The people you see in this issue illustrate trans life in their corner of the world, and help show us the true meaning of beauty, international or otherwise. Our two part interviews cover both the cultural heritage and personal beliefs of these brave individuals, and inspire greater understanding of transgender experiences around the world.

Bianka Nascimento, Brazil/Ireland

WEBSITE: www.biankanascimento.com
TWITTER: @BiankaNascimen4
PHOTO CREDIT: Isa De Luik

Part one of this interview can be found in Transformation 96: The International Issue

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to dance, go shopping and work out.

Do you have any fantasies? Not really! Hummmmm lolol Maybe Justin Bieber when he is 30 years old? Omg naughty thoughts lol….

 What gets you riled up enough to lose your temper? False, dishonest people and drama queens. Ufffiii!!!

Who do you most admire? Roberta Close from Brazil, the most beautiful Trans Woman I have ever seen. Now she is getting older, but she still looks good.

What are some of your top tips for staying healthy? I love to be in shape of course and try to eat healthy. Exercising your body is good even for your mind. My tip is to, “Never give up, and follow your dreams.”

Can you tell me about your family? Parents, siblings, extended? How did they influence who you are? Well my transition at the beginning was very hard. I started, stopped and re-started again. I was fighting thoughts that I was doing the wrong thing, but it was myself, my REAL SELF, in the wrong body. My parents didn’t accept it in the beginning.  It was hard. It was difficult. Many times I decided to give up, but every time something at the end of the tunnel said to me, “You cant give up.” I was fighting with all my power to live life honestly and finally they could see I wouldn’t give up and then accepted me and tried to understand me. Today it’s my family who always give me the best advice and they always tell me to follow my dreams and be honest with myself.

What has acceptance come to mean to you? Acceptance for me means that when anything happens to you, you need accept yourself and understand yourself, your soul, your own truth. Being transgender is not easy, there are many ups and downs, but if you accept yourself and don’t worry about what people think about you, you are ready to accept the world!

Part one of this interview can be found in Transformation 96: The International Issue