worked in prestigious cabarets across Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg under the stage name Gina de Senfal (and briefly Gigi Deloran). Known for her captivating performances, Johanna became a prominent figure in the vibrant nightlife scene of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, where she made a name for herself with her sophisticated yet seductive style. Her performances were defined by her elegant choice of attire, luxurious leather, silk, fur, and towering 14 cm high heels, which became an inseparable part of her persona. Beyond her career on stage, Johanna is also a prolific writer, having authored over 10 books of various genres. Among her most notable works is Schlauchgelüste (2012), an autobiographical novel that explores her unique journey as a performer and the complexities of her life as a transgender woman. Through her writings, Johanna offers a glimpse into the bygone era of cabaret, capturing the spirit of a time when the world of nightlife was filled with both glamour and freedom.  

 

Now, at 76 years old, Johanna reflects with gratitude on her remarkable life. While the vibrant cabaret scene of her youth has faded, she cherishes the experiences that defined her and the women and men who were part of her journey. Johanna’s latest project is a novel recounting her time as a stage dancer and her relationships with various men. She has also created the Transmythos website to preserve the memory of this unforgettable era. With a philosophy of embracing one's true self, "I am what I am," Johanna remains an inspiring figure, continually shaping her narrative with grace and authenticity. Her legacy is a testament to the resilience and evolution of transgender women in the entertainment world and beyond.

Interview with Véronique Renard

Born in Jutphaas, the Netherlands, on May 26, 1965, Véronique Françoise Caroline Renard is a woman of many layers, each as colorful and compelling as her art and words. A celebrated Dutch author and visual artist, Véronique is also known by the name Pantau (or Phentok), meaning "to be helpful" or "beneficial," a spiritual gift she received during a transformative audience with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India, in 2000. As serendipitous as a Taoist peach, pantao, the legendary fruit of immortality, her chosen name reflects the deep compassion and mystical flavor that runs through her work and life. Véronique’s journey as a woman began with remarkable courage and clarity. In 1982, at the age of 17, she transitioned with the support of her family, friends, and hometown community. Inspired by the story of British model Caroline Cossey, she found the words to describe her own experience and sought guidance.

 

Diagnosed with Klinefelter’s syndrome (XXY), she began hormone therapy soon after, and completed her transition 18 months later in 1984, making her one of the first 150 people to undergo gender reassignment surgery in the Netherlands. Her mother lovingly chose her name, and Véronique added Françoise and Caroline to honor her best friend and the trans woman who helped spark her self-discovery. An explorer of the soul and a seeker of meaning, Véronique’s creative path has taken her across continents and cultures. Her life blends artistry with activism, spirituality with storytelling. Whether through a brushstroke, a memoir, or a moment of stillness, she offers a rare and radiant perspective, born from transformation, resilience, and deep inner truth.