13 trans women on life in the UK right now

Taken from the summer 25 print issue of THE FACE. Get your copy here.

In April, the UK’s Supreme Court ruled that the ​“concept of sex is binary”. In other words, what the government now uses to legally define a ​“woman” is biological sex assigned at birth.

It’s a judgement that threatens to further marginalise trans people; an already vulnerable minority (about 0.5 per cent of the population, if you want to get granular) who are navigating their lives as best they can, just like everybody else.

For this portfolio, young trans women in England share their experiences of surviving and thriving in a country that doesn’t always afford them the respect and dignity they deserve.

This is what it feels like for a girl.

What’s it like to be a trans woman in the UK right now?
I started working [as a teacher] in 2020 but left last year. It feels like the tides are turning. It’s so disparaging to realise that this [climate] is what some trans young people are starting their transition in.

What does being trans mean to you in 2025?
It means being human, it means being a person, it means being authentic, living my truth, fighting every- day, looking at all the people – online, in person, on TV – that don’t understand us, criticise us, and us not giving a damn and doing it anyway.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’m currently in the process of starting a PhD on gender identity. Maybe in five years I’ll be Dr Connie.

What’s life like for you as a trans woman in the UK right now?
It’s like being under psychic attack from the worst possible people, screaming in your face, all of the time. I saw a video of RuPaul talking about experiencing these swells of acceptance, but conservatism is always around the corner. She shouldn’t be fracking [in 2020, RuPaul revealed he and his husband lease the mineral rights of their Wyoming ranch to oil companies], but she spilled.

What does being trans mean to you in 2025?
There’s a lot of anxiety attached to it, especially when it comes to something like going to the toilet. I’ve never been challenged in the toilet in the two years I’ve been using women’s bathrooms but the fear of being in these public spaces is strong. It’s intense, and it’s always there.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Married with two kids. I want to have a family, I want to be with my current partner in a stable queer relationship, and have people in our family respect that.

What’s life like as a trans woman in the UK right now?
I moved here a couple of months ago from Madrid, and it’s been a pretty drastic change – I feel like transness and queerness are a lot more accepted in Spain. Being trans in no way encompasses everything about me; it’s one of the smallest parts of who I am. I’ve always been this person – I just eventually found out it was called being trans.

What’s it like working in nightlife?
I haven’t had too many problems as it’s a pretty queer space. When I get misgendered it doesn’t rattle me, or shake me to my core, but I do notice it a lot more here, which is funny because Spanish is a very gendered language. I feel misgendering feels so much more intentional in the UK.

What does being trans mean to you in 2025?
Freedom and authenticity.

What’s life like for you as a trans woman in the UK right now?
Hard. When people know you’re trans, you do experience discrimination. People ask you inva- sive questions, make you feel othered or like that kid in school getting bullied. I don’t think it’s the most amazing place in the world for trans people, but I do think London, at least, is progressive and accepting of trans people.

If you could say one thing to the government, what would it be?
Fuck you! How about you let some trans people be involved in these debates you’re having? Girl, wake up and allow the people of this community to speak for themselves.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I want to win a Grammy. I want to win an Oscar. I want to win an Olivier. I want to be at the forefront of tell- ing stories that show trans people are bad bitches. I want to do everything to push the trans community forward

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
Perplexing. The visibility of trans people has massively grown, which I don’t think is particularly positive unless you’re privileged and conventionally attractive in a way that is socially acceptable. It makes it harder to be as sure-footed when you’re just trying to live a calm life.

If you could say one thing to the government, what would it be?
I would say that I think people are more concerned with why they’re trapped in terrible housing run by duplicitous landlords, why they’re stuck in cycles of poverty, or why they’re relying on food banks to feed their families than [they’re concerned] with trans people.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
Making films and either married or divorced. Both are chic in their own way.

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
It can be suffocating, however I think there’s a lot more understanding than even the general public is aware of – I’m living testament to the fact you could be around someone who is trans and never even know. I’ll probably be seen as a Black woman first. That’s how I live, day-to-day.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I see myself having travelled a lot more. I see happiness. Within the next five years, I refuse to believe this false narrative surrounding trans people will have actually amounted to anything.

What does being trans mean to you in 2025?
Unapologetic freedom.

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
It’s an obstacle course.

What were your thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling?
It made me think about all the unknown consequences that it will bring me from now on, and about the constant obsession that society has with trans people simply existing.

What does being trans mean to you?
It’s a beautiful blessing.

What’s life like for you as a trans woman in the UK right now?
Stressful.

What did you make of the Supreme Court ruling?
I was disappointed, but not surprised.

If you could say one thing to the government, what would it be?
Stop the obsession!

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I’d like to have taken over the world.

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
It’s gonna be one of those things that we look back at and go, ​“Why was that a thing?” The dolls that I know, my cis girls, women in general, we’re all looking out for each other. I think that’s what’s most important: sticking together and focusing on the real tea, you know?

If you could say one thing to the government, what would it be?
I don’t think we should say anything. I think we should show them – show them by uniting.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I would love to have done a TED Talk. I was born deaf in both ears, so the main thing about me hasn’t re- ally been my transition – it’s been my disability, because that’s something I have to tell people about a lot of the time. My transness is something you can see, you can see I’ve moved between two worlds. But my hearing loss is more interesting.

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
I am genuinely scared for my sisters. It forces me to keep my guard up.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
I don’t see myself in five years. I just try to take one step at a time, one day at a time.

What makes you feel hopeful?
That we trans people have been conditioned to survive.

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
I recognise that my experience as a trans woman does not represent the struggles most of my sisters face. I’ve found an incredible community of transgender people through nightlife. Also, having started as a male model and finding even more success when I started my transition was extremely affirming.

What were your thoughts on the Supreme Court ruling?
The constant dialogue about trans people has made it even harder than it was to not be clocked in public. The media has put us trans people – especially the dolls – at the forefront of people’s minds. I personally don’t give a fuck about bathrooms. I’ll use whichever has a shorter queue.

If you could say one thing to the government, what would it be?
Suck your mum.

What’s it like being a trans woman in the UK right now?
I was in Spain when I heard about the Supreme Court ruling. When I returned, I spent five days waking up at 4am, gripped by anxiety. It hit me that the conversation this country is having about my validity had finally caught up with me.

If you could say one thing to the government, what would it be?
Stop using us as scapegoats. Focus on the actual crises this country is facing and leave trans-related matters to professionals and the community itself.

What makes you feel hopeful?
The girls. Our reality. My body, my flesh, the undeniability of my femininity and beauty. The girls helping each other buy hormones. The communities of care forming in the shadows. The underground. Oh baby… US!

Can you describe life as a trans woman in the UK right now?
It feels a lot harder than it ever has been. When I first came out, it felt like the UK and the government were on my side. Now, that doesn’t feel like the case.

What makes you hopeful?
That there are at least some people who recognise trans people have never been the issue, and it’s the media who’ve made us out to either be a joke or scary. Trans Pride almost doubled in size last year. I can’t wait to see how many people show up this year.

HAIR AND MAKE-UP Lunaya Garcia CASTING DIRECTOR Lisa Dymph Megens TALENT Liana, Jeneva, Phebe, Safe, Munya, Theo, Connie, Ishaani, Fari, Mina, Alejandra, Yolanda and Morena STYLIST’S ASSISTANT Bella Purse and Saskia Hast HAIR AND MAKE-UP ASSISTANT Gabriela Siguencia PRODUCTION Laura Sotto PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR Carla Picueta