Having spoken to many people, it is clear my story is a little different to most. Around four years ago my partner Dawn created ‘Charlotte’ through BDSM play. Until then, I had not had feelings of wanting to be female or wearing female clothing. One sunny day, Dawn got me to dress up, and we went out for a drive in our convertible to a drive-through fast-food restaurant. Dressed in a short skirt, tights, heels, a long-sleeved top and wig, I drove with the roof down and ordered the food. We then went to a country lane where Dawn took photographs of me on the car bonnet. I was a little nervous, but more than anything though it was a huge thrill - it felt very natural.
I wanted more, so we went shopping for clothes together mainly in charity shops at first. We went to fetish events where I got to be Charlotte. Some of our friends were a little surprised, people were very complimentary.
Friends of ours had been to the Transliving Weekend in Eastbourne and they suggested that we might like it, so we booked for October 2012. I had to assemble a wardrobe of clothes to cover a whole weekend. I noted that there was a Rocky Horror competition. I had been a Goth in my twenties and still loved the music and clothing. I entered the competition and won, which was a huge surprise.