Daughter Redefined
Around the time Amanda Rae began passing as a girl in public due to the hormone therapy, her mom reached out to reconnect with her and things have changed for the better. Today, the mother-daughter duo enjoys hanging out, shopping, seeing movies together and her mom has “warmed up” to the idea of having a daughter. Beyond her immediate family, Amanda Rae said the rest of her family has also opened up too, to where she is just another aunt, sister, niece, etc.
As Amanda Rae navigates her newfound modeling success, she has her eyes set on furthering her fitness modeling portfolio and a career that will continue to bring her new opportunities. She is hoping that the modeling exposure will increase her visibility and ability to be a role model and spokesperson for the transgender community.
“We are extremely diverse in our appearance and our beauty. I want to use this platform to help change the misconceptions of others to help other trans men and women feel confident enough in themselves to live the life they want, the life they were meant to lead, without scorn or ridicule from those who don’t want to understand.
Finally, Comfortable in Her Own Skin
Amanda Rae said she finds true joy and peace when people refer to her as a woman. “When I began passing as a girl and my body began developing correctly, it was as if I’d slipped from one terrible universe into the one I had always belonged. The night I was referred to as Ma’am I felt as if I had acquired super powers.
When a homeless man on the street asked if I could ‘spare some change sister?’ I emptied my wallet for him and gave him everything I had, just for recognizing me as a woman. I went home and jumped for joy, as if some massive, life-breaking wrong had been corrected.”
“It feels as if things are simply the way they ought to be.”
“I argue and debate where I see there may be some room to convince someone of changing their mind. But many times I simply delete, block, or check out of the conversation when someone refuses to adapt to any idea that conflicts with their long-held bigotries or hatred. Some people are open to change, many are not that’s their loss and not mine.”
-Editor’s Note
Sometimes in order to try and understand that which we just don't, we have to push ourselves to an uncomfortable place where we may writhe in our seats as we wrestle with concepts with which we lack familiarity or may even scorn, due to upbringing or doctrine.
But it is only when we are willing to step into that discomfort zone with an open mind that we can begin to break down barriers that lead to judging or marginalizing others in order to begin accepting our differences so that we can start to value all people, from all walks and truly find our similarities.
The saying goes: "You can't really know a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes.”
I'd like to ask you to slip on Amanda Rae's shoes – for just a bit - to better understand what it is like to live as a transgender person in today's heartland.
In a society that can be unforgiving for those who look, think or love differently, thank you Amanda Rae for your openness and willingness to share.
- Janice Burch
Photography by
Nicky Parry