Interview with Niya

Monika: Today I have invited Niya, an American transgender woman who documents her transition on social media. Hello Niya!

Niya: Hi Monika, thank you so much for inviting me to do this!

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Niya: My name is Niya and I'm a 26-year-old transgender woman. I started my transition at 18 and here I am now I guess.

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

Niya: I'm pretty much an open book, but I like to share a lot of myself on social media because it's not only good to show others the progress you can make, but to also keep track of it yourself. Transitioning can be a very daunting task, and I think seeing others succeed in their transition can drive you to do the same in yours.

Interview with Ashley Adamson

Monika: Today I have a special guest for you. Ashley Adamson is an American speaker and writer on transgender personal growth and advocacy, YouTube vlogger, and transactivist. She is the founder of the Trans Resiliency project and Trans Club - a community dedicated to supporting the transgender community. She has spoken at conferences and for NGOs, including UNICEF, universities, and corporations, and appeared in major media outlets such as MTV, USA Today, and DW. Ashley is the author of Trans Kung Fu: Awakening of Self Acceptance (2021). Hello Ashley!

Ashley: Hello Monika!

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

Ashley: Thank youuuuu! I'm glad you see that. I actually have no talents haha! I am just good at teaching myself whatever I need to do and that makes me appear like I have many talents but honestly, I'm just decent at a lot of things. Uhm, I dunno I guess the most important thing in my life's mission is to help thousands of people questioning and/or trans figure out who they are and then follow their path or life's purpose.

Interview with Ovileya Myrah

Monika: Today I have invited Ovileya Myrah, a happy Bangladeshi-born transgender woman from Greece who documents her transition on social media. Hello Ovileya!

Ovileya: Hello dear Monika, I am so happy to be interviewed by you and glad to share my experience with you and our readers.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Ovileya: I am Ovileya Myrah, 26 years old, I am from Bangladesh. I left Bangladesh in 2016 and decided to settle down in Greece in 2017. I am a transgender woman, so I had to leave Bangladesh because of my gender issue.

I was living in a society where it was very difficult to survive, and my family couldn’t help with it either. I suppose they didn’t have the education and, of course, the courage to support me. So I had a very difficult childhood, and eventually, I was forced to leave my country.

Interview with Celeste

Celeste is a vibrant 22-year-old transgender woman from Chicago, currently pursuing a degree in theatre set design. With a passion for cars, architecture, and creativity, she enjoys sharing her transition journey on social media to inspire others, especially those just beginning their own paths. For Celeste, posting is about more than just celebrating personal milestones, it’s a way to offer guidance and validation to early-transition individuals who may be struggling, much like she once did. The name “Celeste” holds deep personal significance for her, chosen after years of reflection and connection to a character she wrote in her fiction. Initially hesitant, Celeste’s parents came to fully support her decision to begin hormone replacement therapy, after a year of emotional discussions. Although she’s faced her share of challenges, like navigating dysphoria, a difficult job experience, and workplace discrimination, Celeste remains hopeful, focused on the joy of being seen as her authentic self. While she’s inspired by figures like Hunter Schafer, Celeste doesn’t follow many transgender role models. Instead, she believes in living unapologetically and encourages other trans women to do the same. For her, the ultimate goal is simple: to be recognized not as a "trans woman," but as a woman in her own right. Through love, authenticity, and unwavering self-acceptance, Celeste is building a future where she can simply be herself, without limits or comparisons.

Interview with Nofar Morali

Graceful, radiant, and deeply authentic, Nofar Morali is a rising star in the Israeli LGBTQ+ landscape. A model, YouTube vlogger, and vibrant social media presence, Nofar opens her life to thousands, courageously documenting her transition with honesty, charm, and heartfelt vulnerability. Her videos are more than just updates, they're lifelines for others walking the same path, especially those still gathering the courage to begin. Born with a free spirit and a deep love for nature, Nofar carries a quiet strength beneath her playful style and signature crop tops. Whether she’s experimenting with colorful makeup or offering transition advice online, she shines with the message that self-love is not just important, it’s everything. Though her journey hasn’t been without pain, including losing the support of her father, she remains steadfast in her belief that what is truly meant for her will never leave.

 

Inspired by trans icons like Dana International and moved to give back to the community that once helped her, Nofar now volunteers with LGBTQ+ organizations in Israel and serves as a beacon of hope for others. She speaks openly about the emotional highs and lows of “passing,” her deep gratitude for the effects of HRT, and the transformational power of embracing your truth, even when the world isn’t ready. Nofar’s life is a vibrant reminder that beauty blossoms in courage, that femininity is expansive, and that visibility, when paired with purpose, can truly save lives. As she looks to the future, completing her medical transition, building her career, maybe even writing a memoir, Nofar remains guided by love: love for herself, her community, and the bright, colorful world she’s helping to reshape.

Interview with Hanne Carrington Reay

Monika: Today I have the pleasure and honor of interviewing Hanne Carrington Reay, a British artist living in Mexico, poet, writer, transactivist, witch, and transgender woman that shares her transition story on social media. Hello Hanne!

Hanne: Hello Monika! Thank you for asking me to take part in your excellent series of interviews. I am from England, I was born in Cambridge but I grew up in the North-East, near Newcastle upon Tyne. I moved to Scotland in 1992 to attend Glasgow School of Art and after I graduated from the University of Glasgow, moved to the US where I lived for 13 years, before moving to Mexico in 2009.

Monika: Could you say a few words about yourself?

Hanne: Yes, of course. I am an artist and I use my work to talk about my experiences living outside of my culture. I have made installations, sound pieces, and video art, exhibited my paintings in both solo shows and in group exhibitions, plus I have curated exhibitions in Philadelphia and New York City.