Six months have passed since a groundbreaking and important British TV show was filmed. November’s much talked about Channel 4 show ‘My Transsexual Summer’ followed seven people at different stages in their transition.
When the show was aired, we all fell in love with the “Magic Tranny Seven”, and the colourful Sink The Pink gang are dedicating their next night to the show with a special fundraiser this Saturday 28th. So, we sent Sink The Pink boss lady Amy Redmond to catch-up with some of the show’s fabulous stars…
DREW QANDA
What was the MTS experience like for you?
I guess the low points were finally having the truth shown to me as to why I couldn’t get a job and just having to fight all the time. The high points were giving [fellow star] Sarah a makeover. It was subtle yet her confidence changed. Being able to do that for someone at the age of 23 is just the best feeling in the world
How was the response from the public after the programme aired?
I’ve had the best response possible. I get recognised everyday when I go out to work or shopping. I’ve not had one single abusive person put me down, it’s just been amazing. My twitter has over 10,000 followers and my Facebook can no longer take friend requests. What’s more fulfilling is having people look up to me as a ‘trans idol’ and being able to come to me for advice.
I’ve had people travel all over the UK just to come see me to ask for advice on how they can go about transitioning. It’s definitely been a crazy experience, but one I will never forget.
What have you been up to since?
I’m now currently working as a make-up artist for the amazing brand Illamasqua. They found me on Facebook and said I’d be perfect for the job. I worked for them as a Christmas temp, which has now been turned into a permanent position.
I’m also doing a lot of club appearances, as well as going into schools and universities to do question and answer sessions with the students about what its like to be trans. I love that I’m contributing to the education system and helping people understand. I’m also now a patron for the charity Gendered Intelligence. I’m honoured to be asked to be a patron for them.
What do you hope to achieve next?
I want to continue in the make-up industry for a while, but I know there’s so much more I want to do. I get bored easily, I guess that’s what you get for being a Sagittarius! I’d like to do some modeling. My dream would be to become my own brand and maybe going into the cosmetics range and designing make-up specifically for trans women. I’m passionate about giving back to the community. They have got me here with their support, so it’s only fair I use my now well-known MTS status to help make a difference and hopefully keep changing people’s views.
Have you got any advice for someone in the early stages of transition?
I would say, just do it. For me it’s the best thing I’ve ever done and it’s so much better to live a life you want than to live it in misery just to please everyone else around you. If you want to transition, go to your GP and they will help you. Don’t waste time because your wasting years where you could be happy but instead you’re down on yourself. I would rather get abuse and crap everyday if it means I’m being the woman I was meant to be. If you’re not being yourself, then what’s the point in being you?
DONNA WHITBREAD
What was the MTS experience like for you?
I would say that meeting the people in the house was the best bit, but I would be lying if I didn’t say that a big part of the high was staying in that fantastic house. I would say that the low part was the fact that we had to go home after every weekend as we all wanted to live there all summer.
How was the response from the public after the programme aired?
The public have been so nice, I couldn’t ask for a better response. Whenever I am out, with or without the others, I always have people saying ‘hi’ and how much they loved the show. The one thing I do find strange though is just how many people are coming onto me since the show [laughs]!
What have you been up to since?
We have been meeting up as a group and doing some club appearances, but it has been Christmas, so I have been with friends and seeing family, too.
What do you hope to achieve next?
I would like to do more television but it’s just a case of seeing what comes up.
Have you got any advice for someone in the early stages of transition?
I would say that having friends to talk to is a big help; also talking to someone who knows what you’re going through will help a lot too. Going online is always a good way of finding support groups if you don’t feel that you can talk to anyone you know.
SARAH SAVAGE
What was the MTS experience like for you?
How was the response from the public after the programme aired?
The response blew me away, actually. I was kind of ready for a lot of negativity, especially within the trans community. By far and away the response has been absolutely amazing, people have been in contact and still are in contact, thanking me for taking part.
And because I’m early on in the transition a lot of people have been inspired that I took part, which I think is amazing. I even got recognised in Asda the other day! It’s all been really positive. It’s good to know that people who watch TV programmes feel moved enough to come up and say hello and wish their best.
What are one of the proudest moments for you from the experience?
I’m from Jersey, which is 9 miles by 5, and quite a backward kind of place, and I was on the front page of the local newspaper – 85% of people in Jersey read it every day! Since that happened in Jersey the trans awareness thing has been raised hugely, just by me being on this TV show! The headline read ‘Proud of who I am’ with a big picture of me smiling next to it.
What have you been up to since?
I’ve got a part time job in the Marlborough pub in Brighton and it’s a lesbian pub actually! Lots of people come in and buy me drinks, someone came in the other day and got me a shot and left. Brighton is a great place to be accepted and meet like-minded people. I’ve been in Brighton about three months now, I’ve been down to the Clare project, and they’re all really cool people. I went to the Transgender Day of Remembrance and there was some really cool people there, too.
What do you hope to achieve next?
I’m writing a book about the summer, so I’m hoping to get that finished in the next couple of months. My life is always quite random and I jump into things headfirst and go for it. I don’t like to plan very much. I might move up to Manchester, it seems like a cool city and it seems a lot cheaper than Brighton. My look is still gothic alternative. I’m quite early in my transition, and I’m still learning. I’m still crap at make-up, and I’m not clued up on dress sense or anything.
Do you still use Drews make-up tips?
To start with when we were talking about doing the make-up, Drew was nervous that I wouldn’t like it, she lacked confidence in her own skills and I think it was really good for her just to see the reaction from me from her doing my make-up. She helped me a lot with eye make-up and I still use a lot of things she taught me. I see Fox in Brighton, and met him on New Year’s Eve and we’ve got a few club nights planned over the next few months.
Have you got any advice for someone in the early stages of transition?
Don’t give up. Remember why you started on this course. Remember why you started to transition. Those reason are still valid, don’t let anyone tell you any different.
• Sink the Pink: My Transsexual Summer is at The Star of Bethnal Green (42-46 Pollard Row, Bethnal Green, E2 6NB) on Saturday 28th January, 9pm-2.30am. The stars of hit Channel 4 series My Transsexual Summer will be present on the night and performing, with all proceeds going to their transitions.
