This is a long time coming. Hi everyone! I'm Carlie, a transgender Asian and Latina woman. After being away from this site for about 8 or 9 years, I rejoined this year. When I first joined URNA many years ago, I crossdressed and went out in public occasionally. I thought I was happy, but I was secretly hiding this part of my life from those close to me. The stress and anxiety this caused didn't become clear until 2020. I lost my job, went through a hard breakup, and felt completely lost. It was then I realized I had little to lose and it was time for a fresh start and to let my true self be seen.

I moved to the West Coast, got a new job, and started living as Carla full-time. I completely changed my lifestyle, adopted healthier eating habits, and spent many hours at the gym. In November 2020, I finally started HRT. However, the initial months of my transition were tough. I expected changes to happen faster and struggled to see the woman I truly was when I looked in the mirror. Feeling insecure about my appearance, I withdrew from social life and my online presence. I couldn't bring myself to wear the wigs, pads, and forms that had helped me express Carla during my crossdressing days. While those items were important in my self-discovery, after transitioning, they felt like a mask I no longer wanted to hide behind.

Throughout 2021, I faced many challenges but continued to work on myself, allowing the world to see and meet me despite my awkwardness. In 2022, I truly began to embrace my identity, which led to new friendships and a supportive, wonderful relationship. In 2024, I had breast surgery and plan to have vocal cord surgery soon. I am still evolving, but I now understand and accept that I am who I am, and it's okay for me to show that to the world. Sometimes I'm nice, sometimes a little naughty, but I am always true to myself.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Carlie
P.S. You can find me on Flickr as carla_mariana and on IG as carla_mariana95.