Letoya Johnstone Opens Up About Life as a Transgender Individual
Human rights advocate and stylist Letoya Johnstone recently shed light on the experiences of being transgender, addressing common misconceptions about gender identity.
Letoya, a transgender woman, works as a model, catwalk coach, and a key member of TransAlliance Kenya, an organization dedicated to reducing stigma, fighting discrimination, and improving healthcare access for the transgender community.
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In an interview with YouTuber Jagero, Letoya described herself as a woman born in a man’s body, emphasizing that her identity is not about “feeling” female but about inherently “being” a woman.
“I am a woman born in a man’s body because my womanhood doesn’t manifest physically,” she explained.
She highlighted the different aspects of transitioning, beginning with social transitioning, which involves using appearance to express one’s gender identity.
“Social transitioning is about presenting yourself in a way that aligns with your identity—like painting your nails, braiding your hair, or wearing clothing that reflects your femininity. In some settings, you might be known as male, but in others, you can introduce yourself with a name that fits your true self,” she shared.
Letoya also spoke about medical transitioning, which can include hormone therapy or surgeries to align the body with one’s gender identity.
In Kenya, where legal gender recognition is unavailable, medical transitioning is limited to adults who can provide informed consent after comprehensive counseling. “Medical transitioning allows the woman inside you to become visibly apparent,” Letoya said.
