Spark a Strength Discovery

The thing about strength is that it doesn’t reveal itself only during monumental events. It often manifests in quiet moments—those easy-to-miss times between the biggies. For the following six women, it showed up when they came to terms with a new aspect of their identity, when they solved a problem that was holding them back, when they stumbled upon an activity that made them feel alive again, or when they simply appreciated how badass they’d been all along. Their realizations prove that strength is about more than muscles—and that we each have untapped reserves of this quality. We just have to dig in to harness it. Let these stories lead the way.

- BERNARDO HENNING

“Transitioning Is What Made Me Feel Most Comfortable in My Skin”

AS TRINITY, CREATOR OF THE YOUTUBE CHANNEL BEAUTY WITH TRINITY, TAKES VIEWERS ALONG WITH HER ON HER JOURNEY, SHE UNCOVERS BEAUTY AND RESILIENCE IN EVERY MOMENT.

It’s not easy to love yourself when you’re told your existence isn’t valid, that you shouldn’t be here. Being a trans woman of color can be especially lonely if you don’t have a network of support. If you don’t fit in with society, you create your own community, which is what I did. Sharing my transition publicly, especially on my YouTube channel, has been one of the most empowering things for me.

When I first started hormone replacement therapy (HRT) seven years ago, I was in the middle of high school, in the later stages of puberty (right when I was experiencing typical teen issues like hormones, emotional fluctuations, and acne). And because I was presenting as a woman, my concerns around my skin, hair, and anything looks-related were heightened. I decided to start my channel to experiment with different hair and makeup styles, and so other people could see what I was going through.

At that time, I was hyperconscious of everything about my appearance, including making sure my brows were always groomed and my body hair was invisible. Every other day I shaved my face, leaving behind scars on my newly delicate skin (estrogen softens it). Over time, though, my facial features shifted. My cheeks filled out, my brow bone went down, and my nose started thinning. Every change felt like an accomplishment and positively affected the way I saw myself.