It’s only a year since she was last hospitalised with anxiety and depression, but she truly believes she’s turned the corner. For the past 18 months, she has been in a relationship with a British chef who works in France. “This is the first relationship I’ve had with a man that feels healthy and wholesome and encouraging. He’s incredible.” She shows me a picture of him, handsome, topless and blond, alongside her miniature Yorkie (a bitch called Teddy). She’s obviously proud of both of them. And then there’s her greatly improved relationship with her parents. Over the past few years her father has opened up about the racism he experienced in Britain. “He told me that a woman who worked in the corner shop would never put money in his hand,” she says. “She refused to touch him. She would always put money on the counter.” They now have a much better understanding of each other. I’m the most consistently happy I’ve been in my entire life. I’ve got so much love in my life and things to be happy for a b Jones, Owen; Perraudin, Frances (11 June 2019). "NSPCC staff condemn decision to cut ties with trans activist". The Guardian . Retrieved 19 January 2022. Through the story of one woman’s extraordinary mission to live with authenticity, Transitional shows us how to heal, how to build a stronger community and how to evolve as a society out of shame and into pride. The one thing Bergdorf does talk about in detail is facial feminisation surgery. In 2018, she underwent a series of procedures, including re-contouring of the chin and brow bone. For most trans women, she says this matters so much more than what they do or don’t do downstairs. “It’s my priority, because I show it to the world. But the ins and outs of what I’ve had done, I don’t talk about.” She hopes the book is more about interiors than exteriors. People can see for themselves what she looks like. She wants to show us what it feels like to be her; what it has taken to get where she is today.

Bergdorf won ‘Changemaker of the Year’ at the 2018 Cosmopolitan Awards, [3] and was awarded an honorary doctorate in 2019 by the University of Brighton. [3] She joined UN Women UK as an advocate in 2019, supporting its #DrawALine campaign, aiming to put a stop to female genital mutilation (FGM). [4] Early life [ edit ] In the time that followed, I felt abandoned and lost. I’d found myself settling for less than I deserved across the board – what I was paid, how I was treated, how I was loved. I settled for scraps. Everything had started to take a wrong turn.The book will explore the history of gender throughout the world, including Polynesian, Indian and Native American cultures that recognised more than two genders before the colonial era. “I’ve gone into the depths of where gender came from, because it hasn’t always existed in [the way] we think about gender today,” said Bergdorf. “What it’s like to be a cisgender woman today is not what it was in the middle ages, or the 1950s, or even the 1980s.” Moore, Matt (9 June 2019). "Munroe Bergdorft dropped as childline ambassador following transphobic hate campaign". Attitude.

Bergdorf was born and grew up in Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex. [5] [2] Bergdorf is of mixed ancestry, born to a Jamaican father and an English mother. [6] [2] Bergdorf, who was assigned male at birth, attended Bentfield County Primary School in Stansted Mountfitchet and then The Bishop's Stortford High School, an all-boys' school. Bergdorf describes growing up as a "very effeminate boy". Later, she studied English at the University of Brighton, describing herself there as genderqueer. [2] Dress by Richard Quinn. Jewellery by Bulgari. Stylist: Thomas George Wulbern. Photograph: Hollie Fernando/The Guardian a b c Husna Rizvi (30 August 2017). "Transgender model becomes face of L'Oréal". Pink News . Retrieved 27 February 2018. Bergdorf has spoken out recently about fellow Bloomsbury author JK Rowling, whose recent comments about transgender rights Bergdorf described as transphobic. She also referred the UK peer Emma Nicholson to the Parliamentary Standards Conduct Commissioner, for her posts on social media about the trans community. Gen Z, she said, “take a much more fluid approach to gender and sexuality … and I think that that’s where we need to go. We need to stop labeling ourselves with archaic definitions of humanity because we’re not simple. Humans are complex and you can’t label everything and you can’t label everybody else either. I feel like we need to widen how we see ourselves, and widen how we see each other, because then you realise that we all want the same thing.”

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She also writes about the trans women who would guide and inspire her, discusses race and systemic racism, gender, fashion, the media, change-making and choosing to live with authenticity. I’m looking forward to sharing a piece of work where people can actually read what I’m about firsthand, instead of seeing me when I pop up in the papers every now and again,” she said. “If I can change people’s minds about how they view people who aren’t like them, and how they view human difference, than that is a job done.” Then, as she settles into her story, you come to realise the extraordinary intelligence, insight and power of this tenacious woman. Munroe Bergdorf, who has appeared on the cover of Attitude multiple times, at last week’s Attitude 101, empowered by Bentley event in London (Image: Kit Oakes)