Interview with Nova Twelve

Every once in a while, I come across a story that feels like a patchwork quilt, stitched together with unexpected experiences, bright flashes of humor, and a sense of adventure that refuses to stay inside the lines. Today’s guest is very much that kind of story. Meet Nova Twelve, a young American video blogger whose YouTube channel has become a lively stage where transition, comedy, and creativity intertwine. Originally from the Williamsburg area of Virginia and now based in South Carolina, Nova has a fascinating mix of passions and experiences that shape her outlook on life. Her academic path alone could fill a chapter in a memoir: an undergraduate degree in Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University, followed by a Master’s degree in Counseling from The Citadel. Add to that her formal education in both Cosmetology and Culinary Arts, and you quickly realize she’s someone who thrives on curiosity and reinvention. But if you ask Nova what she’s most proud of, she won’t list diplomas or certifications, she’ll tell you about her travels. To date, she has visited 52 countries, each one adding a new piece to her global mosaic, and she’s set her sights on reaching 100. On YouTube, Nova doesn’t just share her transition, she transforms it into something approachable, funny, and refreshingly human.

Interview with Kendra Brill

Some stories remind us that no matter how far we fall, we can rise again, stronger, wiser, and more radiant than before. Today, I have the true privilege of sharing one of those stories with you. My guest is Kendra Brill, the remarkable woman whose life journey is captured in The Kendra Brill Story (2017). Kendra’s life has not been an easy road. She has walked through struggles that many of us can hardly imagine, addiction, incarceration, rejection, loneliness. She has known what it means to stand at rock bottom. But she has also discovered something even greater: the courage to climb, the strength to transform, and the grace to embrace her authentic self as the woman she was always meant to be. Her story is not just about survival, it is about triumph. It is about finding family in unexpected places, and about being lifted up by love when the world seemed determined to pull her down. It is about believing that faith can heal, that wounds can become wisdom, and that no person is ever too broken to be made whole again. What makes Kendra so inspiring is not simply that she overcame hardships, it is the way she turned those hardships into hope for others. She shares her truth openly, without shame, because she knows that visibility saves lives. 

Interview with Yvette Tourettes

When it comes to online creators, authenticity often makes the strongest impression, and my guest today embodies exactly that. Known to her YouTube audience as “Yvette Tourettes,” Kelly Pärlefrost is a content-maker from Stockholm, Sweden, who shares her journey with remarkable honesty and creativity. At just 23 years old (soon turning 24), Kelly has already worn many hats: assistant nurse, student preparing for higher studies in pharmacy and chemistry, and now an emerging voice within the trans community through her online presence. Kelly’s channel is more than entertainment, it is a personal archive of resilience and growth. One of her most notable projects, a video montage tracing her life from childhood to the present day, reflects not only her evolving style but also the courage it takes to embrace one’s identity publicly. For years, Kelly preferred to keep her transgender background private, dreaming of simply being seen as any other girl. Yet, over time, she came to understand that her journey is not something to hide but a source of strength, and by sharing it she may inspire others walking a similar path. Her influences include trailblazing figures like Caroline Cossey, a model and actress who carved out space for trans visibility in the 1980s, and whose career Kelly admires for both its glamour and resilience against prejudice. Like Cossey, Kelly is drawn to fashion and beauty, particularly the artistry of make-up, which she describes as a way to express moods, eras, and emotions.

Interview with Claire Michelle

Claire Michelle is a multi-talented American musician, artist, and video blogger whose creative work and personal journey have inspired a growing audience across the United States and beyond. Hailing from Seattle, Claire stands out not only for her musical talents but also as one of the few openly transgender musicians actively shaping the local arts scene. Through her work in band management, her solo projects, and her engaging YouTube channel, she has created a platform that combines artistry with authenticity, offering a window into both her creative life and her experiences as a transgender woman. Claire’s YouTube channel, which she originally started as a personal diary, has grown into a vital space for education and visibility, where she documents the intricacies of transition while sharing her love of music. From her “Trans Singing 101” series, designed to guide trans women in finding their feminine singing voice, to candid travel vlogs and performance videos, Claire demonstrates both technical skill and a genuine desire to empower others. Her work resonates deeply with fans, many of whom reach out to her to share how her journey has encouraged them to pursue their own artistic dreams or embrace their identities with confidence.

Interview with Kirsty Jayne Crow

When we think of lives that read like a novel, few could rival the extraordinary story of Kirsty Jayne Crow. Born on the beautiful island of Jersey, Kirsty grew up surrounded by family love and the kind of picturesque childhood that might have promised a straightforward path ahead. Yet, from the age of eight, she was already grappling with a deep sense of gender incongruence, quietly envying her sisters’ silky hair and elegant clothes. Alongside this internal struggle, she discovered another passion, aviation, which would chart the early course of her professional life. By her teens, she was already flying, preparing for what seemed like a glittering future in the skies. But life, with its unexpected twists, intervened: a diagnosis of insulin-dependent diabetes at twenty-two brought an abrupt end to her dream of becoming a pilot. Resilient and determined, Kirsty built a successful career in airline operations, working for major carriers across the globe. Yet, behind the professionalism and discipline required in aviation, gender dysphoria remained an unrelenting shadow, shaping her personal relationships and, eventually, her destiny. Like many trans women of her generation, she clung to the belief that love alone could "cure" her. That hope carried her through two difficult marriages before she met Julia, the woman who would become not only her partner but also her rock throughout her transition.

Interview with Jessnisa

When it comes to transgender visibility in Southeast Asia, Thailand often comes to mind first. Known internationally as a place where transgender women are both more visible and more socially acknowledged than in many other parts of the world, the country has produced a new generation of role models, beauty queens, and public figures who are changing perceptions every day. Among this new wave of voices is Jessnisa, a young Thai model and video blogger who has embraced the power of storytelling through social media. By documenting her transition journey on YouTube, she has not only carved out a space for herself in the digital world but has also become an inspiration for many other transgender women who are still searching for the courage to live authentically. Jess, as she prefers to be called, radiates confidence and ambition. Her story is one of persistence, personal growth, and determination to follow her dreams despite challenges. Through her modeling career, fashion enthusiasm, and presence in transgender beauty pageants, Jess has shown that she is more than just a voice online, she is also a visible face of the vibrant Thai transgender community.

 

At the same time, she is deeply honest about the struggles of acceptance, particularly within her own family, and the stereotypes that transgender women in Thailand still encounter both at home and abroad. What makes Jess stand out is her passion for lifting others up. She openly shares the joys and struggles of hormone therapy, her hopes for future surgeries, and her experiences with both prejudice and empowerment. By doing so, she encourages other transgender women to embrace their identities and take steps toward becoming the women they dream of being. She admires pioneers like Poy Treechada, one of Thailand’s most celebrated transgender figures, yet she is also carving her own unique path. Whether on the runway, in beauty pageants, or in front of a camera, Jess embodies the mix of elegance, strength, and youthful drive that makes her such a compelling figure to follow. Today, I have the pleasure of speaking with Jess about her journey so far, her modeling career, her thoughts on the representation of transgender women in Thai media, and her dreams for the future.