A Past Outreach

Yesterday, December 2, 2008, I did outreach for two Human Sexuality classes at Southern Connecticut State University. I did not go shopping as planned because I did not feel up to dealing with the Christmas shopping crowds that seemed to be out in full force yesterday.

As usual, I was the token crossdresser in the group doing outreach. The others were pre-op, post-op, and no-op male-to-female and female-to-male transsexuals and a spouse. In the first class, there were six in the group. In the second class, there were seven. In the past, about four was the max. As a result, the biography portion of the class was longer and ate into the Q&A portion of the class. I enjoy the Q&A more than the bio portion of the class because I have heard all the bios before and although I’ve also heard many of the questions before, there are usually one or two new questions that make things interesting.

Anna Schildroth, the professor of the class scored big points with me. When I saw her for the first time yesterday, she asked, “Did you lose weight?”

I admitted that I lost eight pounds and I was happy she noticed. Then she added, “Well, it looks like you lost more than eight pounds!”

She made my day, but later she made my day again.

Before the second class, she came over to me and remarked that my legs were attracting a lot of attention. I asked her what she meant and she said that she was following me as I walked to the classroom and that she noticed a lot of people turning to notice my long legs. When she said that I blushed. (The accompanying photo reveals the revealing length of the hem of my dress yesterda.)

Speaking of long legs, I noticed a tall attractive female student file into the first class and pegged her as being six feet tall. I don’t recall her asking any questions during the Q&A portion of the class, but after the class was over, she asked, “Stana, how tall are you without heels?”

“Six two,” I replied.

“Me, too,” she said.

She was wearing flats, so I asked her if she wore heels. She said she does, but not currently because she just had knee surgery.

I was happy that here was a very tall girl, who was proud of her height and not afraid to wear heels. Good for her!

The questions asked of me were basically the same questions I have been asked at past outreaches with a few variations.

There was an amusing exchange with one student, who could not understand how I dressed in boy mode without people wondering about the telltale signs that indicated that I also dressed in girl mode. I did not understand what she was getting at, so she was more specific and said she was referring to the fact that since I get my nails done, don’t people wonder what’s with that. We all had a good laugh when I revealed that I use stick-on nails that come on and off in five minutes.

Another student asked me if I ever tried to stop crossdressing and I said that in the past, I was very guilty about crossdressing and tried to stop. I guess my Catholic upbringing had something to do with my guilt and I recalled the numerous times I planned to go to confession, confess my “sin,” and stop dressing. (I never had the nerve to make that confession.) I also mentioned how I had purged one time, but again took up crossdressing sooner or later.

Then I explained how as I grew older and a little wiser, I stopped feeling guilty when I realized that crossdressing was part of who I am and that I was going to be true to myself.

That was the last question of the day and I can’t think of a more appropriate way to end it.

Mahmoud Hemeida and Samy El Adl femulating in the 1994 Egyptian film Strawberry War.

Someday Funnies

Wearing Chickwish

Wayne Brady (in blue) as a drag queen on the Broadway stage in Kinky Boots (2015).

"Your Face Sounds Familiar" Observations

By Yamini Argo

Follow are my notes regarding some of the quirky things that happened on the Your Face Sounds Familiar television franchise.

The show has produced so many wonderful femulations over the last decade. The number of challenges the femulators have overcome is something all of us would have gone through. But the support they receive for the transformations is phenomenal. I like to look at the backstage makeup process and their physical and psychological aspects during the week of preparation.

Apart from bending the gender, many participants crossed racial boundaries. Few even successfully twerked and danced around muscular men. Not that everyone enjoys such performances; Romanian actor stated he felt violated when the male dancers touched him all over.

Carlos Marco femulating on Spain's version of Your Face Sounds Familiar.

Almost all the contestants had to walk in high heels and almost none fell on their rears, thanks to the practice they have at the studio and also at home. A few girlfriends and wives have supported this endeavor by lending them shoes or simply encouraging them. One Spanish contestant was given the original dress worn by the singer to lend authenticity for the performance. 

Makeup artists give them flawless appearance, which combined with their fine features can have unintentional outcomes. One such transformation found the Brazilian actor Victor Kley being mistaken for actress Meghan Fox. In the same show, another actor had to be censored by Instagram when he showed off his new assets. 

The actors need not always wear the panties that go with their bras, but they don’t seem to mind. Few have flashed inadvertently, few intentionally. And they had to tuck their bits for the duration of the show. Some have showcased their bodies in revealing attires including bikinis.

Things get interesting when these men have personal relationships with the singers. These instances include when the son became his mother, brother became his sister and the times when boyfriends became their own ex-girlfriends. Fiancés have swapped roles and weirdly, brothers have danced as couples on two different shows.

Quite a few amusing things happened in the Bulgarian version this season. One contestant went on to kiss the judge deeply in the mode of the character he was in. Another actor had a mishap of his lifetime when the tube top slipped and revealed his fake breasts. He was described as a pornstar on national television. 

The psychological aspect of this observation also questions how do they feel when they had become a sex symbol that they had wet dreams about in their teenage years. They learn dance moves to seduce the male dancers during the song and they also get voice training, which leaves them with sultry voices. These are potential tools they can use at any point in time with anyone. I'm not sure how many did venture outside the studio in full glam; at least once it was noted that Romanian singer Florin Ristei went home in between takes. 

Overall, I'm glad this show exists and continues to provide some crossdressing entertainment for all of us.

P.S: I'd like to give a shout out to Vlad Nicola who has been amazing as a cosplayer and hostess. He’s got an appreciative girlfriend just like Zach Scuderi.

Wearing Ann Taylor

Joel Grey femulating in the 1972 film Cabaret.

Someday Funnies

While creating this ad parody, I discovered that Rago’s website has a Transgender-Conscious webpage which says, “Rago’s line of transgender-conscious shapewear products will help you feel confident and comfortable as you take on the day. Our smoothing body shaping undergarments will have you feeling authentically you, inside and out. With transgender panty briefs, thigh slimmers, legging/capri pant shapers, girdles, and body briefers in a variety of colors and sizes, we’ve got a piece that is perfect for you.” And so it goes! 

Wearing issue New York

Jack Gilbert Renner, better known for his stage name Ricky Renée, was an American actor and travesti performer. He worked with the traveling Jewel Box Revue in the USA and at Le Carrousel in Paris and Chez Nous Cabaret in Berlin. He also appeared in the 1972 film Cabaret. (Sources: Wikipedia and IMDB)

What Works

I have been using skin care products (moisturizers, eye creams, etc.) religiously for years. By “religiously” I mean that I apply the products every day whether I will be in girl mode or not.

I have tried many products over the years. Some worked better than others and some did not work at all. After nearly 20 years of trying different things, I settled on three products because they work! That’s not to say that I don’t try anything new – I do, but I have not found anything that beats the products I am using.

Avon Anew Clinical Eye Lift Pro Dual Eye System is a product that I have been using the longest. (All links lead to Amazon.)

Being an Avon lady, I occasionally receive free samples. After I received a sample of a product to deal with wrinkles around the eyes, I looked in the mirror at the wrinkles developing around my eyes and decided to try the sample.

After a week or so, the wrinkles were less noticeable. After a few weeks, I had to examine my eyes closely to find the wrinkles. So, I was sold on the eye cream, have been using it ever since and have managed to tame the wrinkles around my eyes.

Olay Complete Daily Moisturizer is the moisturizer that I have used almost as long as the eye cream. I prefer it because it gives my face a nice smooth feeling that lasts all day. Also they sell it everywhere so it is easy to buy.

Avon Solutions Dramatic Firming Cream is a miracle product, in my opinion.

I have sun damage on the sides of my neck. All of the foundations I have used only cover the damage temporarily and sooner or later (usually sooner), the red skin shows through.

Visiting Sephora a few years ago, I asked a sales rep what they had to correct the problem. The rep suggested using a color correcting foundation primer from Smashbox. It is green and it goes on where needed under your normal foundation.

I bought the primer and used it on a few occasions, but I was not impressed with its performance and abandoned it resigning myself to depending on the coverage my foundation provided.

Perusing the Avon catalog one day, their Dramatic Firming Cream caught my eye and I bought a tub to try on my neck. Using it daily for a few weeks, I noticed some improvement – the redness was less red. Using it daily for a few months, the redness is gone! Wow! Like I wrote above, it is a miracle product.

After using skin care products for over 18 years, my wrinkles are hardly noticeable and my skin is smoother, more supple and healthier-looking. My makeup goes on easier and looks better. Professional makeup consultants have complimented me on my complexion. And I can achieve that “feminine best” look.

I cannot emphasize enough the need to maintain your skin on a daily basis. You cannot look your feminine best unless you take care of your face everyday.

So what works for you? Let us know in the Comments below.

Wearing Bebe

Schafer, professional femulator, circa 1900
(Source: Digital Transgender Archive)

Someday Funnies

Wearing Venus

Danny Schiller (center) femulating in the 1987 British film Personal Services.

Close Encounter of the Bear Kind

I live on an acre of land. About half of it is lawn that requires mowing.

I have a walk behind lawn mower. In my youth, I mowed the lawn in less than two hours. On Wednesday, it took me nearly two hours to mow half the lawn. I like to think that the slow down is due more to my osteoarthritis than my old age, but it’s probably a combination of both. 

They say, “Old age isn’t for sissies.” (But what if you are a sissy?) 

But I digress.

After two hours behind my Husqvarna on Wednesday, I quit, parked the mower in my shed and walked back to my house. As I turned a corner of my house, I came face-to-face with a black bear who was heading towards me and my bird feeder.

We were both startled and ran in opposite directions!

It was not the first bear I have seen on my property. Over the years, I have probably had a dozen sightings, but they were always from inside the house looking out.

My Wednesday bear encounter was up close, face-to-face. About ten feet separated us. Wow! I did not wet my panties, but almost! 

We now return you to our regular scheduled programming.

Wearing Bebe

Angela, out and about

Someday Funnies

Wearing Boston Proper

Sestre are a trio of femulators who represented Slovenia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2002.

Pride

Attending Trans Pride,
Northampton, Mass., June 2008

June is Pride month. There will be events everywhere to acknowledge pride. (In my neck of the woods alone, I count more than 60 events!)

Pride is “a high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.” (Source: Dictionary.com)

Do I have pride? Am I proud of who I am?

When I started down this path, I did not have pride. Rather, I had guilt, that is, “a feeling of responsibility or remorse for some offense, crime, wrong, etc., whether real or imagined.” (Source: Dictionary.com) I was not proud of what I was doing. So much so that I hid what I was doing.

Thank Goddess for Halloween! It gave me an excuse to come out of hiding and show the world what I was doing. But I still was not proud of what I was doing and I was back in the closet when Halloween was over.

Eventually, I realized that I was misinformed and my guilt slowly transitioned to pride. So much so that today, I am out of the closet and completely open about what I am doing... and proud of it.

Now I just have to decide which Pride event to attend. There are so many to choose from!

And so it goes. 

Wearing Chicwish

Yet another example of a married couple looking more alike the longer they stay together.

Someday Funnies

Wearing Venus

An unknown femulator (right) posing in as a French maid on the cover of Cynthia Payne's Entertaining At Home, which was published in 1987. When I encountered the above image, I knew nothing about Miss Payne, so I looked her up and according to Wikipedia, she was “an English brothel keeper and party hostess who made headlines in the 1970s and 1980s, when she was convicted of running a brothel... in Streatham, a southwestern suburb of London.” After reading the Wikipedia entry, I recall seeing the film Personal Services, which was loosely based on Miss Payne’s life. The film is peppered with French maids and other assorted crossdressers.