What is your name and what is your background?
Monica Trasformatore, from Rome, Italy. As a male I am a TV director (documentary, clips, television-shows) and I'm single at the moment (messy private life!). As a female I am a single dark lady (my male side is very jealous), and a performer/video artist. I like to get alive both of my personality faces, to get alive a radical distinction between them.

Are you happy to be called a tranny and what does this name mean to you?
I don't mind about names. But it's a good name to call something that had no name before. A tranny is simply someone that likes to change his appearances from male to female. Any other preference for example: degree of transformation, sexual preferences and style are personal choices.

How old are you and how young can you remember thinking about or actually cross-dressing?
I'm 39, first time I cross-dressed was maybe around 9 and the models in my mind were Ltnt. Ellis of Moonbase (UFO) and Suzi Quatro

Where do you buy clothes?
In Chinese stores (very cheap). Second hand stores and tv/cd/fetish stores. In Rome I like fetish clothing, 1977-punk clothes (from Siouxie to Deborah Harry). Trendy-suburban clothes lines.

What leads you to choose the styles you wear?
The excitement! I wear clothes to thrill myself and the people that look at me. And I know that if I excite myself (by the mirror) I can excite someone else.

Do you have one look or many images?
Three - fetish whore; ultra-chic-punk-lady (chanelpunk); suburban-trendy (like, in Rome we say: the "Meatstore owner wife with the BMW" lot of jewels and fur - but trendy)

Is make-up and hair important to you and if so how do you achieve your look?
It's very important! I learned from other trannies, pro-transexuals, by tv/theatre make-up people, by books (Kevin Aucoin), by cd-rom (your cd-rom!), etc.

To what degree do you practice hair removal, and other body feminization?
I just have my body hair removed by waxing. Who knows that you dress? Most of my friends, most of my ex-girlfriends, some of the people I work with. They know because I told them and (more or less) it's ok with them. Obviously most of the problems came with girlfriends.

How often do you dress and if you go out where to?
It depends. Sometimes I don't dress for one year and then every week. Normally I go to tv/ts/gay friendly places. Sometimes alone or sometimes with friends. I had only one girlfriend with who I used to go out en femme but you know it's hard because... (see next answer).

How much of a sexual turn on is trannying for you?
There's a lot of sexual connotations in cross-dressing. Some obvious and some not. I think preferences come in spurts! When I'm dressed I'm totally free. Dressing is a way to listen to your inner self, but your inner self is not every time correct.

What is your definition of feminine?
Superstructure; Love; Mystery; Pain; Smoothness; Unattainable.

To what degree do you feel gender dysphoric (i.e that your brain is feminine)?
I don't know. My dysphoria changes, because my mind changes, my relationships changes, the environment changes. And vice-versa.

To what degree would you consider permanent hair removal, hormones, surgery?
I don't consider permanent changes, only temporary changes.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone that has just found they are not the only tranny in the world?
Welcome to the fantastic tranny multiverse!