VICTORIA'S SECRETS

Actress VICTORIA GIGANTE has, many times, appeared on stage and screen; and her photographs have adorned gallery walls around the world - but she feels like she hasn't done enough. As her new play 'Miss Philippines' is about to hit London's West End, WARREN CHRISTOPHER HALLETT meets this multi-talented sensation to find out why - and then some.

- WARREN CHRISTOPHER HALLETT

I first met Victoria six years ago. She was introduced to me by photographer Misia-O' who made this Filipina beauty her muse - an inspiration behind her first solo exhibition. It's not difficult to see why. Victoria is incredibly charismatic, compelling anyone who crosses her path to gravitate towards her. She and I hit it off right away.

Her effervescent personality and million-watt smile left a lasting impression on me. So did her dedication and passion for the promotion of liberty, justice and equality for trans rights. Hurrah! We're on the same wavelength! Although I had hitherto been a stalwart advocate for trans and non-binary people, meeting Victoria had led to the growth and reinforcement of my capacity for allyship. (Thanks Victoria. All credit goes to you).

Since then, we have had countless encounters where Victoria would tell me bits and pieces about her. It's such a privilege to be given access into her world and be trusted with her innermost secrets. Despite already knowing a great deal about Victoria, I thought this interview would be worth the time and effort. I was determined to piece together fragments of information I'd been drip-fed over the years as a coherent narrative for TransLiving. So, we arranged a rendezvous.