▶ Femme name: Tanya
▶ Location: Mexico
▶ How long you have been cross-dressing: My journey with crossdressing started when I was little, just like others on and off for years, but it became a bigger passion about three years ago.
That’s when I went all-in, getting serious about wigs, dresses, makeup, accessories, nails, shapewear, and of course, expanding my collection of heels and lingerie. Now, I have a closet full of women’s clothing, and it shows no signs of stopping!.
▶ What’s your favorite thing about dressing up: It reminds me of the childhood joy of disguising yourself as a superhero and playing as someone else entirely. In my case nowadays, that character is a woman. I love having the opportunity to be a lady sometimes—to feel feminine, sexy, and to indulge in all things girly.
The best part is the incredible variety of “costumes.” There’s so much fun in choosing dresses, playing with colors, experimenting with wigs and makeup, and accessorizing with nails, heels, and purses. The possibilities are truly endless. This transformation allows me to become Tanya: a playful, confident, sexy, and wonderfully quirky woman..
▶ Things you can’t dress up without: It’s everything. Just as starter, heels, which I still see as one of the most quintessentially feminine items and the very thing that hooked me. Then I added nylons, and lingerie.
Now my essentials include wigs, a full face makeup, shapewear, nails, and accessories—Lately I’ve been having a weakness for anklets. When I transform into Tanya, I commit completely. I don’t believe in doing things halfway; it’s all about the full, head-to-toe experience.
▶ Reason you like to crossdress: Whenever I see feminine women anywhere I love how they look, how they walk, talk and compose. How they put statement outfits together. I admire that a lot. So much that I want to copy that for myself. It an homage to feminine woman to become one of them for a while.
I truly enjoy exploring my feminine side and embracing the feeling of becoming a sexy, confident woman. I always try to do my best every time I dress up. Even when it’s just for a few hours, I am committed to going all the way—immersing myself in the feminine experience, from how I feel to how I act.
I practice moving and posing femininely, and now I’m starting to go out and simply enjoy my femme time. All that makes me super happy. And when I see the woman in the mirror looking back at me, its a mesmerizing happy feeling I can’t live without.
▶ Things you like to do after getting dressed: : Like almost everyone, I start with taking hundreds of pictures. Now that I’ve become more confident, I absolutely love spending some time out, whether it’s having a cocktail or just strolling through a park.
I first tried going out about two years ago, but I was so nervous that I didn’t enjoy it much. When I tried again almost a year later, I had the best night ever—I danced, sang, and had a few cocktails. Now, going out has become an essential part of the experience for me. I can’t always do it, but I certainly try to go out whenever I’m dressed.
▶ Your favorite outfits/style: I love to show off my legs, so mini dresses and short skirts make up about 95% of my wardrobe. I’ve also recently started buying tight pants, like leather leggings, and I’m really enjoying them. Even though I’m a tall girl, I feel my outfit is incomplete without heels—and don’t even get me started on my love for knee-high boots!
My style is primarily sexy, club-inspired outfits. However, as I’ve started going out more frequently, I’ve learned to tone it down a bit. While I do enjoy a bit of attention, I also believe in dressing appropriately for the occasion, which isn’t always a club.
▶ Where do you buy your clothes/makeup/shoes from: I started by getting my first dresses and heels from discount stores. I can still remember trying them on super quickly just in front of the closest mirror I could find. Nowadays, I shop for almost everything online—shoes, makeup, dresses, and accessories.
The choices are endless! I’ve gotten caught up in shopping sprees more than once. I have figured out about my sizes from different brands and fabrics. And there’s almost always a way to return them if the fit doesn’t work. I still buy some things in stores, but now I take my time to make sure everything fits me right.
▶ How long does it take you to to do your make-up and get ready: While I can do it in under an hour if needed, I prefer not to rush. For me, the process is a ritual—I love taking my time, being delicate and precise. I enjoy sipping a glass of wine and dancing by myself as I get ready.
That’s why I normally take a couple of hours for the full transformation. I also like to have two or three different outfits in hand to try different combinations. If I have the extra half-hour for that, I’ll always take it.
▶ What are the challenges you have faced as a crossdresser: My biggest challenge was just getting outside. The first time I went out, I was too nervous to even enjoy it. I’d get all flushed and sweaty—partly from nerves, and partly because once I’m fully dressed with the wig and everything, I just get hot! So managing that is a thing.
On top of that, using my voice has been a whole other challenge. Speaking in a way that feels right when I’m Tanya is still one of the trickiest parts of the whole transformation. My other biggest challenge—and my ultimate dream—is to spend an entire week, or even a month, living as Tanya.
I would absolutely love that and I look forward to finding the right time and place to make it happen. The challenge, of course, is that I still have my everyday life, which is what funds this wonderful journey. As you can see, making this dream a reality is a whole different challenge, but one I’m determined to overcome.
▶ Instagram: @cdtanya1986
Photo Gallery:
