Bee’s story
17 year-old Bee Wallace began her transition from male to female at the age of 14. She is striking in appearance and loves dressing with style. Her ambition is to one day become a famous make-up artist. She recently began the hormone therapy treatment that will help to physically transform her from male to female. But adjusting to life on hormone therapy can be physically and emotionally challenging – and coupled with the social pressures of being transgender in a town where not everyone is as open-minded as her own family, Bee has a long way to go in her transition.
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Key fact |
Trans women must take hormone therapy treatment for the rest of their lives.
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When I was first asked about doing the programme I was really nervous but Leeze the assistant producer persuaded me to meet Andrew the producer and he put me at ease a little but I thought I’d hold out till the filming began.
I’ve never felt right in a male body.
When the filming began I started to really get into it and really enjoyed it. Getting used to the cameras at first was really hard but I challenged myself with the help of the crew to open up while filming and began to really relax. Putting my life out there was really scary but I started really to enjoy it.
Filming elements of the programme was really fun and to have my friends and especially my family be a part of it really brought us together. Having my friends being asked all sorts of questions about me seemed really cheesy at first but I soon got used to it — and the fact wherever I went a film crew brought attention to me and Leeze pushing me to open up to the cameras worked really well.
There were parts of the programme I found really hard but I really saw where the documentary was going and I knew that by just being myself meant that the people that will see the programme will get a lot from it.
I'm still very nervous about the project and what people will make of it. Since being filmed in the middle of the town centre where I live I'm being asked constantly when it will be on tv and keeping it under wraps is really hard. But I know that the trust I have in Leeze and Benjie (Director) will mean the programme will be pretty great.
I hope the programme brings more awareness to the transgender community and the issues we face each day just being ourselves. I live in a great country that is so great when it comes to supporting the transgender community but I also know there is a lot to do and I really hope that with the making of the programme that lots of positive things come from it.
I've made great friends while making the programme and also seen true friends become stronger ones while making the programme. I'm extremely proud of everyone involved and hope for those who watch it can see that we are not any different from anyone else and we try and succeed to live very happy lives when communities accept us.