When I was perceived as a black man I became a threat to public safety. When I was dressed as myself, it was my safety that was threatened.

I don't think there's a right or wrong things in your style. It's about how you clearly reflect who you are; how you more clearly tell the story. Who are you? How do you want to transmit that to the world, and how do you more clearly say that? Then I have a philosophy, FFPS: fit, fabric, proportion, and silhouette. Proportion's everything, really, knowing your body and understanding that. Those things have been really crucial for me. It's about being clear about the story you want to tell to the world about who you are - and maybe a little bit of FFPS.

I've been realizing lately how horribly vain I am. I do believe that if I'm successful, it's because of my talent and intelligence, but there's pretty privilege in the world - that's a reality. When I was a kid, in middle school, I started going to thrift stores and dressing myself. It was about announcing to the world who I was. That's what fashion was for me, as a kid. You might have an idea of who you think I am, but I'm going to tell you through my fashion choices who I am.

I'm always skeptical about representations of trans people, especially when trans people are not making the work.

Believing that you are unworthy of love and belonging or that who you are authentically is a sin or is wrong, is deadly.

Writing a book is quite an undertaking and I wouldn't want to do it just to do it.

Seeing a black transgender woman embracing and loving everything about herself might be inspiring to some other folks.