Skirt

Bella Simpson (born 1996) is a young trans woman who came out socially as a transgender girl when she was 11 years old. By that time, she was already into wearing women's clothing whenever she could - even wearing a ball gown or wedding dress to the supermarket. But this tutu-style skirt was the first item of clothing she had made for herself. Her ‘big sister’ Brooklynne Michelle (co-founder of Tranzform) mentored and helped her make it.

Bella wore it for special events, including her first hui, the 2008 Kaha Hui organised by Dr Elizabeth Kerekere (where Bella first met Elizabeth who became an important mentor). Many community members who have known Bella since that first hui will have memories of her banging a pot to wake them up while wearing this skirt.

Bella would wear it either up high or low. It was ‘very exciting personally…first piece of clothing by me for me – this is my moment – like what a Bratz doll would wear’ (Simpson 2019). She later paired it with a Lady Gaga t-shirt in 2010.