Three years ago today I set out on a journey of the unknown. I moved to Los Angeles from New York with the hopes of finding myself. I was scared and nervous, but also extremely excited. With all the dreams and goals I boarded the plane with, I never could’ve predicted the turn of events that have occurred over these three years.
When I first moved I felt lost. I had no plan, no job, no apartment, and practically no money (like, $100 in my bank account no money). What I did have was ambition, and an able body and mind. I’ve had some of my highest highs and lowest lows while living here, but the lessons I’ve learned are priceless. In an effort to keep this a positive post, I want to focus on all the great things that have happened.
To start, I accomplished my childhood dream, and 2017’s resolution to move to LA within 23 days of the New Year. I had always said when I was little I wanted to move back (I moved to NJ with my family when I was in 2nd grade) and it felt great to make that dream in itself come true.
Three months in, I was paid to make an appearance on Million Dollar Matchmaker (Patti Stanger's reboot of her once popular show, Millionaire Matchmaker)
Six months after moving here I became a vegan and started actively caring about the environment, and it’s made me feel fulfilled in ways I didn’t know I could be
In the fall of my first year, I started my advice column on StyleCaster and have been able to help trans women all over the world feel better about themselves
I’ve met and made friends that I’ll have for the rest of my life
I started to assimilate myself further into the transgender community for the first time, and met so many amazing trans people who’ve taught me invaluable lessons about what it truly means to be a man and woman
I continued to adapt my blog post about becoming the world's 1st transgender prom queen into a screenplay, called QUEEN, with my high school classmate Harry Tarre (we started when I was still living in New York)
I stopped drinking after my 25th birthday for health reasons and I love it
I was featured on Vogue’s Instagram and online magazine
I started the interview profiles section to this site and learned about all types of LGBTQ+ identifying individuals
Was in a Sara Bareilles music video for her song, Amor
I walked in three fashion shows
Spoke at the first ever LA Trans March
Became a seasoned podcast guest
QUEEN made the coveted BLACKLIST & inaugural GLAAD LIST
Walked the red carpet of the Golden Globes with my friend Amber Heard
Was honored with the Voice of The Year, Impact Award and accepted it at the BlogHerHealth19’ conference
Spoke with CEO & President of GLAAD on stage at the MAKERS Women’s Conference
Was featured in online publications such as People, Bustle, Deadline, Yahoo, and Famous Birthdays
Attended the Cannes Film Festival and walked the red carpet with Amber Heard as her L'Oréal “Woman of Worth” guest
QUEEN was acquired by Red Crown Productions, and I am now Executive Producing on the project, helping to turn it into a feature film
I’ve worked with wonderful brands and companies like Lululemon, LA Pride, It Gets Better, the LA LGBT Center, HBO, OUAI Haircare, Seventh Generation, and even Squarespace (where this site lives)
I spoke at Lululemon HeadQuarters in Vancouver
I continued to find my voice on social media and grow my audience
Went to music festivals like Coachella, CRSSD Fest, and Lightning in a Bottle; and with each one I took home gratitude, new friends, and once in a lifetime experiences
Signed my first beauty contract with IPSY, and had another dream come true by being on multiple billboards and ad placements in LA (one of them being on Melrose Place!)
I became happy and able to truly enjoy my alone time
Learned that social media posts aren’t about going viral
I wrote my very first screenplay on my own! It wasn't necessarily the best, but I finished on my own personal deadline
To my surprise I fell in love with acting, and was the supporting actress in a web-series that I co-wrote, and the lead actress in a short film
I fell in love with the Hollywood entertainment industry.
My brother got engaged to the most perfect person for him, and in doing so he created a bigger, extremely loving family for us
My mom finally made the move back to her hometown of LA!
With all the incredible events that have taken place in these three years, what have I learned? A LOT. Here are the top things I’ve taken away thus far:
Be kind to everyone, everyone. Don’t ever burn a bridge, you never know when you’ll see that person again
Keep going, keep pushing yourself, keep evolving
The company you keep really does say so much about you
You have to be the person who gives yourself everything
Spend time alone and cherish every moment of it, whether it be happy or sad
Some things may not work out, and it’ll be for the best in the long run
Live in the moment, take it all in, take time to appreciate the experience while you're in it
We are ever evolving, and can always work on bettering ourselves
Compost, recycle, wear sunscreen, care more about yourself, and worry less
Trust yourself and your path, it’ll all work out in the end
There isn't one way of being trans. Penis and vagina doesn’t define being a man or a woman; there is so much more to it than that.
My time here hasn’t been all sunshine and roses though. I’ve been tested, I’ve been through trauma I’m not willing to share just yet, I’ve had the career carrot dangling in front of me for so long, and I know I’m going to get to where I want to be, eventually, when it's right (so I’ve come to learn). Through it all, I wouldn’t change one bit of it for the world. Moving to Los Angeles was one of the top five best decisions of my entire life.
Whats next? Stay tuned… I probably won’t even be able to predict it, but, I definitely have a better idea of where my life is headed now more so than the day I handed my one way ticket to the flight attendant, and boarded the plane that would take me on the ride of my life.
Beauty, Love, and Butterflies,
Corey Rae