Interview with a Superstar!
Kennidi Monroe
VR: Who is Kennidi Monroe, what is she all about and where did she grow up?
KM: Who is Kennidi Monroe, well Kennidi Monroe is a woman that has been inside of the body of Travis Bowsher for many of years. I think she was the person I longed to be but never knew for a very long time. I grew up in a small town outside of Houston, Texas…Tomball, Texas.
VR: Where are you living these days?
KM: I am currently living in the great city of Chicago, IL. I am finding that I am a southern belle turned big city girl!
VR: I know this is a hard question, but can you tell us what your life has been about?
KM: Not that hard of a question Vicki, but my life has been hard. Since growing up in a small Baptist town and dealing with racial issues it was hard. I grew up without a mother, and was raised by my father for so many years. So I never really had a mother figure but my Grandmother. Who, did a great job, helping my father raise me and my brothers. At 15, I realized I was attracted to men and different then boys my age. So, I really didn’t have any gay influences in my life or ever seen a gay person let alone a transgendered one. So I just put myself into the gay category since i was a boy who loved boys. Plus I was a very femmie boy growing up, so to overshadow that I wore facial hair and had short hair.
VR: When you were growing up and each morning you would look in the mirror did you feel that was the wrong person looking back at you?
KM: I dont know if I felt like the wrong person, cause like I said I never had any influences in my life to make me think I was suppose to be a woman, all I know is that I wasn’t suppose to be gay! My father would talk so much shit about gays it was hurtful even after I came out. Not till I got to be an adult did he accept my lifestyle as a gay man.
VR: Who was your inspiration growing up?
KM: Well, first and foremost my Grandmother, she ran the family and she helped raise me and my brothers. As for bigger than life people: Audrey Hepburn and Julia Roberts, both elegant and talented ladies! One a legend and one on her way to becoming the next Audrey! Just Classic BEAUTY!
VR: I know you got into the drag scene at an early age, can you share with us what that age was and what was the occasion?
KM: I was 17 and in High School, my drama group competed in speech and debate tournaments and they had Lip Synching contest. So the only way we could win is if we had something funny so me and my best friend who was gay too, did the song “Dentist” from “Little Shop of Horrors” I played the assistant and from then on I was hooked to dressing up.
VR: At what age did you start performing on stage and where was that?
KM: Well, I studied theatre for a very long time, so I was about 13 when I started doing theatre on stage. Now drag wise, I was 18 and it was a club in Houston called Toyz Disco. Which is a Latin club still there. Erica Andrews and Sweet Savage were doing shows there on Wednesday nights and my boyfriend at time had dared me to ask Erica if I could try to do drag one night in show. She agreed and I came back next week and tried! I was hooked and I kept working there for tips till they show was cancelled!
VR: At what age did you start competing in the pageant system
KM: 18
VR: What was the first pageant you won?
KM: Miss Gay Teen USA
VR: What has been your biggest accomplishment so far?
KM: Becoming the person I thought in a million years i would never be! Also making my dreams of helping others a reality!
VR: When you are performing, is there anyone special you like perform as?
KM: Well, right now that would have to be Kelly Osbourne, cause so many people love seeing me do her and shes just a fun character to do. I love punk/rock music, so its fun to be different and do different stuff! Keep away from norm! But I also love to do Pink, Marilyn Monroe, Liza Minelli and Stevie Nicks!
VR: Do you have any aspirations of any major titles in the future?
KM: I would love to be Miss Continental one day! That is my biggest dream! So many of my friends and women I admire are former Miss Continentals. I think its the highest of highest pageants. Its about being a woman, giving that illusion, making it real. Its like watching Miss America Pageant but with a twist, we all have dicks! LOL
VR: To compete in a major like the “Miss Continental”, “Miss Gay America”, or “Miss Gay UsofA” what do you feel it will cost you?
KM: A lot of time, dedication, and money! Money is a big factor into this, you cant just walk into a big pageant with a gown you bought at a prom store! You have to make it fit your body like a glove and have the big jewelry and costumes, to pull it off. Takes a lot of time and energy!
VR: When you win one, which I feel will be sooner than later, will it be one and out or will you continue to compete?
KM: I dont know yet, I have always felt that if I won one that I would let it go, and enjoy what i accomplished! I feel that I need to step down and let other upcoming girls have their chance at other titles. Don’t get me wrong I have nothing against other girls who have a lot of national titles, but I feel it should give chances to the upcoming girls. But since i haven’t won one I cant tell you if I will not compete again after one.
VR: I hear you are a full time lady now, how is that going?
KM: It’s going great! I think it has taken me many of years of self discovery to get here but I am here and I LOVE IT!
VR: Have you had any surgery to help with making you look more female?
KM: I have had cheeks breast and hips!
VR: Would you ever get SRS(reassignment surgery)?
KM: NO WAY! I have nothing against it, but I just don’t feel that me personally, that I am less of a woman than a real woman cause I have a penis. I think in order to be a real women, it has to come from within!
VR: Who do you admire these days?
KM: A lot of people! Kelly Lauren, Miss Continental ’88, Erika Norell, Tommie Ross, Erica Andrews, Chevelle Brooks, and Monica Munro. All Continental girls!
VR: Do you have any pet peeves?
KM: Dishonest people, people who say they’re your friends and talk shit behind your back and mean people!
VR: Do you think you are a nice person or do you think you can be a bitch at times?
KM: IM BOTH, just ask my boyfriend! I think I am a very nice person, but I think every woman has a bitch side to them!
VR: What do you think makes you stand out above others?
KM: Im just a normal person, I live a pretty normal, straight life. I am not big into categorizing myself, I am just Kennidi. After all my success I don’t let it get to my head, I am like everyone else, I make mistakes and I have flaws. You just don’t wake up one day being beautiful, it takes time and effort. I have flaws, I let people know, I show them on my site through my pics of my career and life as a female impersonator to a transgendered woman.
VR: Do you get nervous when you are asked to speak to a group or perform on stage?
KM: No, I love being in front of people, I was born to do it! I love to make people happy, and I love to tell my story…it makes me feel good!
VR: Are you in love these days and do you care to tell us with who?
KM: IM VERY MUCH IN LOVE! This man has been in my life for a long time, and we have been on and off again for over a year now. But its because we both have needed the breaks, I needed to find myself and grow up as a woman and he needed to find out where he wants to go in life. We have had a lot of rough times together and have hurt each other, but we keep coming back to one another. We are the only two people that cant handle each other. He’s the only man who has ever taken care of me and treated me like a woman and not a transgendered person. I believe in the saying, “If you love something let it go, and if its meant to be it will come back to you.” I feel that has happend to me. I finally feel this time its going to last and work! I was watching the movie “The Notebook” the other day and if you have seen it, its basically how my boyfriend and I are! I love Craig with all my heart, he means world to me, even though I have made him out to be the bad guy in past, he has never been bad just an ass at times, just like I’m a bitch at time! LOL
VR: Where do you see yourself in the future?
KM: A sucessful hair designer for Aveda and BIG Name in the Transgendered world!
VR: As a transgendered person do you think you have receive proper respect you deserve in life?
KM: Most of the time yes, but there are times I feel we dont receive the respect. I think personally I have broke the stereotype of what a transgendered person should be, cause i dont fit the mold!
VR: What do you think you have to offer the transgender community, anything at all?
KM: My story, my life, my talent, my heart and my love for helping others. My salon has opened their hearts and souls to welcoming transgendered people in. I love it so much, and wish I could help more girls. The salon I work for is in Lombard, IL (Northwest Burbs of Chicago), its an Aveda Concept Salon called Tambray Lantz Salon. I’m always looking for girls to come in for pampering! Information can be found on my site about the salon!
VR: What words of wisdom would you give to someone who is reaching out for help?
KM: Don’t rush into this lifestyle, work out the kinks, take many years to find yourself, and make sure this is what you want. It’s not an easy world, and don’t think that since you cant cut it in society as a man that you can as a woman! IT TAKES A STRONG ENOUGH MAN to be A STRONG WOMAN! It took me five years of dressing up to discover I was mean to live as Kennidi. I see so many girls depressed cause they rushed in their decisions. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you have to start somewhere and its not easy!
VR: Do you have a final statement, for our readers?
KM: Live life to the fullest! You only get one chance, make it right and be happy! “No Day But Today…” –from the Musical Rent, great words to live by!
You can also find more information about Miss Monroe by writing her at her or check out her website
Note from Vicki Rene: I remember getting an email from this “little girl” a few years ago, all thrilled to death she found my website! She was as proud of herself as proud could get. She thanked me over and over again for my site and how I was helping young girls like herself to be herself. We have kept in contact over the last few years somewhat, not as much as we said we would, but I will tell you this, she is not a little girl anymore, she is all grown up and has become a woman! And you know how I said she was so proud of herself, I can not be any proud of her than she was that first day she wrote me.
She had a dream, and she is about to make that dream a reality! God bless you Miss Kennidi Monroe, I do love you with all my heart.
