Dylan’s videos are a source of inspiration and hope for many. It’s disheartening to see the outrage and fear surrounding measures like “Florida’s Don’t Say Gay” law. At a time when eight states have signed into law measures targeting the LGBTQ+ community’s freedoms, and 28 states are discussing bills, it’s important to highlight the journey happening against the backdrop of a new slew of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. Dylan has shared what it’s like to be a girl for nearly two months and is moving forward quickly.
Now, she is hoping to share everything from the worst to the best parts of her journey transitioning to becoming a girl, in order to get the message out to the trans community and let them know that she is a part of their day-to-day milestones.
Psst: This interview has been edited to make it shorter and clearer.
How ‘Day _ of Girlhood’ started
Why did you decide to share your transition journey on TikTok?
Cisgender individuals comprehend the transgender journey by offering their assistance, even though it may be challenging for them to fully understand. It is quite intriguing to think that many people have a different perspective and outlook on this matter, which I find fascinating, especially because I began my transition at an early stage. I came to the realization that I aspire to be like other individuals who have transitioned, although I never had any concept of how they reached their current state. I have always admired individuals like Laverne Cox within the transgender community, who have fully completed their transition.
Why’d you choose to use the term ‘girl’ versus ‘woman’ in your videos?
“Today, I have come to the realization that I have never experienced the process of growing up as a girl. I have never had the opportunity to figure out new things or try new experiences, which makes me feel like the term ‘girl’ doesn’t accurately represent how I feel. There are times when I feel like a woman, but I don’t feel fully confident in that identity just yet. However, I feel grounded and strong within myself. The term ‘woman’ still scares me a bit.”
Keeping it real and vulnerable
In your videos, you’ve touched on balancing the expectations that come with being a girl and figuring out what kind of girl you want to be. What has that been like?
They help me embrace my gender identity and make me happy because those things are important to me. I don’t want to feel ashamed of those things, but I am heavily inclined towards dresses and femininity. This may upset some women who perceive me as overly girly and hyper-feminine, but that’s just who I am.
We all just want to be the people we want to be and look like each other [similarly], but I think we all got to let just that. It does help me feel some ways like it, but being a woman is not defined by those things and I just realized everyone’s on different journeys, so please can’t you please everyone.
It is possible for me to constantly feel pressure as a transgender woman. I want to show the world all sides of me, so sometimes I hop on a video without wearing makeup, pajamas, or any facial hair.
I want to be kind to the world as a trans person, because there is an unspoken expectation that exists that they can’t look or get dolled up all the time, due to the lack of energy they have or the way they like.
What has been the best part of being a girl so far? And the worst?
Women are my preferred supporters and individuals in life. It is astonishing to consider the support I receive from women. I am honored to be a part of this community. I have mostly been warmly embraced by women. The best part is that I didn’t know this sisterhood existed.
The worst part has been that the exhaustion caused by the vulnerability. It’s not solely due to social media, but rather the fact that I expose so much of myself. However, there are still certain aspects that I choose to keep private or keep for myself. Even though I feel like I owe people things or that they expect certain things from me, I don’t want to be in a position where someone else feels like they own me or that I need to conform to their expectations.
How do you decide what you’ll share on social media?
Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this? Is there something that could help people feel good when they share about this?
Managing my vulnerability, energy, and time is crucial since there are certain emotions and experiences that I am currently experiencing that may still be too recent to share with the world and be seen by millions of people.
You mentioned this wonderful support system. But there are also social media trolls and negative comments. How do you not let that get to you?
“The single negative comment, as opposed to the numerous positive comments, is what I primarily focus on and remember when I read them. Basically, I try to learn how to handle these messages because I am a very sensitive person. I am extremely grateful for the incredible points and arguments that my followers make in my comments section, even though I definitely do not have the energy to address the haters. There are a lot of people who will simply try to bring me down, which is something I experience quite often. Occasionally, I choose not to address all the hate, but instead, I focus on the comedy.”
But it made it a little harder for a woman. Of course, I might expect something like that from a man. And it was even more upsetting because it was a woman. I only listened to some of the points she made and the sizzle. For example, I just did an hour-long podcast about my videos in a pretty pessimistic manner. The podcaster was a very influential conservative.
It’s important to remember that behind these screens, real people have feelings. I think it’s a beautiful thing that we all have different opinions and it’s great that you’re open to expressing them and open to critique. I just hope that you realize that I feel the same way about something.
There are many individuals who genuinely care about someone else’s personal decision, particularly when it pertains to their identity. As a conservative podcaster, I think it’s important to consider why this person is so invested in my happiness.
Dreams, milestones, and hopes for the future
There are [new] things you want to share with people. What are those things?
I would love to bring some characters to life on TV and in film. I would love to write a book one day about love. What people really think about me is that I enjoy comedy, silliness, and lightheartedness. But there is also a depth to me that people get excited to see when I show it. And it’s also another way to open up to some darker sides of my life and some real things I’m experiencing. So, I’m hoping to create an online community that will let me do both.
What is a day or milestone that you’re looking forward to and you can’t wait to share?
I can’t wait to experience my first kiss as a girl because I’ve been given this opportunity to essentially rewrite my relationship history, and I’m thinking about the butterflies I might get because it’s a video that will truly be exciting. I know that I truly deserve companionship and love.
We’re seeing anti-LGBTQ+ bills and laws all over the country. Is there anything that you would say to people in the trans community who are scared about what’s happening?
I am extremely hopeful for the future as we are leaving our mark. We will come out of this stronger than ever. Things feel right now because we are in the mud, trying to fix a lot of broken parts of our community and society. We are not going anywhere. We are here. But I am excited for whatever journey you decide to take. I love you. You are the first of all that I see.