Chanel, 18, Queens, NY

Chanel, 18, Queens, NY

I started dressing and looking the complete way I wanted to. It was kind of like a weight being released from my soul and it gave me the invincible feeling and outlook. Of course, I still have my certain insecurities but I feel like people get it confused, like if you have insecurities you can’t be confident. I have some insecurities, but I still tell myself and feel that I’m the beatest thing, because I am, and no one can ever destroy that.

I don’t think anyone who is not transgender will even know what it means or what it feels like. When they wake up every morning, for years, not loving themselves and hiding it with confidence, then maybe, but other than that they will never know what it feels like to wake up that way and knowing that you have to go out into this world of people who immediately hate you just for who you are. It’s kind of like being born into hate for no reason you know.

I want more people to know and understand that all trans women don’t all look the same and we all don’t have to have the same silhouette. We all aren’t prostitutes and that we are people just like everyone else.  We are all humans living on this earth.