Interview with Alison Ashdown

Monika: Today I am going to talk to Alison Ashdown, an inspirational transgender woman from Toronto, Canada. Alison is a fashion model, actress, film writer/director, and transactivist. Her artistic short film “Forever Changed” was produced and released online in 2020. Hello Alison!

Alison: Hello Monika! Thank you for having me!

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

Alison: Yeah certainly! Let’s see. Well, I love to try new things when I get that passionate interest peaking. It’s how I ended up in modeling, film, fashion studies, and ballet. One day, I asked my friend to do a photoshoot with me and that blossomed into a dream come true with modeling. I’ve been published four times and participated in several runway events.

In fact, at the end of my first year in 2019, I was chosen to walk the runway in Los Angeles for the Equality Fashion Week. Had the time of my life! And with the confidence I gained in front of the camera and on stage, I moved to try my hand at writing a film and subsequently acting and directing it as well. And since then, I moved to Toronto to study fashion management at George Brown College and recreationally train in the Royal Academy of Dance classical ballet program.

Interview with Marcie Primrose

Monika: Today I am going to interview Marcie Primrose, an American vlogger that shares her transition story on social media. Hello Marcie!

Marcie: Hey Monika! It's wonderful to meet you.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Marcie: I'm a gal on a gender journey. I've spent my entire adult life exploring who I want to be. It's a bit daunting to realize you can be whoever you want. Now I'm a punk-goth-pastel-fem-Egirl sharing her body with the world. I want everyone to know that a woman can look like me too.

Monika: Marcie is a nice name. Why did you choose it?

Marcie: I'm a huge Adventure Time fan. My favorite character is Marceline, a powerful sapphic vampire. What more could I ask for in a character? I shortened that to Marcie to sound less formal.

Interview with Antin Belizar

Monika: Today I am meeting Antin Belizar, a Filipino make-up and hairstylist, and YouTube vlogger. It has been 10 years since she launched her Antin Belizar vlog where she shares her beauty tips and transition story. Hello Antin!

Antin: Hi Monika! I'm really glad to answer your questions and thank you for this opportunity.️

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Antin: My name is Antin. I was born and raised in the Philippines. I am proud to say that I am a transgender woman. I work as a call center agent in the BPO industry as my main source of income. Sometimes I like to indulge in little activities to help me escape from reality. That's how my YouTube channel was created. In my channel, you will see me create different makeup Inspirations and most importantly some videos I have shared about my true Identity. I'm just a normal person; I'm far from being perfect. I'm just me.️

Interview with Miss Rose

Monika: Today I am going to introduce you to you Miss Rose, an Australian trans escort girl, model, and former commercial skipper. Hello Rose!

Rose: Thanks for having me. I love being me and sharing my story.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Rose: When talking about myself I always find it hard, despite I have such a story to tell. I'm a post-op trans woman. I have had top, boobs, and bottom surgery, neovagina done, and absolutely loving it; it finally made me myself and I'm very proud of who I'm. It happened only a few years ago but it was so nice to be myself.

I'm an easy outgoing kind of girl, who loves catching up with friends and making new friends. Did I mention I love my job? 

Monika: Haha, I guess we can read it between the lines. When did you decide that you would like to be an escort?

Rose: In my younger years I was once a bit desperate for work, and I worked for a short time as a male escort. So after transitioning and finding out that no one would employ me in the marine industry anymore as a commercial skipper (my former occupation with teaching as well) I decided to become an escort. I had some contacts to help start me up, and haven't looked back.

Interview with Robin Rose

Monika: Today I am going to interview Robin Rose, a young trans girl from Belgium that chronicles her transition on social media. Hello Robin!

Robin: Hello Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Robin: I'm 25 and currently finishing up my bachelor's in HR as well as having my eye on a possible master's in business psychology in the future. Going through depressive episodes due to gender dysphoria as a teenager and adolescent has had a big impact on my career as a student, so I'm quite proud of myself for not giving up.

I hope to make a positive contribution to the community and help against the discrimination against minorities at the workplace. I'm also passionate about makeup, fashion, yummy food and generally leaving this world a better place than when I came into it.

Monika: What inspired you to share your intimate life moments on social media?

Robin: I didn't have many role models when I was growing up. My biggest regret is not transitioning sooner, so if I can inspire someone else to live authentically by sharing my experience I'll gladly do it.

Interview with Victoria Karppinen

Monika: Today I am taking you to Finland where my lovely guest Victoria Karppinen lives. She is a model and social media enthusiast. We are going to touch upon her transition, inspirations, and challenges that she has faced as a transgender woman. Hello Victoria! 

Victoria: Hi Monika!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Victoria: I'm a transgender woman from Finland. I love socializing and meeting with other people. I'm 33 years old and I have lived now about 6 years fully as a girl. I have been on HRT for around 4months now.

Monika: Wooow! You lived as a woman for almost 6 years without being on HRT? 

Victoria: Yeah almost. I used to order meds from the Internet, which were not like prescription ones. And I took only female hormones, not any androgen blockers. I had no idea whether they were harmful or not, which was quite stupid.

Anyway, I had used them before I started the correct treatment. So I lived as a woman without any meds for around 5 years, and then I started to order them via the Internet. Obviously, I could not see any results because I did not take testosterone blockers.