Interview with Christie De Vries

Christie De Vries is an Australian writer whose extraordinary life reflects resilience, reinvention, and the courage to live authentically. She first stepped into the public eye as a showgirl in her late teens, at a time when that world was one of the few places where transgender women could find work and visibility. Although the stage offered her both glamour and freedom, it also exposed her to the harsh realities of an industry where many profited from the talent of transgender performers while offering them little in return. Determined to build a different future, Christie turned her attention to the medical field, following in the footsteps of her mother, who was a nurse. She worked in several major hospitals before earning her nursing qualifications and eventually specializing in ophthalmology, ENT, and surgical theatre, where she served as a scrub nurse for a cosmetic surgeon. Despite her success in nursing, Christie’s most lasting contribution has come through writing. Her autobiography, Down the Rabbit Hole...: An Autobiography by Christie De Vries, published in 2015, is a raw and unflinching account of her life. It traces her journey from a difficult childhood and strained relationship with her adoptive mother to her early transition in the 1970s, when tolerance was far rarer and discrimination more pervasive.

Interview with Alana Joy

Alana Joy is a woman of many passions and talents, weaving together the lives of a commodity trader, musician, photographer, hiker, writer, and dreamer. Her creativity and love of nature are deeply connected to her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she often finds peace and inspiration on the desert trails that surround the city. Music, photography, and the art of charting and trading have all shaped her outlook on life, but it is her personal journey of self-discovery that defines her most. In 2015, Alana shared that journey with the world through her autobiography Dreamy Morning, a book that blends raw honesty with a deep sense of hope. By telling her story, she wanted to challenge the harmful misconception that being transgender is a choice, and she hoped to reach young people, parents, and anyone who might feel lost or alone. Writing her book was not easy for her, as she had long been a private person, yet her desire to make a difference outweighed her fears. Her reflections reveal not only the courage it takes to live authentically but also the compassion she feels for others navigating similar paths.

Interview with Tina Madison White

Tina Madison White is a remarkable transwoman whose journey blends professional achievement, personal resilience, and heartfelt storytelling. She has built an impressive career as a commercial and investment banker, management consultant, business information manager, and organization strategist, navigating highly demanding industries while quietly carrying the weight of a deeply personal journey toward self-discovery. Tina is also the author of the memoir Between Shadow and Sun: A Husband's Journey Through Gender - A Wife's Labor of Love, a deeply honest account that began as a love letter to her children and evolved into a reflection on identity, family, love, and the pursuit of authenticity. Married to her wife Mary for eighteen years, Tina emphasizes the importance of empathy, communication, and enduring love in both personal and societal contexts, showing how transition can be a shared journey that touches everyone around you. Her story offers valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of embracing one’s true self later in life, the emotional labor of reconnecting with family, and the ways transwomen can navigate and contribute to broader communities without being defined solely by their gender. Beyond her professional and literary accomplishments, Tina is deeply engaged in advocacy, supporting transgender rights and fostering understanding across diverse audiences.

Interview with Jossy Yendall

She moves through the world like a flicker of golden light, eyeliner sharp, lips painted red, her heart stitched together with equal parts vintage lace and sheer determination. From Gateshead, UK, where the skies often blush grey and the Tyne whispers stories of grit and survival, emerges a woman whose life is anything but ordinary. Jossy Yendall is not just a performer, a model, or a pageant queen, she is an anthem of reinvention. Raised among the quiet streets of northeast England, she dared to imagine a life lit by stage lights, sequins, and spotlights. Where others saw limitations, she saw costume changes. Where others whispered "not yet," she replied with "watch me." With every drag show, with every perfectly arched brow and jazz note sung, Jossy built herself, layer by shimmering layer. Inspired by the haunting elegance of Greta Garbo and the raw charisma of Bette Davis, she has never been content with blending in. She turns heads not with noise, but with presence. Not with perfection, but with truth. She began, like so many trans women, in the margins, in the in-betweens, the not-yets, the what-ifs.

 

But even as the world tried to edit her story, Jossy wrote her own narrative in lipstick and resilience. From amateur dramatics to Drag Idol, from working the tills to walking the catwalk, her life has been a defiant waltz toward visibility. Winning Miss Transgender UK wasn't just a crown, it was a reclamation. And yet, beyond the pageantry and performance lies a tender vulnerability. Jossy speaks candidly of transition, of the aching in-between spaces, of friendships that anchored her and nights that tested her. She shares her dreams not just of fame, but of love, the kind that holds you gently and sees you completely. In this interview, she opens her heart with candor, humor, and grace. She is a woman who celebrates her femininity loudly but loves quietly, who knows the power of beauty but treasures kindness even more. From the soul of Gateshead to the stages of Northern Pride, Jossy Yendall reminds us all: There is nothing more radiant than a woman who finally becomes herself.

Interview with Angelique Munro

Angelique Munro’s life story reads like a powerful script, filled with moments of pain, transformation, triumph, and hope. Born and raised in Chicago, she came into a world that did not yet have the words to understand who she truly was. As a child, she faced abuse and rejection simply for daring to say “I am a girl,” yet she carried within her a spark that no cruelty could extinguish. That spark grew into resilience, a fierce determination to live authentically, and eventually a dazzling career on the stage. For over two decades, Angelique has been one of Chicago’s most respected female impersonators, a performer who has captivated audiences with talent, humor, and charisma. Her artistry opened doors to opportunities across the United States, from the bright lights of New York and Las Vegas to national television appearances on The Ricki Lake Show, The Tyra Banks Show, and E! Entertainment Television. But Angelique is far more than a celebrated entertainer.

 

She is a survivor who turned her hardships into fuel for advocacy. Having walked through abuse, depression, and the long shadow of self-doubt, she emerged with a deep compassion for others and a commitment to giving voice to those often silenced. As a transgender woman and HIV/AIDS advocate, she has inspired countless people through her courage and honesty, and as a motivational speaker she shares her story not to dwell on the past but to shine a light toward a better, kinder future. Her life is a reminder that authenticity, though sometimes costly, is also liberating. Today, Angelique continues to reinvent herself, moving from the nightclub stage to the television screen with projects that blend entertainment with empowerment. She knows the power of visibility and the importance of being true to oneself, and she carries that message into everything she does. Meeting her is to meet a woman who embodies strength, vulnerability, and grace in equal measure.

Interview with Reena Gibson

Reena Gibson is a British writer, musician, and transgender advocate whose life embodies courage, creativity, and perseverance. She is the author of The Long Road Ahead (2015), a strikingly honest autobiography that documents her experiences through two transitions while capturing the many layers of her life beyond gender identity. Originally written as a personal diary to help her come to terms with her past, the book evolved into a published work that highlights not only her struggles but also her triumphs and determination to live authentically. For Reena, sharing her story became an act of both self-healing and inspiration for others who might find strength in her words. Alongside her writing, Reena is the lead singer and guitarist of the Birmingham rock band Milestone Road, where she channels her passion for music into performance and storytelling. Her musical journey began in her teenage years, inspired by artists like Tiffany, Debbie Gibson, and Olivia Newton-John, and later rekindled through the example of Laura Jane Grace, whose courage in living openly as a transgender woman gave Reena renewed motivation to continue her own career in music. Since forming Milestone Road in 2011, she has embraced her role not only as a performer but also as the creative core of the band, proving that music remains a vital thread in her life’s fabric.