february 2007 issue

Transcription

february 2007 issue
Pretty TGirls Magazine
February 2007
An interview
with …
Rebecca Waters
Pretty TGirls Magazine is a production of the Pretty TGirls Group
Group and is intended as a free resource for the
Transgendered community. Articles and advertisements may be submitted
submitted for consideration to the editor, Rachel Pastel,
at [email protected] . It is our hope that our magazine will increase the understanding of the TG world and
Pretty TGirls Magazine
- February 2007
page 1
better acceptance of TGirls in our society. To that end, any articles
articles and notices are appreciated and welcomed for review !
Pretty TGirls Magazine
February 2007 Edition
Welcome to the January edition …
Take pride and joy with being a TGirl !
Table of contents:
¾Our Miss 2007 Cover Girls !
¾Cover Girl Rebecca Waters
¾Members’ Then and Now Pics
¾Editor’s Corner - Rachel Pastel
¾Patty’s Powder Room (Las Vegas Edition!)- Patty Cakes
¾Ageless Skin - Felicia Conti
¾The Be All Conference - Leigh Smythe
¾Unforgettable Faces - Carol Deanna
¾Reasons For Crossdressing - Marlena Dahlstrom
¾TG-Friendly Places To Go
¾TG Conferences and Getaways
¾Advertisements and newsy items
¾Our Miss February 2007 Cover Girls
¾Our February and March 2007 Calendar Pages
Magazine courtesy of the Pretty TGirls Group at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prettytgirls
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Our Miss 2007 Cover Girls !
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters
Question: When did you first start crossdressing?
Rebecca: Like many young boys, I was dressed up
by my older sister, just as a supposedly innocent
fun thing. I was 5 at the time, and she dressed me
up in her ballerina outfit and got me to learn some
dance routines of hers and perform them. It was
purely fun and innocent at the time, and she even
gave me some make-up and showed me how to
pretend to be a girl with it on my own, and I went
along with that as if it were just any other
childhood game. When my brother found out
about it, he strongly disapproved, so I stopped.
But later on, once left to my own devices, I
started secretly sneaking into my sisters’ and
mother’s make-up and clothes again.
Question: Describe your early experiences dressing as a girl.
Rebecca: In many ways, it was completely non-sexual at the time, though in hindsight, I see it differently.
I knew nothing about sex that early on in life, but there’s something fundamentally sexual about human
beings that many people don’t realize. The real thrill of it at that young of an age was the fact that it was
forbidden, that I wasn’t supposed to be doing it and was managing to get away with it. Little boys (or
girls, for that matter) do that stuff all the time, and this was just my particular manner of misbehaving.
As I got older and started developing sexually in early adolescence, it became more of an actual turn-on,
emulating the young girls around me who were also just beginning to develop their identities. I secretly
tried to be like them (in fact, sometimes this was to make up for not being able to get together with them,
as I wasn’t particularly successful in the dating realm during my early teens), but I kept all of that to
myself and was very secretive about it.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: At what age did you start using make-up and wearing wigs? How did you learn how to apply
make up? Any tips for other TGirls? Brand of make up you use?
Rebecca: My very early experiments with my sisters’ and mother’s make-up during the single-digit years
were mostly embarrassing and amateur, and I was caught a few times and punished for doing something
supposedly so wrong. However, I was blessed with having two very attractive older sisters who prettied
themselves up in the bathroom all the time (during their high school years), so I silently observed and
absorbed what they were doing. In private, I did what they did and slowly learned how to make myself
beautiful, too. I would occasionally sneak away their clothes and put them on along with make-up, and I
loved how I looked. (Being petite like them certainly helped.) Years later (late teen-age years), I started
buying my own dresses, make-up, and such, and I loved being a girl to the point that I had to go out
driving to places out of town just to be seen.
I’m not really a good source of advice or tips for other T-girls, though. All I can say is pay attention to
what other women are doing around you. Buying women’s fashion magazines can be a help, but be
warned that the majority of those are just there to advertise products and convince you (and all women)
that you’re not attractive enough and must buy more stuff in order to be so. And I’d definitely say that if
you’re looking to pass as a woman, go for a scaled back, simple look, not an over-the-top too-much-makeup and fancy dress kind of thing. The point is to blend in, not stand out. Again, pay attention to what
other women (G-girls) do.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: If you had your choice, what do like wearing the most when being a girl?
Rebecca: That’s an easy one: black pantyhose. I absolutely love the way that looks on a woman’s legs
and have since I was about 12 or 13 and saw this commercial on TV in which a gorgeous woman is getting
ready for a date with her boyfriend and puts on all of her make-up, clothes, and everything, and the guy
(driving the car the commercial is advertising, of course) picks her up and she gets so damn pretty and
dressed up for him. That commercial defined a lot of my sexual identity, I’ll freely admit. Little black
dress, black pantyhose, black high heels, long brown hair, perfectly made-up face: that’s the way to be.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: Now a bit of personal information ... What is your marital status? A sensitive area for some
girls, but ... how old are you now? Does anyone know you are a TGirl? What country do you live in?
Rebecca: Single. I haven’t yet managed to land a “life partner,” male or female, who is okay with me. I’ve
dated a lot, but nothing has every worked out long-term. For the most part, I’m still looking for that
perfect woman, that is, some probably impossible imaginary woman who is okay with all of my trans
fantasies and past and who would like for me to be Rebecca with her from time to time. Maybe I don’t
even really want that, but I imagine it sometimes. Although I’ve never voluntarily told a girlfriend that
I’m trans, there was one many years ago who figured it out and asked me, so I told her the truth. Things
didn’t work out with us, either. Oh, and I’m in my early 30s and live in the southeastern US.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: Have you ever gone out as a girl? If so, tell us what the first time is like and how you feel being
out in the world as a girl.
Rebecca: I first went out when I was a junior in high school, and I just drove around feeling nervous
most of the time. As I got older and more experienced (including learning to look more passable), I went
out more often and learned to enjoy it more and have fun. I would interact with people at gas stations,
fast food restaurants, malls, etc., some of whom probably “read” me and some who I know had no idea
that I was anything other than a pretty young woman. I found that I was more nervous being seen by
other women than anything else, afraid that they definitely could “spot” me. Men, on the other hand,
particularly older ones, tended to like me, and it’s always fun watching them fall all over themselves while
at the same time trying to play it cool. Seeing how they acted towards me as a woman gave me some
insight on how I should or should not act towards women in my “guy life.”
Question: Have you ever gone through a purge of your female clothing? If so, can you tell us why? How
did it make you feel? How long before you went back to being a girl?
Rebecca: No, not really. When I was in my teens, I would feel guilty after dressing up and not do it
again for months, but I’d always go back to it. I liked to imagine that there was some irresistible
supernatural force making me do it, which I think is a pretty common fantasy for trans-people. (Since I
was a child, my favorite moments in movies and TV shows have always been when the good guy gets
taken over by something and forced to do things they normally wouldn’t.) But no, it was all me, and I
came to accept that by the time I reached my 20s.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: What percentage of time do you spend as a girl?
Rebecca: Less and less the older I get, unfortunately. I had a really good streak going for over a year
around 1996-1997 when I dressed up every single night and actually felt that being a guy during the day
was the facade. I still lived with my parents and worked part-time, so I had to be a guy part of the time.
Once I was out on my own, I always imagined that I’d dress up every second I could manage, but that
didn’t happen. Being a grown-up meant that I had to be more responsible, and part of the problem with
being Rebecca is that I have way too much fun when I do it and tend to be rather reckless. These days,
I’m lucky if I do it once a month, and then I of course want to cram all of the enjoyment I can down into
that one weekend.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: Have you ever considered moving towards becoming more of a girl physically with options like
hormones, feminisation surgery, breast enhancements, or SRS?
Rebecca: I did consider it during the above-mentioned “streak.” I’d read a lot of transgendered people’s
bios on the internet and had gotten very involved in an online community dealing with transgender issues,
but I never could figure out how I’d be able to afford to actually transition. My family definitely would
not have supported me, and I wasn’t sure if my friends would or not, either. I gave it a trial run on
Halloween night in 1997, going out with them as a girl, but the reaction was not very supportive. They
were only okay with it if it was a joke, not if it was something I was really into. It wasn’t long after this
that I stopped dressing up quite as often, and I realized over time that this really was just a fetish for me,
not a way I’d want to live my life 24/7. Honestly, I think that if I’d done the mandatory psychiatric
evaluation that all transes have to go through in order to transition, the doctor probably would have come
to the same conclusion.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: Do you feel more like a boy or
a girl now and why?
Rebecca: Well, if you mean right now,
I’d say that the pink sweater, short
black leather skirt, and black tights are a
dead giveaway.
Question: Have you ever dated or wanted to date another TGirl or a man?
Rebecca: I’ve often thought that it would be wonderful to date a TGirl, but it’s never happened. As for
regular men, I’m not terribly into that idea. I’ve had three physical (very physical, I mean) encounters
with guys (two as Rebecca), and while it felt good at the time, I immediately felt weird about it once out
of their presence. I used to consider myself bi and would tell people so, but now I think I’m more “bi in
theory.” I love fantasizing about it, but not actually doing it. I think my ideal would be either a TGirl
that I was comfortable with or a woman who was comfortable with me in both modes.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: Do you have any advice for other TGirls,
especially ones that have yet to venture out as a girl?
Rebecca: Relax. Don’t overdo it. If you can just have
fun and enjoy being you, others will pick up on that.
Well, some of them anyway. Avoid situations where
you’re more likely to run into intolerant people.
Question: How is your life now as a TGirl? What's
gone well and not so well?
Rebecca: As I said, I don’t do it as often as I used to.
The older I get, the harder it is for me to see myself as
attractive and passable, which to me is the entire point.
I’ve never been turned on by what I’ve heard called
“genderfuck,” such as looking blatantly like a fat
bearded old man in a dress. I used to tell myself when
I was young that I wouldn’t keep doing this once I got
to my 30s, but hey, what did I know? I’ll probably
always do this, if for no other reason than I like how it
feels, physically and mentally. Whether or not I do it
for show (or even for the mirror) may be another
question, but I’m not quite to that point yet.
I think my biggest regret is not getting out more when
I was younger and finding other trans-people. There
just wasn’t a very thriving community for that sort of
thing where I grew up. There were times when I was
able to go out to the local gay bar as Rebecca, but that
never went well, as going to a bar by yourself rarely
does. I wish I could have had a group of TGirl friends
to go out with. I bet that would have been a blast.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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An Interview With Rebecca Waters … continued
Question: Anything else you'd like to say?
Rebecca: Just that there’s no point in denying who you are. Enjoy it and don’t be ashamed of it.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Pretty TGirl Members Then and Now (Photos of how we looked when first dressing as a girl and how we look today)
Pip Wilson
Elika
Then
Today
Then
Today
Andrea
Then
Tommie
Today
Then
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
Today
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Pretty TGirl Members Then and Now (Photos of how we looked when first dressing as a girl and how we look today)
Diane
????
Then
Today
Then
Today
????
Then
????
Today
Then
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
Today
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Editor’s Corner – Rachel Pastel
Personal Website: http://rachelpastel.com
Welcome to our issue for February 2007!
We still need magazine contributors. Would you like your very own
monthly column? Have a story about your experiences as a TGirl?
Are you a member of a TG group and would like to tell us about it?
Can you put together a TG-related crossword puzzle each month?
Really, we will consider anything TG-related that is tasteful, so if
you can contribute, please email me at [email protected] .
I would especially love to have a GG or two to have a column and
write about their feelings on Transgenderism.
Now for some personally exciting stuff … the next page is my
display on KC’s Top Ten site (http://www.kctop10.com) …
Thanks KC!!!
If you haven’t already, and you are a Transgendered Girl, please take a moment to
take my TG Survey.
The survey is located at … http://rachelpastel.com/survey/survey.php?s_id=1
I really want to get to at least 1000 TGirls taking my survey. Results-to-date will
be posted in next month’s issue.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Editor’s Corner – Rachel Pastel
Personal Website: http://rachelpastel.com
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room
By Patty Cakes
V iv
a La
s Ve
gas!
!
Welcome back to the Powder Room once again. This month I will be reviewing my fun holiday trip to Las
Vegas!! Wow what a time that was in Sin City!!! My wife and I went for 6 days and 5 nights and stayed
at the Monte Carlo Hotel right on the strip. We rented a car for the whole time we were there so we could
get out and do some shopping and visit some places off of the main drag. The Monte Carlo turned out to be
a great choice for getting easily in and out off the hotel without a 10 mile hike to park as well as just
being a nice hotel. The elevators are very close to the lobby entrance and there is parking available right
outside and a second lot across the street. Believe me when you have to do as much walking as you end up
doing in Vegas, it is appreciated when you can save some steps!! As an example, we went shopping at the
forum shops in Caesars and the hike to the hotel from the parking lot seemed to take forever!! TIP: Caesars
Palace is one hotel that you want to take advantage of the valet parking if you have a car!!!!
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room
By Patty Cakes
Viva Las Vegas!!
So what did we do in Vegas? A ton!!! Before we left I had
booked appointments for my wife and I with Paula, the
owner of A Harmony Nail Spa, located a short 5 minute
drive off of the strip at suite 11a – 953 East Sahara in a
little strip mall. Paula is just awesome! She is very personable
and thoughtful! She provides a very wide variety of spa
services nails, manicures, hair do’s, massage, aroma therapy
etc. truly a full service spa without all the trappings and high
prices at the strip hotels (Very reasonably priced, TS owned
and operated HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!) We had a
great chat about the Las Vegas scene; TG friendly places to
visit and just plain old getting know each other. She really is
a gem and if you are going to Las Vegas start off by visiting
Paula and get a manicure/pedicure or more to set the tone of
your visit on a positive course! For more info and
appointments go to http://www.aharmonynailspa.com/
Photos are of Paula above and Patty on the right getting
ready to have her nails done.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room … Continued
By Patty Cakes
After you have had your nails done and any other of the great professional services Paula offers it’s time
to head to the back of the strip mall to Serge’s Showgirl Wigs. Serge’s Wigs actually has two locations in
this same strip mall. The larger store (as shown in photo) is at the front of the mall right on Sahara (full
price store). The store at the back of the mall is their sale location with wigs starting at $24.95 and up.
The store employees were very helpful and pleasant at both stores. I found the main store quite pricey
however. I purchased a really nice long brown wig with nice natural looking curls for just $65 at the sale
store and it is perfect to be made into an up-do for a ball we have coming up in March! For more
information and location addresses etc. visit their website at: http://www.showgirlwigs.com/
While you are in the neighborhood you should also go visit the Glamour
Boutique West! A store made for crossdressers and they are just down the street
from A Harmony and Serge’s located in the National Title Company Building
towards the back and upstairs at #250 – 714 East Sahara. They had some great
sales while I was there. I picked up a pair of beautiful shoes for just $10 and
some glitzy Las Vegas gloves for $15.95 a pair. They had the most realistic
breast forms I have ever seen in the store also. They carry a wide range of shoes,
boots, lingerie, bum and hip pads, dresses and more. It is a little bit of a cramped
space but well worth the visit and the key is not be shy in fact be brave, look
through everything and ask lots of questions if you are looking for something in
particular. They also do complete transformations in case you wish to use those
services. Amy was very helpful and easy going so feel comfy when you go there.
http://www.glamourboutiquewest.com/
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room … Continued
By Patty Cakes
If you head west on Sahara across Las Vegas Blvd and drive away from the strip 10 mins or so you will
find Studio Lites at 4000 west Sahara. This is a very TG friendly store with a large variety of wigs,
dresses, club wear type clothing, accessories, shoes and Ben Nye makeup. There were very pleasant. There is
also a smaller store across the street called Bare Essentials and they sell costumes and a variety of other
items. There is also a leather fetish store 3-4 doors down in case that is your thing but I can’t remember the
name of it. So it provided lots of shopping and all close by.
Keep heading West on Sahara and you will run into Decatur Street. Turn right I believe and head down
several blocks and there you will find the home of The Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet located at 1717
Decatur. It is an absolute must go see and experience for the bargain hunter! There are over 600 booths
there. That is a lot of shopping!!! You can find just about anything here. They only sell new merchandise
such as wigs, clothing, glitzy jewelry, healthcare products, shoes, paintings, ornaments, watches,
electronics and a ton more!!! They have 3 wig stores and one has wigs starting at $24.95 ( I bought 2) and
they were actually very good quality and nice styles. They are only open Friday, Saturday and Sundays
however so plan accordingly. For more info please go to: http://www.fantasticindoorswapmeet.com
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room … Continued
By Patty Cakes
Well, it’s show time! What is a trip to Vegas without seeing a great show? An absolute must to see is
LaCage!!! La Cage features the most accomplished female impersonators in the world, highlighted by
Frank Marino as a memorable Joan Rivers, in the cosmopolitan tradition of the Parisian cabaret. This
show is truly amazing. The show included fabulous impersonations of Joan Rivers, Cher, Madonna,
Britney Spears, Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Dianna Ross, Celine Dion and many others. This was one of
the best shows we saw on the strip!!! TIP: I found two for one show tickets on the web and printed them
off and took them with me. You can use your savings to purchase a LaCage T-shirt, poster, program or
DVD of the show! Believe me you will want to! I got to meet and greet the star of the show Frank
Marino (Joan Rivers) and have my photo taken with her afterwards! We chatted for a bit and I ended up
with a copy of the show program and DVD and what a treat it is to have the DVD of the entire show!!!
Info: http://www.rivierahotel.com/entertainment_lacage.asp
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room … Continued
By Patty Cakes
Other shows: We went to a lot of shows as we actually don’t gamble very much at all. We saw a lot of the
magic shows on the strip and also went to the musical “Menopause” which was really well done and very
funny. My wife absolutely loved this show….hmmm I wonder why? LOL. We didn’t attend one show on
the strip or off that was not awesome and well done. The only tip I have is to search the web for coupons
before you go to Vegas and when you get there pick up the local magazines and take advantage of the
coupons you will find scattered throughout the publications. We got a coupon at Harrah’s Information
desk to attend the Mac King Comedy Magic Show for free! All we had to do was buy a drink each! It was
a hilarious show as well!! Such a deal!!! You just about can’t go wrong no matter what show you
attend!!!
What about Nightlife for TG’s in Las Vegas? I did a fair amount of research before I left home to see
where the comfy spots for TG’s/CD’s were and I got to visit several of them. However I will say up front
that I did not really get to see them in full on state as I was there Sunday to Friday afternoon. They were
fairly quiet when I made the rounds due to me not being their on the weekend. The place I really wanted
to go to was Zingers, it was touted as THE TG club in town that was a must see! However sadly when
we arrived it was closed down. I hope this is a temporary thing as it had the best reputation of all the
places I heard and read about for nightlife for TG’s. Friends of mine Adrien and Laurie had been to
Zingers and said it was really nice there. I was sad to have not got to experience it. The “fruit loop” area
kept showing up in my internet searches as being the comfy area to visit in Las Vegas in the 4600 block on
Paradise Road. We made the rounds to this area and found Suede which is nice place to go to for some
dinner and drinks with a lounge type atmosphere. The TUG chapter of Tri-Ess local Las Vegas TG group
meets there every Wednesday. We were late getting there and missed them. The TriEss website is:
http://www.triesslasvegas.com/ I emailed Nora of this group and she was extremely friendly and helpful
in pointing me in the right direction for things to see and do in Las Vegas. We also dropped into the
Freezone and checked it out. They have Drag Shows on Friday and Saturdays. There is also the Gipsey, 8
½ Ultra Lounge and Piranha Clubs all in the same area and are noted to be TG friendly. The two places
we did not get to visit was the well known TG hooker bar called the Las Vegas Lounge and Lucky Chengs
Drag Cabaret (well we had to save a few things for our next trip to Las Vegas!!!).
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Patty’s Powder Room … Continued
By Patty Cakes
If you are thinking of going to Las Vegas another thing to consider is the Diva Las Vegas event. This year
it will be held April 23rd thru April 28th in Las Vegas. It is called a vacation and not a convention and yes
there are some planned activities. They say that the best way to describe Diva Las Vegas is to say it's a
great opportunity to get away and be you for a while. There are no speakers, no seminars, no talent
contests, and no big communal closet feeling. However, they have a complete schedule of activities of all
types. Some might be what you would expect at a gathering such as this, many are not! Follow this link to
find out what it is all about http://geekbabe.com/dlv/dlv2007/expect/ . Had my wife been able to get
away in April we probably would have waited and made it to this event. However it was not to be this
year maybe next? Hmmmm something to ponder….I know at least one of the girls, Zia, from here in
Vancouver is planning on attending.
One last comment on doing some shopping in Las Vegas, we found many of the malls over priced on the
strip. However, out south just past the airport 2 miles away from the strip you will find the Las Vegas
Outlet Mall. We found some really good deals in here on shoes, clothes and more. There are over 130 stores
in this enclosed mall. It is well worth the 10 minute drive south.
Before we left for Vegas I did several internet searches looking for info for TG friendly places to visit
while we were in town. Here are a couple of sites that proved useful in my quest.
http://www.jadephoenix.org/lvtgw/index_ms.htm
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/vendors/
This is where I found the list of car rental places at the airport; you get a way better deal if you book one
ahead and online.
http://www.mccarran.com/03_carrentals.asp
Once again that is it for this visit to the powder room. All the best! Please feel free to email me with any
of your thoughts and feedback to [email protected].
Cheers … Patty
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 24
Ageless Skin
By Felicia Conti
Review on Dr. Denese’s (2005). Secrets For Ageless
Skin. Berkley Books: NY
Many in our community are at an age when we need to
be concerned with good skin care and preservation and
restoration of our youth. Ideally, good skin care begins
when we are young and becomes a habit that we
cultivate throughout our lives. But few of the current
products and technologies were available during the
days gone by when we spent hours under the sun
perfecting that perfect tan.
Adrienne Denese, M.D., Ph.D., is a specialist in anti-aging medicine. Dr. Denese’s anti-aging book is a
top seller and for good reason. She first evaluates those skin care methods, including nutritional
supplements that women spend billions of dollars on a year that are ineffective. She also reviews those
products that work. Dr. Denese ultimately arrives at what she calls a “6-Step Program for Flawless Skin”.
Her first and perhaps most important bit of advice is to “stay out of the sun” or “if you do go in the sun,
at least wear a sun block with SPF 15 or higher”. Her book is a wonderful source of information and is
very readable and is a worthwhile purchase. She does recommend her products but also recommends others
as well. Dr. Denese’s emphasis on serums as the only substances that can penetrate through the layers of
skin is a revolutionary concept. We waste so much time and money on lotions and expensive products that
just do not work.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
Trying to put together a plan that incorporates Dr.
Denese’s steps was not an easy task. It required me to
take a close look at her recommended steps and to
realize there were actually more steps than she
reports. She also includes separate but related
programs for daytime and nighttime. The product
information she promotes is embedded in the text so
the reader has to dig out and compile the information
in order to put it to use. With research, you will be
able to find some products that are of similar quality
but that are less expensive than those she recommends.
What follows is a summary of Dr. Denese’s “6-Step Program for Flawless Skin” that is actually an “8Step Nighttime Routine” and a “4-Step Daytime Routine”. I have included all those products
recommended by Dr. Denese in her book as well as some from her site and a few others I found along the
way. Following my summary of Dr. Denese’s routine, I match the products I actually purchased for the
various phases of Dr. Denese’s plan, along with the prices, the company name, and the website where the
product can be found.. If you want to find out about recommended vitamin supplements, those are
included in Dr. Denese’s book as well. I hope that my research will make your skin care program easier for
you.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 26
Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
Night Time Routine
1. Cleaning phase
•Alpha-hydroxy acids or Beta-hydroxy acids
•Vitamin A, Vitamin C, CoQ10
•Key not just ingredients as you rinse off quickly
•Dr. Denese’s Exfoclean Cleanser.
2. Cleaning with Toner
•Toner with cotton ball
•Has gentle astringency, leaves skin feeling soft, not pulled
•Dr. Denese’s Cellular/Pore Refining Toner.
3. Daily Exfoliating phase
•Glycolic acid cleanser pads 8-10%
•Needs enough acidity - should feel as slight tingling on face
•DR. DENESE’SF Glycolic 10% Daily Cleansing Pads
•*10% glycolic pads on www.dermatologistskincare.com, and they were only $12 for 60 pads, versus the
ones she sells which are about triple that price.
4. Weekly Exfoliating phase
•Once or twice a week, use microdermabrasion cream with very fine granules.
•Ingredients include aluminum oxide or pumice
•Estee Lauder So Polished Exfoliating Scrub
•Botanical Microdermabrasion Cream
•Dr, Brant Exfoliation in a Jar
•L’Oreal Refninsh Microdermabrasion Kit
•Dr. Denese’s Doctor’s Microdermabrasion Cream
•Dr. Denese’s Facial Firming Pads
•Dr. Perricone’s Pore Refining Toner Pads
•DR. DENESE’SF has a weekly peel called Radiance 7-Day Peel Kit
•Dr. Denese’s Triple Acid AHA/BHA Weekly Peel
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 27
Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
5. Skin-stimulating phase
•Thin water-based serum, water is one of the first ingredients, could contain carnosine, resveratrol,
bioactice oligopeptides, copper, vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, hyaluronic acid, grape seed extract
•Having glycolic acid will increase effectiveness.
•Dr. Denese’s Age Control Serum, Cellular Firming Serum, Growth Factor Serum, 15 percent Vitamin C
Serum
•Skinceuticals Serum 15
•Cellex C High Potency Serum
•Avon sells a 10% Vitamin C serum which is similar to her 15% serum at $20 versus around $50.
•Apply and rub in Dr. Denese’s Growth Factor Serum #2
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Line Erase/zer0-TOX around eyes upper lip. Wait till dry.
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Wrinkle Smoother over whole face.
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Triple Strength Eye Wrinkle Smoother to eye area.
6. Skin-building phase
•A lipid-based serum, does not contain water until the end if at all, thicker and more moisturizing
•Ingredients such as retinol, Vitamin E, Vitamin, A, essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, Omega 3, and
ceramides.
•Elizabeth Arden’s Bye-Lines Anti-Aging Serum
•Dr. Denese’s Hydro Shield Ultra Moisturizing Serum
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Hydroseal or Hydroshield Ultra Moisturizing Serum and/or Hydroshield Eye Serum
and/or Neck saver Serum. Wait 5-7 minutes to absorb.
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Body Serum to body parts that are dry. After it absorbs, follow with a moisturizer
like the Eufora Body Blends.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 28
Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
7. Eye and Forhead Relaxants
•Ingredients include argireline that is a crease relaxer ingredient.
•Lancome Resloution Wrinkle Concentrate D-Contraxol
•Avon Anew Clinical Line & Wrinkle Corrector
•Gatineu Defilift 3D Face Tensor
•DR. DENESE’SF Wrinkle Relax
•Dr. Denese’s Zero Tox 2
•Dr. Denese Instant Wrinkle Press (apply after SPF 30, use like a concealor)
8. Skin-sealing phase
•Any cream that feels good to you and is not too heavy on your skin, purpose is to seal.
•Best ingredients include ceramides, EFA’s retinol, Vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid are all excellent
•Use Dr. Denese’s Doctor's Night Recovery Cream
Morning Routine
1. Cleaning with Toner
•Toner with cotton ball
•Has gentle astringency, leaves skin feeling soft, not pulled
Tone face and neck with Dr. Denese’s Cellular/Pore Refining Toner.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 29
Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
2. Skin-building phase
•A lipid-based serum, does not contain water until the end if at all, thicker and more moisturizing
•Ingredients such as retinol, Vitamin E, essential fatty acids, linoleic acid, Omega 3, and ceramides.
•Elizabeth Arden’s Bye-Lines Anti-Aging Serum
•Dr. Denese’s Hydro Shield Ultra Moisturizing Serum
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Hydroseal or Hydroshield Ultra Moisturizing Serum to face and Hydroshield Eye
Serum around eyes and Neck Saver Serum onto neck. Rub on; do not rub in and wait 5-7 minutes for it to
absorb.
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Body Serum to body parts that are dry. After it absorbs, follow with a moisturizer
like the Eufora Body Blends.
•As one of the only "treatments" to do during the day, now is the time to apply the Dr. Denese’s
Hyaluronic Wrinkle Filler Serum and Cream Duo. As a time saver, I suggest you apply step 1 first, then
apply the Body Blends to your body so step one can dry. By the time you have finished you can go back
and apply step 2. If you are using this duo, you most likely do not need to use the Hydroseal prior.
3. Skin-sealing phase
•Any cream that feels good to you and is not too heavy on your skin, purpose is to seal.
•Best ingredients include ceramides, EFA’s retinol, Vitamins C and E, hyaluronic acid are all excellent
•Gently apply Dr. Denese’s Baggage Lost Puff Reducing Eye Gel to the bags under your eyes.
•Place a tiny amount of RestorEyes on the dry areas around your eyes. Tip: Use RestorEyes on any
VERY dry areas of your face.
•Apply Dr. Denese’s Vitamin C Radiance Cream to face.
4. Skin-protection phase
•Use a day cream that contains SPF 30 daily, at least SPF 15
•Ingredients include zinc oxide
•Dr. Denese’s
•Apply Dr. Denese’s SPF 30 Defense Day Cream to face and neck. http://4everyouthful.net/
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 30
Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
Products I Was Able To Purchase Following Dr. Denese’s Plan.
1. Cleaning phase & 2. Cleaning with Toner
•Product: A00340 Dr. Denese Cleanser 8 oz and Toner Duo 8 oz
•Cost: $35 for both
•Company: QVC
•Website:http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/params.class.B341.level.2.parent.6285/walk.ya
h.6285-B341?tmp=ddsn&cont=B341&cm_re=PAGE-_-BRANDSHOPS-_-DRDENESE
3. Daily Exfoliating phase
•Product: 16420 Glycolix 10% Glycolic Acid, 2% Salicylic Acid, 60 Pads
•Cost: $16.20
•Company: Dermatologist Rx
•Website: http://www.dermatologistrx.com/
4. Weekly Exfoliating phase
•Product: A06615 Dr. Denese Microdermabrasion Cream, 4.0 oz
•Cost: $34.90
Company: QVC
•WebSite:http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/app.nav/params.class.B341.level.2.parent.6285/walk.ya
h.6285-B341?tmp=ddsn&cont=B341&cm_re=PAGE-_-BRANDSHOPS-_-DRDENESE
5. Skin-stimulating phase
•Product: Neova Night Therapy, 1.7 oz
•Cost: $56
•Company: SkincareRx
•Website: http://skincarerx.com/review_box.html?prid=91
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 31
Ageless Skin … Continued
By Felicia Conti
6. Skin-building phase
•Product: Elizabeth Arden Bye-Lines Anti-Aging
Serum 1oz.
•Cost: $53.90
•Company: Beauty Rose
•Website: http://www.beautyrose.com/info.html
7. Eye and Forehead Relaxants
•Product: Faitox-25, 1 oz each;
•Cost: $59.95 or three for $119.95
•Company: Synovial Labs
•Website: https://www.synovialabs2.com/
8. Skin-sealing phase
•Product: L’Oreal Age Perfect Day Cream with SPF
15
•Cost: $ 15
•Company: Walgreens
•Product: L’Oreal Age Perfect Night Cream
•Cost: $ 15
•Company: Walgreens
9. Lips
•Product: 878819 Fusion Beauty/LipFusion
XL/LipFusion XL
•Cost: $50.00
•Company: Sephora
•Website: http://www.sephora.com/
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 32
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
I have the distinct privilege of speaking with Olivia Connors, the
Chair of the group of people who have worked so hard to plan and bring
this Transgender convention to us all. It is open to all Crossdressers,
transexuals, M2F, F2M, wives and partners. It will be held at the
Double Tree, in Downer's Grove, Illinois, from May 29th through June
3rd. (Tue. through Sun.) There is still plenty of time to register - come join us!
Here is the website:
http://be-all.org/
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 33
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
During these few days attendees can choose from an impressive array of
seminars on make up, hair, and dressing, various surgical options,
health and hormones, cultural aspects of transgenderism, and
philosophical spiritual ideas about being trans.
There will be vendors with shops and booths in the main atrium of the hotel with a
variety of wares you may need, or decide that you want to try.
L: Hi, Olivia. You have been involved in the Be All for quite some time, is that right?
O: I'm the chair of the Be-All Conference. I, along with Julie Johnson oversee the committees and
volunteers for the conference...among so many other things. I have been involved since the Be-All became
a permanent part of Chicago in 2002. At that time, I was president of Chicago Gender Society and we
were asked if we could help out Chi Chapter Tri-Ess with the conference. We agreed with some
stipulations and now the Be-All is it's own entity and certainly one of the best transgender conferences in
the country. It's been a great opportunity and a great success for everyone.
L: This is to be the 25th anniversary and the 6th year in Chicago. What special plans do you have for
this conference?
O: The Be-All has grown tremendously over the last six years because of the committees and volunteers
and what we have to offer. This year we are focusing on the 25th Anniversary Celebration, and a
celebration it will be! This is a huge mark for any conference, relationship, business, etc.. we also have to
keep in mind all the past organizers of the Be-All who have kept this conference afloat for soooo many
years. They built it, we've enhanced it.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 34
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
L: How do you, personally, feel about being involved with this kind of a project?
O: I joined the gender community in 1987 and have loved every minute of my involvement. Some of my
very best friendships have been formed in this community. Being a part of the community is rewarding in
itself, but digging in deeper is the best. I have been involved for the last 11 years acting as Vice-President
and President of Chicago Gender Society and am currently part of the Be-All. One of my good friends said
I do this because I have an ego. Initially, I was taken back by her comment because I never considered
myself as having a huge ego. But we all have to have some ego otherwise we wouldn't exist. Just like
cholesterol levels, there is good ego and bad ego. If one is so full of themselves, it's their responsibility to
lower their bad ego.
L: I understand that you have committed to the entire hotel, how many attendees do you expect?
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 35
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
O: That is so hard to predict. We have grown at a pace of 10 to 15% each year. Last year the total
registered number of attendees was over 400. If we stay on that scale we may have close to 500. The
numbers are important but the larger you get, as co-coordinators, you risk losing that personal touch. You
can't control it. For the last five years, we have tried to treat all the attendees with warmth and
friendliness. We never want to loose that personal touch with the attendees. We have committed to the
entire hotel and it is a beautiful property. It's a little different than most in design and we are sure
everyone will be pleased. Wait till you taste the cookies.
L: Do you know if you will have any special attending guests? Do you expect people from other
conferences?
O: Over the years we've had many guest speakers from all walks of life. We only do one keynote speaker
each year at one of the luncheons. We try to entertain at our luncheons and we've done everything from
American Idol contest to Trans-Jeopardy to the ever so standard fashion shows. We believe the luncheons
should be a break from the seriousness of some of the seminars so we try to keep them light. We will be
having key people from other conventions this year as we've had in the past. This is a standard.
L: Anything special planned for the banquets? I remember last year we enjoyed the drag show by Stella
Productions on one of the evening dinners. Another night we all packed up and went to see the band of
the president of CGS, Stevie Condon, Barely Standing, at a local club.
O: Saturday night will knock you out. The banquet space we have reserved is unbelievable. The best I've
ever seen. We were very lucky to get it because it's normally booked for years. This will be the red carpet
treatment from beginning to end. Seriously, wear the best gown you have and when you arrive, just
imagine you're a Hollywood star at the Golden Globes or Oscar night. It's going to be very cool!
L: I know this is on the website. but can you give us an idea of the schedule outline for the conference?
O: Well, here are the bullet points with a little more detail. Of course, the first obligation is to register,
you can't attend any of these functions unless you have your official credentials.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 36
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
*Tuesday - Welcoming reception in our hospitality suite...great food, great drinks, great conversations,
seeing past friends and making new friends...plus a raffle to win back your registration fee.
* Wednesday - Vendors are open all day. Optional Arlington Park Horse Racing Day Excursion-Gala
Pool Party and swim-wear fashion show from vintage to current styles - Hospitality suite - Evening
entertainment in lounge.
* Thursday - Seminars start - Lunch with day to evening Fashion Show - Optional golf outing at local
course - Optional off Site trip to Drury Lane Theater with dinner, Late night excursion to club featuring
Stevie Conlon's Barely Standing Band, sponsored by Dr. Zukowski
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 37
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
* Friday - Lunch in the Atrium. Seminars- Hospitality suite - Evening Buffet Dinner, Entertainment and
Dancing
* Saturday - 25th Anniversary Celebration - Red carpet photo op, limousine service to beautiful banquet
space on Lake Esplanade, Formal Dinner, Group Photo, Professional Entertainment and dancing til you
drop.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 38
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
L: I understand the banquet on Lake Esplanade is in a round, glass enclosed pavilion over looking the
lake. A very spectacular setting, just made for pictures! Are you going to have the services of the same
group of technicians, who have done such a wonderful job in the past with all the technical arrangements?
O: Our technicians are never leaving us. It's a pact we've all made. Actually, the Be-All has the best
group of committees and volunteers anyone could ask for. I've said it before and will never stop saying
corporate America would pay huge for this pool of talent and energy. Julie Johnson is my partner on the
board and many in the community know her very well. Julie and Robin Paepcke, along with all the others
are a true delight to work with. And once again, the banquet space for Saturday night will be
memorable...that's a promise.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 39
The Be All Conference in Chicago
… A very special celebration for
special friends (Continued)
by Leigh Smythe
An interview with Olivia Connors, Chair;
by Leigh Smythe, a Minnesota TG
L: To sum up, you are expecting this to be a very special year.
O: Yes, Leigh. Again our focus for this year is the 25th Celebration. We will be having the regularly
scheduled seminars for attendees and their significant others. We have always been inclusive of everyone
on the gender spectrum and their supporters and we will continue to do our best to keep it that way. We
have a scholarship program which is sponsored by the doctors who specialize in our community. They are
very giving people and we should all be thankful for their help and services. We have some corporate
sponsorship and also have assistance from several of the local clubs. They are primarily responsible for our
on-going hospitality suite which we consider hi-end. It's open daily and into the evening offering great
appetizers and fine liquors and wines. This is open to all registered guests of the Be-All and it's like
nothing I've ever seen at any other conference. I like it when I hear others refer to the Be-All as 'our
conference'. This is not a phrase used only by our committees and volunteers and local people. I've heard
this so many times at other events from people from all over the country who have attended a Be-All
conference. They are claiming an ownership of sorts and that's a good thing. It's very positive and it tells
me we are doing something very, very right.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 40
Unforgettable Faces
by Carol Deanna
I just wanted to take a moment and introduce myself to everyone. My name is Carole Deanna and I’m a
professional make-artist I work in the Film and TV industry in Vancouver BC. I am a proud T-girl and
have been dressing for over 20 years. I would like to take some time every month to give everyone a few
tips and tricks and discuss one of our most challenging arts, proper make-up application.
Let me start out by defining the very first rule of make-up……there are no rules. I know this sounds
backwards but it is true, there is no right or wrong way to do make-up its all in personal taste. There is no
concrete rule on how make up must be applied, everyone does if differently. I have my own personal style
that will differ from yours and will differ to the next girl and so on. The second rule is there is no perfect
product and everyone has there personal favorites. That being said lets get down to business.
Everyone asks how do I make myself look great, what tricks can I do to make my face look more feminine
in appearance. What product can I use to achieve this look? How do you use foundation to achieve this
look? What people forget is the most important step to achieving this look. If you want your skin to
appear more feminine, smoother and softer, you need to practice skincare. Women who use skincare
products on a daily basis generally have smoother, healthier and cleaner skin. I know some of you are
saying “Hey I don’t wear Make-up on a daily basis, so why would I need this?” Take a cleanser apply and
apply it to a cotton pad and clean just the top of your brow after taking a walk outside for 45 min and
you will be surprised how much dirt and pollutants you will pull off your skin.
You don’t have to spend a lot on products, you just need three simple product and a dedication to using
them on a daily basis. Trust me in a month you will see the difference. The first step you need is a good
cleanser to get all the grime and grit of every day life out of the skin. This will raise the PH balance on the
skin but will leave the skin feeling healthy and feeling fresh. Step 2 apply a good toner. This will help
reduce the higher level of PH on the skin brought on by the cleanser and kill off any bacteria build up.
Step 3 Moisturize the skin with a cream or liquid, there are a number of fantastic product out there.
Please do not be sucked into all the hype of reducing lines….preventing age, these are all marketing ploys
to get you to part with your hard earned money.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 41
Unforgettable Faces …
Continued
by Carol Deanna
3 Steps its that simple and you can get all these products at your drug store with out raising an eyebrow.
Now comes to the question why do I need to do this? Well lets think of your face as a canvas if you have a
cleaner and smoother surface the better the products will go on when applied. …… Try it out for just one
month. What do you have to lose?
If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to Email me at [email protected]
or if you have yahoo id feel free to add me my user name is Jyslincdr . Please just leave a quick note as Hi I
saw your article and I want to chat.
Well until next time please remember that practice does make perfect.
Carole Deanna
www.weaveofdreams.com
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 42
http://www.genderevolve.com
The following is a publication found on GenderEvolve. My thanks to Michele
Angelique for her permission to use valuable TG information found on
GenderEvolve!
Reasons For Crossdressing
By Marlena Dahlstrom
I have had some thoughts on the various reasons why we dress, which I'd originally posted in reply to the
SO of a TS who is transitioning and who was -- understandably -- upset and puzzled that it took her
husband until his 30s to realize he was a TS rather than a CD. I think it's more useful to think in terms of
motivations rather than labels, although I think the type and strength of each person's motivations leads
them to a different place along the transgender spectrum. It's unfortunate the terms have gotten muddied,
not that I want labels to put people into little boxes, but rather as a way to understand our differences as
well as our commonalities.
Much probably has to do with the still-unequal gender roles in society. If a woman acts manly, she is just
trying to assert herself into a man's world. If a man acts feminine, he is surrendering his place in the
world. Personal circumstances also probably make difference, depending on your family's and culture's
attitude toward sex roles. It's not uncommon for "late" transitioners to have been hyper-masculine in
earlier years in an effort to convince others -- but mostly themselves -- that they are really male. This is in
contrast to "early" transitioners who are typically are overtly "girly" in childhood and transition as early as
they can. For the "lates," CDing is transition period while they struggle with their true identity.
But not everyone becomes a TS. Myself, I reflexively cross my legs protectively at the thought of SRS.
From what I've seen you're either born TS or you're not. But there are some CDs who probably do have
mild gender dysphoria. As I mentioned there's "early" and "late" transitioners, which to me this suggests
that the gender dysphoria of "lates", while no less real, isn't as quite as strong as the "earlys." Anne Vital, a
psychologist who works with transgendered folks, speculates that first group has minimal prenatal
androgenization leaving the default female gender identity intact, while the second group have some
partial prenatal androgenization, which enables them to appear and act normally as males, even it doesn't
feel "right." (See www.avitale.com/developmentalreview.htm).
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 43
Reasons For Crossdressing … continued
By Marlena Dahlstrom
Taking that a step further along the spectrum, it seems reasonable that there are those who feel partly- to
wholly-female, but not strongly enough to do HRT or SRS. These are likely girls who constantly feel the
need to dress and might dress most or all of the time if they could. Or to put it another way, these are the
folks that Virginia Prince originally referred to as "transgendered" before that became an umbrella term
encompassing all of us.
Maybe the difference between them and "conventional" TSs is how they feel about their male bodies -- they
may not be fond of it, but they don't regard it as an unbearable birth defect or deformity. Again if there's a
spectrum, then it also explains why some TSs do HRT and may have facial surgery and implants, but don't
feel the need to do SRS (assuming they aren't skipping SRS due to other reasons, such as finances, family
situations, etc.) From what I've heard from these individuals, they regard their male genitalia as an
annoyance, but not something completely alien.
GWs who fall into this "lesser-end" group probably just resolve their mild gender dysphoria by being manish
women or butch lesbians, since there's are pre-existing groups they can find a niche in. (Note: I'm _not_
saying all butch lesbians are gender dysphorics, I'm just saying that since there's a visible group that a
mildly trans-woman can slot herself into and satisfy some/most of her gender discomfort, she may not
consciously think of herself as having gender dysphoria. (digression) Interestingly I've heard of one FTM
who was a bit disappointed after her transition because he went from being the most macho lesbian
around to a short, slightly-built, "wimpy" (his words) guy. (digression) I suppose maybe there's a similar
dynamic for some of those who are "femme" gays and effete straights.
Since those in the "mild to middle" group probably doesn't goes in much for counseling with TG-specializing
psychologists (at least compared to TSs seeking to transition), they fall under the radar and therefore aren't
accounted for in their theories.
In my case, I've had issues with men's gender role, but I've never doubted my maleness, nor would want to
change sex except in a fantasy situation of being able to switch back and forth. (I suppose I might
consider myself a "twin spirit" since if various online personality tests are to be believed, I've got a fairly
androgynous personality. If I was braver and society were a bit more accepting, I might do the Eddie
Izzard "tough androgynous" look, being more on the male side than female side compared to "twin spirits" I
know who choose to present as women. but don't do HRT, etc. OTOH, I have to say I _do_ like being in
full guy mode, as well as being in femme mode. So call me flexible, or maybe I am just exercising a women's
prerogative to change her mind.... g) So how to you account for folks like me?
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 44
Reasons For Crossdressing … continued
By Marlena Dahlstrom
My own speculation is that men cross-dress for a variety of reasons. (And it's generally men, since women
can be "masculine" in everyday life without overtly stepping out of society's gender role.) The reasons
include:
- Submissives -- They're most visibly prevalent in the BDSM scene. Their primary kick is submission and
what could be more "humiliating" than being emasculated. However, forced femme is a pretty common
fantasy among both CDs and TSs, and I think that it's way for T-girls to avoid guilt and shame (similar to
women who have rape fantasies to cope with anxiety about their sexuality), and it may also be a wishfulfillment rewriting their childhoods where they were forced homme.
- Fetishism -- Since most of us start dressing around adolescence, I think that's probably a common spark,
even if the tinder was laid by other causes. (Some CDs do start in childhood and I can't really speak to
what starts it for them, since that's not my own story.) Not surprising, since given my teenage hormones
_anything_ having to to do with girls had sexual overtones. But there's studies showing this driver often
fades over time.
However it does seem like a number of girls do have an "embracing their inner slut" aspect. This might have
a couple causes. First, underneath the dress, we've still got testosterone-fueled sex drives. Second, since of
lot of girls only get to come out occasionally, they're still teenage girls emotionally and strutting their stuff
the way some of the GWs did at that age. Just like the over-done make-up corresponds with the Bozo
years of teenage GGs. Especially since there's no parents to say "You're not going out dressed like that!",
nor the peer groups who might label you the school slut, both of which cause most GGs to tone things
down sooner or later. Third, women still generally control how far things go. So it's a fantasy projection of
"if _I_ were a women I'd never say no."
- Sensuality/Feeling Good -- Let's face it, silk feels nicer than denim. If this is the main driver, it may be
enough just to wear some panties under their guy clothing and they don't feel the need to appear as a
woman. In a similar vein, getting a manicure or facial feels great, and fortunately it's now acceptable for
men to do that sort of thing, whereas it was considered odd only a few years ago so you had to be a
"women" to enjoy it.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 45
Reasons For Crossdressing … continued
By Marlena Dahlstrom
- Looking good -- Women's clothes can be more fun -- shoes, shoes, shoes! -- especially if your guy clothes
are drab by comparison. And while I'm not sure if I'm more attractive wearing make-up than in guy-mode,
I'm certainly prettier, since make-up by definition helps improve your appearance. It'll be interesting to see
if the metrosexual revolution satisfies this urge for some.
- Showing off -- Men in our culture don't have license to be exhibitionistic the way women do. For
example, I used to work with a GW who just loved showing off her body in a tight summer dress and
heels. A guy who did the equivalent would probably get hauled into HR for a talk about sexual
harassment. It does seem like a lot of CDs go through a phase of acting like 14-year-girls who've just
discovered womanhood -- too much make-up, too much on display, etc. But you'll also find some GWs who
enjoy being exhibitionistic -- as you'll see at any fetish event or nightclub. 'Course if you're _expected_ to
constantly be on display that's not necessarily fun. But I think CDs are generally acting out an idealized
version of what being a woman would be like. Dress up doesn't include bloating, cramps, doing the secondshift of housework after a long day at the office, pay discrimination, etc.
- Expressing your "feminine" side -- It seems like there's a lot of girls who in guy mode are in either macho
or logical professions/cultures. The Myers-Briggs personality theory has the idea that everyone has a
"shadow self" that's the opposite of your dominant personality traits, i.e. if you're extroverted, you've got a
introverted part of yourself, if you're natural temperament is intellectual, you've got a feeling-oriented
"shadow self" as well. MB argues these "shadow" parts tend to surface more as we age, developing a more
rounded personality. For guys who's en homme personality is macho or Spock-like, I think CDing may be a
way of dealing with parts of themselves that they've compartmentalized off, but that are "leaking" out.
For guys who with more androgynous personalities, it's a way of letting out the more sensitive parts of
their personalities that they don't feel comfortable doing so en homme for fear of being labeled wussy.
- Being someone else -- A fair number of CDs dress as a form of stress relief according to various studies.
And what could be a better way to get away from yourself than to be someone else, especially some who's
even a different gender (and perhaps a different race in our fantasies). For me, I think that's a significant
reason why I started since I didn't really fit in during high school. In this sense, putting on a dress ain't
that different than putting on a Starfleet uniform or being a hard-core Ren Faire participant. (Again, has
anyone else noticed that these kinds of "alternative" activities, tend to attract a lot of engineers and
programmers? It's as if putting on the costume allows them enough distance to act out parts of their
personalities that they wouldn't do otherwise.) What's different is we're explicitly stepping away from
some of the pressures "to be a man." Instead of getting up the nerve to ask someone to dance, we can be the
ones who can sit back and choose who we accept.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 46
Reasons For Crossdressing … continued
By Marlena Dahlstrom
- Mastery --The desire to become skilled and competent at what one does. I don't think this is something
that starts men cross-dressing, but it's a reinforcer that can develop over time, similar to any other hobby.
Once I decided I wanted to be able to leave the house, I realized I need to improve my dressing, make-up
and voice skills, and did so with a vengeance. I'm not obsessed with passing, since I know I'll be read part
of the time, but when I do blend in there's a certain satisfaction in having pulled it off.
I suspect in most cases, there's probably more than one driver -- since there needs to be enough momentum
to overcome the self-knowledge that we're about to do something society generally considers strange at best
-- and also the main driver depends on circumstances. For example, if I'm out clubbing, it's probably more
about looking good/showing off than expressing the softer part of my personality. And I'm sure there's
probably other motivations that I've missed. If anyone's got suggestions about other motivations, I'd love
to hear about them.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 47
TG-Friendly Places To Go
Ok, you’re a TGirl and you want to go out as a girl, but want to go to a TG-friendly place.
Here are some suggestions offered by our members. We take no responsibility regarding the
places listed, but they are or have been known to be accepting of TGirls.
This is in process with places to be listed in future editions. If
you know of places in the U.S. that are TG-friendly, please let
me know at [email protected] Thanks!
State
Name
Address
Phone
CT
The Polo Club
678 Maple Ave. Hartford
860-278-333
CT
Chez Est
458 Wethersfield
Ave. - Hartford
860-525-3243
CT
Triangles Cafe
66 Sugar Hollow
Rd. - Danbury
203-798-6996
http://www.triangles
cafe.com
MA
Friend’s Landing
85 Water St. Haverhill
978-374-9400
http://www.friendslanding.com
MA
Jacques
79 Broadway St. Boston
617-426-8902
http://www.jacquesc
abaret.com
MA
Manray
21 Brookline St. Cambridge
617-964-0400
http://www.manrayc
lub.com
NH
Amanda Thomas
Boutique
135 State Route
101A, Carriage
Depot Plaza,
Amherst
603-595-9447
http://www.amandat
homasboutique.com
OH
Designs by Victoria
5712 Detroit Ave. Cleveland
216-961-7324
Clothing store and
hosts TG parties
OH
Somewhere Else
1312 S. Highland
St. - Columbus
614-443-4300
Hosts Miss TGirl
Ohio contest
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
Website/Comments
page 48
Transgendered Conferences and Getaways
Ok, you’re a TGirl and you want to go out as a girl and be part of the community. Here is a
listing of some of the conferences and getaways available that are designed for TGirls! We
take no responsibility regarding the places listed, but they are or have been known to be
designed for and accepting of TGirls.
This is in process with more conferences to be listed in future
editions. If you know of conferences/getaways that are TGfriendly, please let me know at [email protected]
Thanks!
Date
Name
Location
Website
1/17/07
First Event
Burlington, MA
http://www.tcne.org/FE2007.html
1/27/07
TGSF Cotillion/Annual
Debutante Ball
San Francisco,
CA
http://www.tgsf.org/events/cotillio
n.html
2/22/07
Colorado Gold Rush
Denver, CO
http://www.gicofcolo.org/cgr/
4/11/07
Transgender 2007
Philadelphia, PA
http:://www.transeventsusa.org/ifg
e/index.shtml
4/19/07
California Dreamin
San Jose, CA
http://www.california-dreamin.org/
4/23/07
Diva Las Vegas
Las Vegas, NV
http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/
4/25/07
Eureka En-Femme
Getaway
Eureka Springs,
AK
http://www.femmegetaway.com/in
dex.html
5/13/07
Esprit
Port Angeles,
WA
http://www.espritconf.com/index.p
hp
5/29/07
Be-All
Chicago, IL
http://www.be-all.org/
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 49
Transgendered Conferences and Getaways … continued
Ok, you’re a TGirl and you want to go out as a girl and be part of the community. Here is a
listing of some of the conferences and getaways available that are designed for TGirls! We
take no responsibility regarding the places listed, but they are or have been known to be
designed for and accepting of TGirls.
This is in process with more conferences to be listed in future
editions. If you know of conferences/getaways that are TGfriendly, please let me know at [email protected]
Thanks!
Date
Name
Location
Website
6/22/07
Sparkle
Manchester, UK
http://www.sparkle.org.uk/sparkle_
2007.htm
9/11/07
Southern Comfort
Conference
Atlanta. GA
http://www.sccatl.org/
October
Defying Gravity
Conference
Louisville, KY
http://www.transfamilydefyinggrav
ity.net/programming.htm
October
Fantasia Fair
Provincetown,
MA
http://www.fantasiafair.org/home/i
ndex.htm
October
GLBTIQ Conference
Worcester, MA
http://www.transcendingboundarie
s.org/
November
Tri Ess Holiday EnFemme
Varies
http://www.geocities.com/tri_ess_n
e/
November
Lake Erie Gala
Erie, PA
http://www.eriesisters.org/
November
Fall Harvest
Omaha, NE
http://www.fallharvest.net/
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 50
Upcoming TG Events
http://www. masquerade.ca/
Located in "Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada",
we are a Social Club for Crossdressers, the Transgendered, and their
Wives/Girlfriends! Where...
- BOYS have FUN being GIRLS!! -
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 51
Upcoming TG Events
http://www.trans-mission.org
Saturday 3
February
9pm to 3am
Valentine's Day is almost upon us so give your partner what they want
most... You. In your sexiest underwear. And a night out at Trans-MISSION :: London!
Venue: The Masque Bar, Barbican, London
Saturday 3
March
9pm to 3am
Forget the Total Lunar Eclipse today, it's Jessica Biel's Birthday (who? who cares?) so join us at Trans-MISSION in London to celebrate at the party to eclipse all
others!
Venue: The Masque Bar, Barbican, London
Saturday 31
March
9pm to 3am
Easter is almost upon us. So come and join the sexy Easter Bunny Girls
at Trans-MISSION (bring your own chocolate - bunny girl costumes optional)
NOTE THE DATE CHANGE - 31 MARCH NOT APRIL 7
Venue: The Masque Bar, Barbican, London
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 52
Upcoming TG Events
http://www.femmefever.com
February 8, 2007
8pm - 12am FemmeFever Valentines Party! Private Party; CD's, TG's, TS's, S/O's & Approved Admirers.
NOT open to the public. Great People, Bar Service, Full Buffet, Dancing, Contests, DJ, Prizes, etc.
Always GREAT turnout! Pre-party reduced makeovers by appointment. Come drab/dressed/change there
7pm on. Always a FUN, Friendly, Discreet, well attended PARTY! Pls (requested but optional) Dress in
Valentine Theme: Wear Red,Pink - Hearts etc Naughty or Nice! Optional - wear what you want but sooo
much nicer when dressed in theme @ Characters Private Party Room: 419 Great East Neck Road - West
Babylon front & rear parking w own entrances to party room. (in case you get lost only 631-661-3234 ).
Bar next door LOVES us - as well - Very friendly location! For Party Information or to RSVP: EMAIL
[email protected] or Call: 516-520-0380. Join us, we always have a great time! $25 pay there.
Directions w your rsvp. Hotels below:
Hotels - Closest hotel is Pines however some are still choosing to use the hotel Best Western we use to
use for other party location (10 min more away). See info below re both hotels. Both provide park at room
(no lobby) ..
PINES MOTOR LODGE
636 Route 109
N. Lindenhurst, NY 11757
631-957-3330
OR::
"Bar Harbor" Best Western. 5050 Sunrise Highway
Massapequa Park, NY 11762
Main Phone: 516-541-2000
Toll-Free: 800-528-1234
See You then! Karen 516 520 0380 www.femmefever.com
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 53
Advertisements and Opportunities
Want to advertise your TG-friendly store, service, club, group, or your own personal items here?
There is NO charge for this … just email the editor [email protected] .
http://Glamourboutique.com
http://Glamourboutiquewest.com
The Glamour Boutique is a terrific TG store. The original retail location is in Auburn, MA and
now has a Las Vegas retail locations! You can also order online. Can’t say enough about this lovely
store! A discount is available to Pretty TGirls members and to visitors of my personal website!
http://Crazy4clipons.com
Crazy 4 Clipons is a terrific online place to discreetly buy clip on earrings at a very reasonable price.
They have a large variety to choose from and love to have TG customers! A discount is available to
Pretty TGirls members and to visitors of my personal website!
http://www.FemmeFever.com
FemmeFever : Karen has developed a wonderful site and TG resource! Along with coordinating many
TG events in the lower NY area, she has a store full of shopping opportunities online.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 54
Advertisements and Opportunities
Want to advertise your TG-friendly store, service, club, group, or your own personal items here?
There is NO charge for this … just email the editor [email protected] .
Austin’s Angels … by Jamie Austin
I can’t say enough really terrific things about Jamie. Simply put, he works wonders. Careful
though, he has done such a wonderful job that several girls have seen how wonderfully beautiful
they can be that they have become full time girls! Jamie offers several different makeover
packages … well worth every penny girls !
http://www.austinsangels.com
http://www. countessascloset.com
This is a fabulous place for GG’s and TGirls alike. Countessa is a GG, former model, and a
terrific supporter of the Transgendered Community ! There is an online store and a physical
location in Studio City, California. More to follow about this great Lady and her offerings.
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 55
Advertisements and Opportunities
Want to advertise your TG-friendly store, service, club, group, or your own personal items here?
There is NO charge for this … just email the editor [email protected] .
http://www.weaveofdreams.com
Weave of Dreams
is a terrific is a very new online TG store carrying many items for us
Tgirls.It is run by Carol Deanna. It is worth the visit !
AngelWings Designs by Mary Beth
You really should checkout Mary Beth’s
products. She hand sews everything and has
lovely lingerie items and dresses, plus she is a doll
and very supportive of us TGirls !
http://www.angelwingsdesigns.com
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
page 56
Our Miss February 2007 Cover Girls !
Just go to …
How about joining us?
We’re a tasteful, fun
group of girls and we
love new friends!
http://groups.yahoo.co
m/group/prettytgirls
Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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Pretty TGirls Magazine - February 2007
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