The Highlight Issue 12 'Brighter Days Ahead'

“To me, being a woman means being strong and feeling beautiful – not just on the outside but on the inside,” says Cheza, who admits her upbringing had a huge influence on the woman she is today. Despite having a supportive family, after coming out as a transgender woman, Cheza faced challenges from her peers at school: “They used to shout slurs at me in the street, comment on my social media – just constant abuse,” she recalls, advising those struggling with gender identity or sexuality that “if anyone doesn’t accept [you] for who [you] are, then that person shouldn’t be in [your] life”. Admitting that it’s okay not to feel okay, Cheza understands the importance of knowing that you are enough as you are, and celebrating what makes you you . “When my hair is big and my lashes are long, when I’m in full glam, I can conquer the world”. Content creator (@chezablondexo) INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY