"The Cut Newspaper Online"










Queen of Nations ™/ Text / The Cut / Photography / Courtesy Of Queen of Nations 13th August 2008 The Cut went to a really moving event recently. The Queen of Nations is a beauty pageant that aims to heighten the profile and confidence of the transsexual community. After the event, we contacted Sahara to learn more about the project. I decided to start the pageant because transgender women are seen as the outcasts of the society, they don’t seem to fit into the gay or the straight label well. For these reasons many of the girls end up in escorting, prostitution or porn acting as a career. Queen of Nations gives the girls from all around the world, resident in the UK or beyond, the opportunity to exhibit themselves as talented, creative and beautiful young individuals. I am originally African. I fled to the UK in 2004 from decades of multiple homophobic attacks and harassment. I feel very privileged to be where I am today. I live my life as the woman that I am, a model and a singer. Many girls still pass through horrible experiences in their local countries today. They want to have the opportunities I have right now. I feel their pain, because that was my life four years ago. Like every other tgirl (transgender girl) in this world, growing up was very difficult for me. Searching for that identity and acceptance from family, friends and the local community was very hard. Constant discrimination and harassment made it even worse, but I’ve tried to make the best of what life can offer. Religion and morals played a very important role in my life growing up, so I will say definitely God and my mother are my greatest inspirations. I am a Christian and I believe in God. It is hard for most people to understand - can a gay man or a transgender women believe in God? I do. I hope to be a positive influence on younger people growing up. It is very important that we have more positive transgender representation in the press and in the society. When you google the word ‘transexual’ all you get is porn and escort site springing up and stories of tgirls with vice life styles or how bizarre it is to be a tgirl. It would be nice for people to understand that transgenderism is a lifestyle and not a sexual fetish. There are many happily married tgirls in our community today. There are many tgirls in everyday jobs and we also have tgirls in influential positions in prominent places. These people should be appreciated for their achievements and who they are and not to be looked down upon because of their chosen lifestyle. Miss Sophia Logan, the winner of Queen Of Nations 2008 will have the opportunity to make her mark as an example in the community. Like last year’s winner, she will raise money for charity, make appearances and speeches at transgender events in the UK and beyond, attend countless photo shoots and have the opportunity to grace magazine covers. Queen of Nations 2009 will be bigger and better. Our doors are open to everybody who would like to get involved. Sponsorship of any kind, volunteering and even performances are highly welcome. For more: www.queenofnations.com		Issue Two Aug 2008 Reggie Yates Interview Road To 2012 : Olympics Special Road To Carnival Fashion Freedom At A Price Red Hot Interview Nash Money Sneakers Micachu Interview Natty Interview Life In The Marine Corps Parents Meet The Teenagers Young Londoners Meet The Cast Of Adulthood Cyko Logic Interview Fred Butler : Prop Stylist Interview Immortal Technique Review Made In Queens Victor Timofeev : Artist Interview Ricky Powell Interview Twizzle Interview Flywear Feature Top Girl Film Feature Queen Of Nations Not Without My Sister Sky's The Limit Career's Advice Issue One March 2008 Bashy Interview The Cool Kids Lady Lykes Grimes New School Rowdy Superstar Interview The Sound Of Reason Slash Interview Hoxton Vs Hampstead Fashion Young Designers Lucinda Chua Interview Will Kay Interview The Brothers Size Chris Lambert Duane Henry Drug Trafficking Feature Does My Bum Look Big in This Life After Prison Whats Upsetting Our Children MP Julia Goldsworthy Autechre Live In London Hardcore Is More Than Music Media Box Paddington Development Trust The Cut On Myspace