AJ Clementine is a TikTok and Instagram creator known for her LGBTQI+ advocacy, sense of humour and fashion content. AJ is passionate about sharing her experiences of being transgender and helping the next generation feel confident and supported in their journey.
Today, AJ is on the blog to answer a few of our questions about her new memoir, Girl, Transcending. Read on!
AJ Clementine
Please tell us about your book, Girl, Transcending!
AJ: Girl, Transcending is a journey of acceptance and the pivotal transitions through life. The story focuses on how I navigated certain curveballs and overcame adversity.
Why was it important for you to tell this story?
AJ: For visibility and positive representation. For many years the narrative of trans people in the media focused around painting them as the villain or used as a comedic relief. Having more authentic stories told will save lives, not only for trans people but for anyone feeling like they don’t fit inside a box.
You wrote that coming out to yourself was the hardest thing. Can you explain what you mean by that?
AJ: Because of what I internalised growing up from the media I perceived everything in a different light than I do today. I would hide my Filipino identity and also didn’t want to accept that I was trans. Ignoring something doesn’t make it go away, so I had to embrace who I truly was in order to survive and It was a conflict that I struggled with the most.
You’re very active on TikTok and Instagram. How do you think that having an online community of people has influenced your own journey towards self-love and acceptance?
AJ: With creating content, I’ve been able to connect and find people who share similar experiences to me. Whether we are the same or not, being able to relive and enjoy art together online can be a beautiful thing especially when you’ve created a community of love and support. It has definitely shaped me into a better person today.
‘Ignoring something doesn’t make it go away, so I had to embrace who I truly was in order to survive and it was a conflict that I struggled with the most.’
What was your favourite part of the writing process for this book?
AJ: Being able to use and reflect on what I’ve been through, turning it into a source of hope. There were moments where I cried of happiness thinking about how much my life would have changed knowing the possibilities within the pages of my book.
If you could tell your past self one thing, what would it be?
AJ: That what I’m currently feeling is valid, nothing I do or say makes me crazy because it will mean something in the future. I’d tell myself to trust my instincts and never apologise for being exactly the way I am.
Who did you write this book for? Who do you wish would read it?
AJ: This is for the kids who feel out of place, the people who want to see the world from a new perspective. I want the book to also educate, bring knowledge to teachers, parents and friends of trans people.
What is the last book you read and loved?
AJ: I recently read for the 1000th time, Looking for Alaska, my favourite book by John Green.
What do you hope readers will discover in Girl, Transcending?
AJ: There can be moments that feel like there’s magic in the world, but at the end of the day we truly do have the power to slay our own dragons.
And finally, what’s up next for you?
AJ: To continue creating and to travel the world to find my castle.
Thanks AJ!
—Girl, Transcending by AJ Clementine (Murdoch Books) is out now.
Girl, Transcending
Becoming the woman I was born to be
AJ Clementine always knew she was a girl. The problem was, she'd been born in a 'magical' shell that looked, on the outside, like a perfect little boy. In her teens, this conflict between her outer and inner selves exploded, igniting years of anxiety and panic attacks.
In Girl, Transcending, AJ shares the journey of her gender transition, what it was like to grow up Wasian in a blended family, and her transformation into a model, digital creator and transgender advocate...
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