Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiffany Storey.
Hi tiffany, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
the beginning of my story started when I was about 5 or 6. the voice in my head constantly reminded me how different I was and that I needed to conform to the norm in order to deter unwanted attention. growing up in a rather conservative household with parents that had very traditional views made it even harder for me to live my authentic self. it made me scared to tell them how I felt about the life I was living.
the pretending ended once my dad went to prison and I was left with the freedom to explore my identity more. we moved to Laredo from Cotulla and with my mother working three jobs and having two younger siblings to worry about; this was my opportunity to test how far I could go. so I started playing with makeup, piercings, and hair colors. I had hips, lip, tongue pierced and earlobes stretched to about an inch before I was 15.
after my father got out of prison, I was forced back to normality and Cotulla where my highschool graduating class was 56 people. I ended up graduating from highschool a year early and ended up moving to San Antonio all at 17. once I was in San Antonio on my own, I felt it would be easier for me to begin exploring again. i grew my hair out and started playing with makeup again and felt good enough to try being androgynous. soon after that I realized I was transgender and I was in for a whole other battle. I didn’t share the news with anyone for a while out of fear of being ostracized and judged. unfortunately, I was outed again by a family member and was left to figure everything out on my own. I had no idea what to do, I was 17, it was 2014, access to healthcare as a trans person was limited.
10+ years later into my transition and so much stuff has happened in my life that has made me into such a beautiful, strong, resilient woman.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
fortunately for me, I had financial help with a lot of my transition. although my family did stop speaking to me, I lost a lot of friends, people from my hometown constantly talking about me, not being allowed at my family home, not invited over for holidays or birthdays. forced to spend most of my time alone. I was basically shunned from my community all while still being a teenager. I was really close with my younger sister, who tried to keep communicating with me but my parents ended up stopping that too.
trying to find someone that would take me in as a patient, prescribe me medicine, trying to get documentation for name changes and every other legality issue you can think of. of course people having their own feelings about trans people is another issue and can stop you from doing really anything. getting hormones took over a year, even changing my name and gender marker took over two years.
violence is another issue that a lot of trans women, especially black trans women, have to deal with. along with that comes no justice for us. people in power are usually ones who take advantage of the vulnerable and treated as less than. I’ve had an experience where I was drugged at a nightclub and had everything stolen from me and instead of receiving help; I was met with violence and threats of physical violence.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I like to describe myself as a ‘Jaqueline of all trades’. I can do so many things and if I don’t know how to do it, it’s because I haven’t learned how. I act, I model, I do hair and makeup, im a comedian, an influencer, philanthropist. what im really trying to focus on is modeling and philanthropy.
although im known for my voice. constantly being outspoken and speaking on whatever comes to mind. im most proud of how compassionate I am and my willingness to help and be the voice for others. I’ve donated thousands of dollars to multiple corporations.
my unapologetic authenticity is what sets me apart from everyone. I am an individual thinker and I don’t let anything or anyone else influence me or my decisions with my life. my ability to adapt to any surroundings and excel is also something im sure that sets me apart because I know I can manage anything and everything thrown at me.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Whatever is meant for you, will come to you; you just have to be patient and willing to receive it. the universe. knows what it is doing and your path is laid out already. I have a strong sense of intuition and I feel like it’s because I. believe so much in the universe and that any situation has an outcome and im only capable of making the best of what I have.
too many times people rush into things not being 100 percent sure with themselves and a lot of the times people look to others for validation. validation comes from within. in order to seek true happiness and peace, you have to be patient and willing to accept all of the challenges the universe throws at you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetiffanymonroe/?hl=en
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thetiffanymonroe
Image Credits
Hannah Varnell
