Just a little intro or re-intro of myself :)

**kalina** · 01-21-2008

Hiya! I just wanted to give everyone a little intro of myself because some of you know me, others don't, others knew of me from years back, etc. Maybe I can even dispel some myths about me, too.

I am Kalina Isato, not Japanese but Chinese-American from Brooklyn, NY (go Brooklyn!). I had feelings of being a woman all my life and they didn't start manifesting into something serious until I was 14. My first "crossdressing experience" was at the age of 4 when I flailed my legs in high heels in my daddy's arms like Fay Wray in King Kong. He caught me parading around in my mom's high heels and at the time thought nothing of my wanting to be a girl.

For years I've been running a totally free transgender resource web site called TransVamp.com. I identified as a crossdresser when I started the site and still identified as a crossdresser for much of its existence. The site is in its thirteenth year now. I sold thousands of books and videos through it and a lot of these products helped many crossdressers and transsexuals, some of whom you might know. I can do hair and makeup and ran a makeover service for many years and built up a clientele of genetic men and also genetic women.

I've also had a brief foray in the music world by producing dance tracks that were used on such MTV shows as MADE, Undressed, and The Osbournes. This was back in 2001 to 2002, but many of you know I've been producing music since my college days back in 1988. I still produce a track from time to time and want to go back to music production full force soon.

I did a brief stint in web site porn for a couple of years and accomplished some goals with that, namely, pay for HRT, various bills, etc. I started HRT in April 2003 and it's been a rollercoaster ride of emotions ever since. Along the way, I was loved by some, hated by others, and discovered that the Internet turned into some sort of territorial place when it was once just an all-friendly community for geeks back in 1986 when I first started using Usenet and readnews.

Somehow, through all of this, I became a parent in 2004 and I'm still with my partner. It's been a rollercoaster ride for her, too.

Most recently, I host parties for tgirls and their friends and admirers. I owned a pageant at one point, the Miss Allstates Midatlantic where we had both crossdresser and transsexual contestants. I've even walked a runway for an AIDS benefit fashion show. I can't say I'm any good at these things, but I try.

So, yeah, I'm old. I'll admit that. I've been around the block a few times. I'm hitting the big four-oh soon and, yes, that's a recent profile pic of me from November 26, 2007. The one that follows with the cutout top is from October 19, 2007 and the one of me in the red kimono is from March 2007 and was snapped by an ex-Time Magazine photographer. I love my short hair and I got my inspiration from all my friends who basically said, "Why are you still wearing wigs and hair extensions? You've got beautiful hair!" So I'm not trying to be Hollywood glamour. I'm just trying to be... me. And I'm lovin' life and life's been good to me amid all the ups and downs.

I hope you can reply to this thread and just say hi, introduce yourself, etc. I hope we can keep any lines of communication open. Any questions you have about me, feel free to ask. I'm very accessible by email or chat. Thanks for listening!