The conversation around transgender people and their experiences has been more prevalent in today's society than ever before. But everyone's experience is different. Personally, I've always had a difficult time explaining in words how I felt specifically in my journey and my life as a trans woman, so I've decided to try to express it in a self portrait photoshoot.
There are two main ideas I want to convey here, the first being my journey as an evolution. Unlike many trans people, I don't want to forget my past. In fact, I often look back at where I used to be, so I can see just how far I've come. In the past, I've definitely felt like there was no hope, but now I can see that all it took was patience and determination. If I could go back and tell my younger self, "hey girl, it's gonna get better, just hang in there", I would. But all I can do is just look back and smile.
The second idea is a redefining of the trans experience as it pertains to me specifically. A lot of what we hear of in the media is that being trans is like "being stuck in the wrong body". Personally, I've never felt that that description quite fit right. The way I see it, being trans is like being forced to put on a mask, or wear a costume, for no reason other than that's what you had when you were born. And you play the part that's been forced upon you for so long it starts to break down who you really are inside, until you get to a point where you either can't take it anymore or you are able to take it off. Thankfully in the past year I've been able to take off the mask, but this is still an experience that I've dealt with my entire life.
So hopefully these photos are able to give you a better insight into My Trans Experience.
