Jaimie Wilson is probably the most famous trans country music star in the world. Apart from being a successful singer, Jaimie is a model, an activist and a fully transitioned female to male role model. Jaimie started his career next to his mother and he had already received several awards until the age of 15.

When he announced his coming-out to his family, things did not turn out to be that easy and he did not find the support he was expecting. However, this made him want to share his transition process online and he managed to empower numerous people all around the world who were experiencing similar situations. Now, Jaimie is a proud ambassador of transgender rights and he is receiving daily endless love from people all around the world who show their support unconditionally.

Read this exclusive interview of Jaimie Wilson and you will find out why Jaimie is here to stay.

How does it feel to be such a talented and internationally famous artist?

I don’t think of it like that, but when I think about it I realise that there is a lot of good out there to support me for who I am. I think my music is the way of giving back to those people who are supportive and like along the journey for me.

How does it feel being recognised in the streets?

It was a really good feeling for me because I was also doing music before my transition and, I guess, now music has more meaning to me because when someone likes my voice and my songs now, they like me for who I am, as opposed to before that it felt like they were just liking who I wanted to be.

How would you describe and define yourself?

I am an artist above all.

What does music mean to you?

Music is my “outlet”. It is everything to me. It is the place that I like to go, either good or bad. I experience my life through music.

How do you feel about having been invited to London Pride to perform live in 2017?

It was an amazing experience. There were so many people there. I just remember going up on the stage and people already knew my songs. I could see the crowd mouthing along the words and what was crazy about that was the fact that I did not have any record yet, so these people listened to my music through my YouTube channel and had checked me on Instagram. The feeling that there are people out there enjoying my music is one of the greatest feeling in the world.

Who are your biggest inspirations and the people who you look up to?

 My music inspirations are numerous, but I really like SIA, and the peculiar way she writes. She inspires me in that aspect to be very real with music. I like the fact that she writes songs that are really laid-back and then other ones like she doesn’t really care about what people think of her. I feel that she does what comes natural for her. When I write music I do not want to limit myself to one genre. I just sit down and, sometimes I write country songs, sometimes pop songs, what ever each time comes out of my soul.

How was the collaboration with Luis Venegas? You posed in Candy Magazine recently and the photoshoot was astonishing.

Oh my God. That was the best photoshoot I have ever done. It was so much fun. The team, the people, everyone was so much fun and happy and made me feel so comfortable to try many different things. I loved the hair, the make-up, the awesome outfits I wore for the photoshoot, everything. It was an honour to be in Candy Magazine knowing that this magazine has hosted so many famous people and big celebrities. It makes me feel very honoured.

Do you feel you are a source of inspiration for people who are thinking of transitioning and reassigning their gender? 

I feel I do and I will explain to you why. When I first came out my family rejected me. They still do. I do not have relationships with my family. That was really tough for me and I think that so many people can relate to that feeling and the the family issues even if you still have your family when you come out. Sometimes it is not the same; you do not get treated the same way you were treated before you came out, even if you are still the same person. Actually, you are more “you” than you were before. I always question why this had to happen and why my family reacted that way. Now, though, I can look back and think that if me going through this helps someone else get the courtesy to come out because they see me living and thriving and be happy regardless, then it is worthy to me. So, I think that it is my responsibility to put a positive message out there and show my happiness. That is why you will not find a single post on my Instagram account where I am depressed upset or saying bad things. And I want to do that for the LGBT youth, because they can see a struggle, but they need to see a good outcome.

Was the transition journey difficult?

Yes, it was in a lot of ways, but it’s funny how something can be so easy, because it is what you want.

What advice would you give to all transgendered people and to people who think of reassigning gender?

My advice is to not allow yourself to be uncomfortable so that other people can be comfortable. Sometimes when you come out, especially if you are a transgendered, you don’t want to correct people if they mess up pronouns, you don’t wanna make them feel uncomfortable, but by doing that you allow yourself to have to feel uncomfortable and out of place. I took me a lot of time to be able to stand up for myself. My advice is to be your own best friend. It’s not selfish to put yourself first and respect yourself and demand respect from other people, that’s ok.

How has your life changed after the transition?

Life is good. I guess now I do not have to go through identity issues. In the past, I was feeling like I was missing something and I knew that I wanted to transition, but I thought that I was never going to. Now, I wake up and I do not have to think about that any more And I am happy.

What is a typical day of Jaimie?

Depend on the day. I want to start travelling again. During the Pride season I will travel to two different places and this is something I enjoy, because I get to meet so many awesome people. I will be going to Florendale in the first ever Trans pride and I will participate in a conference about Trans Youth and this amazing to be able to talk to so many people. Travelling and music are my favourite things.

Who are the people that support you most?

It is actually crazy, but my answer is social media. I did not have and I do not have someone consistently there. I had people along the way, but it is the social media that has helped me a lot. When I feel like I am having a shitty day I can go on my social media and there is so much support and so much love, not saying that there is not any hate, but that’s everywhere. Social media has been there the entire time for me.

What is the best thing you have ever been told?

Once I was performing in SZIGET festival in Hungary and there were way more people than I thought and when I walked off the stage after my performance, there were people screaming and trying to touch me and I was thinking that there must have been someone famous behind me. When I realised that this reaction was for me it felt amazing. I’ve never been that hungry for love and never knew that so many people knew me. And another time, during a Pride there was a guy and we had a nice moment and his story was so similar to mine and he broke down and told me about it and he hadn’t started his transition yet and that day he decided that he was going to and it felt like a connection moment. I checked him periodically and I found that he was doing perfect.

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of that I came out and went through what I wanted to because my whole life I knew I wanted to transition and I told myself I would never do it and I realised that I am myself. It sounds simple but it is not really that simple.

What are your future plans?

I would like to continue going forward with my music. And I have started to follow my dream in modelling too. I want to keep selling and achieving bigger and bigger things.

*all images are courtesy of Jaimie Wilson