When Kira Darling Brand published her debut memoir Becoming Her: From Man, To Woman: Part 1 in 2016, she entered a literary landscape in which authentic transgender voices were still underrepresented. The book, an autobiographical account of her early struggles and triumphs in transition, was never just a personal diary, it was a statement of resilience, a roadmap for others walking a similar path, and a window into the complexities of growing up trans in the American South.
At only 28 years old at the time of publication, Brand was already carrying a wealth of lived experience that shaped her writing. Raised in Alabama, she faced the dual burden of navigating her identity in a socially conservative region and surviving a workforce often hostile to transgender people. Yet rather than let those realities silence her, she transformed them into creative energy, writing, music, and digital media that reflect the courage of being visible.
Like many trans women of her generation, Brand’s transition was accompanied by loneliness. In her interview with me, she recalls the early days vividly:
“When I first started my gender transition, I felt isolated and alone. I had so many questions about so many things, from medications to surgery options. What little support I did happen to find wasn’t always very helpful to my specific needs. I decided to start documenting all the information I found so I could possibly help other people along their journey.”
That decision, to turn personal struggle into collective guidance, sparked the creation of Becoming Her.
