Renegades, Issue 11: Geena Rocero (Author, Transgender Rights Activist)

Reclaiming the name, Horse Barbie, from ridicule to power

Geena Rocero

Author, Director, Producer
Transgender Rights Activist, Gender Proud

Welcome to Renegades, a series spotlighting Asian Pacific leaders and creatives who are carving their own paths and defying stereotypes along the way.

This week, we're featuring Geena Rocero, author, director, producer, and transgender rights activist. Geena tells us about what inspired the title of her new memoir, “Horse Barbie,” visibility of transgender and people of color in fashion and media, and what she hopes audiences will learn from her lived experience. “Horse Barbie” is out today (May 30) and is available for purchase here.

What did you want to be when you were growing up, and how does that compare to what you do today? 

I knew I wanted to be on stage. Didn't know how or what. But at 15 years [old], I started joining trans pageants in the Philippines and that became my career. The performing arts has always been my first love, and I'm happy that writing my memoir, Horse Barbie, producing, writing, and directing allows me to do just that.

Your 2014 TED talk is one of the most viewed TED talks… ever, with over 3.6 million views. Looking back, what are you most proud of about this TED talk? 

To this day, I get approached by people telling me that my TED Talk allowed them to come out as they are. Or sometimes, I've been told my that my TED Talk helped someone who needed to hear the message and that they felt less alone.

After a career in modeling and beauty pageants, you founded Gender Proud, a media company that advocates for transgender and gender non-conforming stories. What motivated you to start this company? 

I wanted to tell and produce stories from the perspectives of my lived experience. I always felt there's so much to explore from that vantage point.

You have a new memoir coming out today(!) that we are very excited about, Horse Barbie. Please tell us the story behind this memorable title. 

At 15, I arrived at the trans pageant world in the Philippines with a bang! I became the most prominent very quickly and won titles after titles. I wrote in the book, “I was a flower that bloomed out of nowhere.” So you can imagine the jealous divas and pageant fans—they started [taunting] me, that I looked like a horse because of my protruding mouth, long neck, and dark skin. It was painful to hear that. But one day when my trans mom and pageant manager, Tigerlily, saw me on stage with [the] aura of elegance I emanated, she said, “You look like a Horse Barbie.” Since then, Horse Barbie became my name and reclamation. 

In Horse Barbie, you talk about gaining momentum as a model at the expense of hiding your true identity. How did the fashion industry shape your perspective on gender and representation in media? 

Visibility for diverse models and, specifically, trans models are very recent. Putting one trans person of color in a fashion campaign, usually only during Pride, is one small part of the equation. We need to continuously create a dynamic symbiotic conversation about equity. We need more trans and people of color with decision making power positions.

What do you hope readers will take away from your memoir?

I hope readers feel that writing about my journey, my hopes, dreams, and pleasure unapologetically allows them to see and pursue their own authentic selves. What I learned about myself through writing my memoir is that my story is rich with so many layers. As someone who grew up in Asia for half of my life, then in the United States, writing my story affirmed my belief and convictions that my perspective as a trans Filipina is expansive in reach and uniqueness. It’s a trans pacific saga. Literally and figuratively. 

What are you currently working on that’s exciting you the most?

Besides going on a book tour and meeting readers, I'm also excited to be directing, writing, and producing more projects...that I can't talk about yet.

Lightning Round

Most Used Emoji
ALL…🐴👑

Favorite Place to Live
New York

Comfort Food
Chicken Adobo

Favorite Asian Pacific Designers
Robert Wun and Prabal Gurung

Best Fashion Tip
Fierce Fierce Fierce