Jamie is late 20’s and lives in the UK. We were having email communication about a product she was ordering from Glamour Boutique and thought it would be neat to get a girl’s perspective from outside the U.S.A. as to what it’s like to be trans.
Jamie’s recent brush with transphobia in a family setting as reported in this interview, is heart-breaking but, all too common. What shines through however, is an incredibly strong individual with a clear focus of her own identity. This is a person with a clear vision of a better future and a great attitude that will carry her through to the end.
Read this ‘frank’ and uplifting interview with Jamie and you will both learn and be inspired by her words. We hope to catch up with her down the road to let you know how she is doing.
Thanks for taking some time with us for this interview. Let’s start off by asking – Where are you from?
No worries! I’m from Oxford, UK.
What is it like for transgender folk in your part of the world?
Good in some ways, we have a lot of options for transitioning and legal protection, bad in other ways, there’s still a lot of stigma against us socially. We’re either freaks or fetishes…
How long have you been transgender and when were you first aware of this?
I was aware that something was “wrong” when I was a kid… maybe 7 or 8, and I wanted to be friends with the girls at school and not the boys. In High School I was always bullied for being “gay” even though I was straight and into girls, maybe the bullies sensed something in me. It was also in High School when I started crossdressing with my sister’s clothing and being extremely uncomfortable with my puberty… I rejected this identity entirely though as I didn’t know what being transgender was, I didn’t know it was a thing, I remember being incredibly jealous of the “shemales” that kids would talk about at High School as I thought they were women born with penises who naturally went through female puberty instead of male. I was raised in a religious house that caused me to go through a vicious cycle of self hatred, rejection, and self destruction. I later came to know what a trans person was in college when I was maybe 21 thanks to a girlfriend at the time introducing me to the LGBT world.
Is Jamie your birth name, femme name or BOTH?
Jamie is my femme name.
Did you have the support of your family if/when you first told them that you were genderfluid/transgender?
No. My family found out only recently. After buying Glamour Boutique breast forms this year my family went away for a while after the first UK Covid lockdown, I had the house to myself and started living as a full time. When my mum’s partner came home early I came downstairs to say hello and didn’t even realise that I was presenting as a female… he flipped. I was threatened with death and rape “if I’m going to be a pervert I should learn what it will be like in prison” something like that but it didn’t happen, forced to destroy the breastforms by ripping them up, he also tore through my personal things finding everything feminine item the drove me to the dump to make me throw it all away. After this he told my family and neighbours and friends, most of them unfortunately sided with him and rejected me or treated me as an other, my mum stood by me though, she’s still trying to understand me, but she made her partner leave, and my sister and cousin have stood by me and are helping me become the real me.
What is your day-to-day life like?
Boring, like everyone’s this year with Covid. I’m using what little savings I have to support myself until the lockdowns end properly and I can find a job where I’ll be accepted.
Are you in a relationship? If yes, are you able to share your female self with your partner?
No I’m not, doesn’t stop me hooking up with as many guys as possible on Grindr though!
Do you have other transgender friends you can confide in/socialise with?
No, just my therapist who’s FTM trans.
Include a few fun facts about yourself – Hobbies and/or activities you enjoy while dressed or not dressed?
I really like playing electric guitar, Lzzy Hale is my icon, a lot of people have said I look like a “male version” of her, it’s her style I was wearing when my mums partner saw me.
Favorite outfits or styles when dressed?
Anything Lzzy Hale tbh…
Some of your favorite places to go when dressed?
Don’t really have any places tbh!
Any go to accessories or must haves for a night out?
A choker, very 90’s but they hide the Adam’s apple well… oh and Pleaser heels. If you’re tall like me they make your height look like it’s the heels and not your body.
Do you have any role models? (either in the community or not)
Bailey Jay (for the attitude), Carmen Carrera (for the mentality), and Lzzy Hale (for the style).
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Fully transitioned, hopefully on a beach somewhere.
Do you have any advice with regards to coming out to families for other girls in your situation?
Not really as my coming out wasn’t really my choice! Best advice I’ve heard though is MAKE SURE YOUR LIVING SITUATION IS SAFE FIRST. You don’t want to come out and find yourself on the street…
What advice would you give to parents/families of gender non-conforming persons?
Just… at least TRY to put yourself in their position, and don’t be a dick.
Any closing words to your fellow girls out there?
I could have started transitioning yesterday, or last month, or five years ago, or when I was in High School… I’m 28 now, my only regret is not starting sooner. Live your best life.
Oh, and if you’re experiencing dysphoria or phantom limb syndrome over breasts, don’t hesitate to buy Glamour Boutiques custom breast forms, they’re fucking amazing, so realistic and so high quality! I bought two pairs, one C’s and one DD’s and even though they were destroyed by a very transphobic individual I’m definitely going to buy a new pair when I have the money again!
Many many thanks to the Glamour Boutique team!
Jamie