Interview with Claire Russell

Claire Russell is a young yet remarkably dedicated transgender activist from San Diego, California, whose work is rooted in empathy, optimism, and an unwavering commitment to her community. As the creator of the San Diego Trans Resource Center and a co-organizer of the city’s first annual Trans*Pride and March, Claire has played a meaningful role in building visibility, connection, and support for transgender people in Southern California. A former Ms. Trans San Diego, she is deeply engaged in volunteer work, with a particular focus on transgender youth, while balancing multiple jobs and the support of her family. Claire’s activism is shaped by both creativity and practicality.

 

With a background in video game design and a deep love for art in all its forms, she brings a strong sense of design, imagination, and care into everything she does. One of her most inspiring initiatives is her plan to provide free permanent hair removal for transgender people by partnering with LGBT non-profits, addressing a vital need that is often overlooked due to cost and lack of access. For Claire, community work is not about recognition but about reducing harm, saving lives, and helping others live more safely and authentically. Thoughtful, compassionate, and driven by a creed of kindness, she represents a new generation of transgender activists who create change through presence, generosity, and genuine human connection.

Interview with Estelle Roedrer

 

Estelle Roedrer is a French cabaret artist, singer, dancer, and beauty pageant queen whose life and career have been marked by movement, creativity, and an unwavering commitment to being herself. Over the years, she has performed in cabarets across Germany, Spain, Egypt, and France, building a reputation for her versatility, charm, and the passion she brings to every stage. Whether performing as a classic cabaret artist, a bold impersonator, or in more provocative roles, Estelle has always approached her craft with authenticity, creating shows that reflect both her talent and her individuality. Beyond her work in cabaret, Estelle has also taken part in international transgender beauty pageants, including the Miss International Queen contest in Thailand.

 

While she admits she is far from a pageant enthusiast, these experiences allowed her to meet remarkable people from around the world and gain a broader perspective on life, beauty, and self-expression. True to her nature, she has never followed anyone else’s path or relied on role models, preferring instead to carve out her own journey, guided by honesty, self-awareness, and a desire to live fully in the present. Estelle’s story is one of courage, independence, and the simple joy of embracing life as it comes. She speaks candidly about her transition, her encounters with love, and the realities faced by transgender women, all while maintaining a grounded, unpretentious outlook. In this interview, she shares not only her artistic journey and achievements but also her reflections on authenticity, freedom, and the art of living unapologetically as oneself, showing that for her, the stage is not just a career, it is a place where she is fully, unmistakably alive.

Interview with Emily Iannielli

 

Emily Iannielli is an American blogger and YouTuber who courageously shares her journey as a transgender woman. Emily identifies as male-to-female and has felt a profound awareness of her true gender since the age of three. Despite a lifelong struggle with gender dysphoria and the societal pressures of living in the closet, she has embraced her authentic self while maintaining her role as a devoted mother to her 16-year-old son and a loving partner to her wife. Educated in Mechanical Engineering at Virginia Tech and Accounting at Hofstra University, Emily brings a unique blend of analytical insight and personal resilience to her storytelling. Almost three years into her transition, Emily lives full-time as a pre-op transgender woman, having found both peace and joy in her hormone therapy, which has allowed her to experience meaningful physical changes and a greater sense of alignment with her true identity.

 

Emily has a passion for fashion, particularly dresses in vibrant colors and floral patterns, with pink being her favorite, and she embraces style as an empowering form of self-expression. She draws inspiration from trans role models such as Kim Petras, Jenna Talackova, and Laura Jane Grace, while also advocating for broader understanding and acceptance of transgender individuals. Through her blog and YouTube channel, Emily has opened a window into the realities of transitioning later in life, tackling the complexities of family, love, and identity with honesty and grace. She is actively involved in her local LGBT community, participates in support groups, and believes in the power of visibility and storytelling to challenge misconceptions about transgender women. Looking ahead, Emily hopes to integrate her transition into her family life, pursue gender-affirming surgery, continue her advocacy work, and eventually write a book sharing her experiences, offering guidance, and inspiring others facing similar journeys.

Interview with Lexi Jean McPherson

 

Lexi Jean McPherson is a British writer, transgender activist, and the author of the autobiographical book HE wants HER, published in 2014. Lexi’s story is an ongoing fight for recognition and equal rights in a society that often refuses to understand transgender lives. Originally from Bradford in West Yorkshire, she later moved to Greater Manchester, where she has built her adult life, worked within an elderly housing association, and found her voice as both a writer and advocate. Lexi’s experiences are deeply shaped by survival as much as by self-discovery. Having faced homelessness herself, she later became a Young Ambassador for the Albert Kennedy Trust, an organization that supports LGBTQ+ young people in crisis, a role that carries both personal meaning and profound responsibility. Her writing is rooted in lived experience, reflecting not only the challenges of transition, discrimination, and coming out, but also the importance of love, resilience, and chosen family.

 

Through honesty, emotional openness, and an unfiltered perspective, Lexi reminds us that behind every transgender story is a human being fighting to be seen, respected, and loved for who they truly are. She also speaks openly about the impact of representation, drawing inspiration from cultural icons who challenged boundaries and reshaped public perception. Lexi does not shy away from difficult topics such as loss, rejection, and violence, addressing them with empathy rather than bitterness. At the same time, she emphasizes hope, self-worth, and the power of community as essential tools for survival and growth. Her voice is both personal and political, grounded in lived reality while reaching out to others who may still feel unheard or invisible.

Interview with Jaroslava Brokešová

 

Jaroslava Brokešová, a remarkable woman whose life story reads like a cinematic script. A tram driver from Prague, Czech Republic, Jaroslava is also a former diva and one of the most charismatic transgender women in Central and Eastern Europe. She celebrates a life filled with courage, transformation, and creativity. This year, she marks a personal milestone, turning fifty while reflecting on twelve years since her gender reassignment surgery. A devoted mother of two, she balances family life with her work at the Prague Public Transport Company, where she drives trams and embraces the rhythm of ordinary life with extraordinary flair. Beyond her daily routine, Jaroslava has a thirst for adventure and learning. She enjoys swimming, biking, climbing via Ferrata, and traveling. Just last year, she sailed the Mediterranean on an 18th-century replica pirate ship, taking on the role of a cadet and exploring the challenges of life at sea. Her journey toward womanhood began at the age of thirty-eight, a process that took years of therapy, hormone treatment, and self-discovery, and one that she approached with determination and authenticity.

 

Before settling into a quieter life, Jaroslava shone on stage as a travesti performer, captivating audiences across the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Slovakia. From comic sketches to live singing, her performances were a mix of cabaret, glamour, and theatrical daring, including unforgettable moments like performing a Scott Joplin number in full Marlene Dietrich style and delivering a show-stopping striptease. Her stage career was both a creative outlet and a lifeline during her transformative years, providing encouragement, joy, and the freedom to express herself fully. Today, Jaroslava is widely respected for her courage and openness. She is invited to television programs and recognized in the media, yet she remains grounded, valuing her ordinary life and professional achievements as much as her public presence. She offers guidance and support to younger transgender women, emphasizing the importance of confidence, self-acceptance, and living proudly. With a pragmatic yet inspiring approach, Jaroslava Brokešová exemplifies how authenticity, resilience, and a sense of adventure can shape a life that is both remarkable and deeply human.

Interview with Morganna Love

 

Aleizah Morganna Martínez Bautista, also known as Morganna Love, is a Mexican opera singer, actress, and transgender activist whose life and career are inseparable from her journey of self-discovery. Born on June 15, 1980, in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Morganna began singing at the age of four and was already drawn to performance, music, and feminine expression as a child. After years of inner conflict and bullying during her adolescence, she pursued formal music education, first studying at the Universidad de Guanajuato and later completing her opera training at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico, where she developed a strong foundation in vocal technique, music history, languages, piano, and harmony.

 

Initially performing while still presenting as male, Morganna eventually made the life-changing decision to transition, a process that led to rejection from her family and a period of living alone while singing in clubs and undergoing hormone therapy. In 2012, she represented Mexico at the Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand, hoping to fund her transition, and later that year underwent gender-affirming surgery, a deeply personal experience documented in the film Made in Bangkok released in 2015. Alongside her operatic career, Morganna has worked as an actress in film, television, and opera, and she uses her visibility to speak openly about transgender experiences, human rights, beauty, love, and resilience, proving that her voice resonates just as powerfully offstage as it does in performance.