Gigi Gorgeous - He said, she said: lessons, stories, and mistakes from my transgender journey

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This book would not be possible without the love and support of my YouTube viewers. From day one youve understood me, accepted me, and encouraged me to grow to be exactly who I was always meant to be. Youve given me the blessing of sharing my story on a higher level that I never thought Id get the chance to. From makeup tutorials and beauty product hauls sitting on my bedroom floor in Canada as a teenager to sitting in my Los Angeles home, writing this book, youve been there by my side. And I wanted to say a huge thank you and tell you I love you so much. And of course, stay gorgeous, duh!

A special thank you to Marshall Heyman for your patience, laughter, and support. This book is a result of your hard work. And to my editor, Donna Loffredo, youre the female boss I needed to keep me in check. To Steve Troha who saw the potential and helped sell it right away. Thank you for everything.

My managers, Scott Fisher and Adam Wescott, have never stopped hustling for me and Im so grateful for them. This book wouldnt be happening without them, thats for sure! Thank you for always pushing me to be greater, bigger, and more authentic than the year before. Our journey is one for the booksliterally! God I make myself laugh sometimes. And to Lord Lori for being a fierce new member of the team.

I am indebted to my late mother, Judy Lazzarato, who was the most positive, loving, beautiful woman Ive ever known. She taught me what it is to be a woman and to always live with integrity. I want to thank her for the countless life lessons she instilled in my upbringing, and the ones that she continues to teach me to this very day. I hope I make her proud. I love you endlessly, Mom.

Thank you, Dad, for everything youve done for me. Your unconditional love and knowledge has helped me conquer every struggle that has been thrown my way. I know I can always count on you to listen, care, and talk through any situation. Without you, this book wouldnt have been able to happen because, well, I wouldnt be me without you! I got really lucky with the family I was born into, and I am fully aware that you and my brothers are such a blessing. Thank you to them as well, Adam and Cory, youre the best brothers a girl could ask for. I love you so much!

I like to think that when youre a real person, sooner rather than later youll find yourself surrounded with other real people. Ive been so lucky to find life-long friends that Ive known since elementary school in Canada and new friends as well in Los Angeles. Both of which I look at like my own family. Through all the good, the bad, and the ugly youve stuck by me. Thank you to them for the unconditional love and friendship we share. I wouldnt be the woman I am today, or have accomplished what I have without you guys. Thank you for pushing me to keep going when Im down and cheering me on when I need to hear some positivity! This book is for all of you!

And last but definitely not least to my partner in crime and soulmate: my beautiful fiance Nats. I love you to the moon and back. Im so excited to spend the rest of my life with you. Heres to the next chapter.

GIGI GORGEOUS

is a YouTube star, transgender activist, television personality, actress, model, and LGBTQ icon with nearly 8 million followers across her social platforms. In 2017, her feature-length documentary, This Is Everything: Gigi Gorgeous, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. She was named one of Time magazines 25 Most Influential People on the Internet and one of Forbess 30 Under 30. Some of her other awards include YouTuber of the Year at the Shorty Awards and the LogoTV Trailblazing Social Creator Award for her advocacy on behalf of LGBTQ youth. Gigi works closely with several LGBTQ organizations, including GLAAD, the Los Angeles LGBT Center, and the Childrens Hospital Los Angeles Center for Transyouth Health and Development.

W e watched a lot of Disney movies when I was growing up, and I learned a lot of lessons from watching those movies. The Lion King was the first one I saw, but as you know, I truly related to Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Like me, Ariel was obsessed with water, and she wanted to be part of a world she didnt know a lot about. She gave up a lot to change her life.

When I look at my life now, I see my struggle in Ariels. She didnt feel as if she was born with the right anatomy. She took a major risk in order to live the life she thought she deserved. I think she taught me well.

I dont know if I was always this way, but today I am a super-hopeless romantic. And I like using Disney movies as my guide. I like to think that Moana, Ariel, Esmeralda, Elsa, and lots of other Disney heroines give zero fucks. They live dramatically and authentically. They realize theres no use in being subtle about the way they live. They just do it. They go for it.

They just do it.

Hour to hour, I know that Im living a real persons life, with the frustrations, struggles, flat tires, and broken nails that all of us deal with on a daily basis. But on the whole, when I step back and look at the big picture, I feel like my life is an extravagant, fantastic fairy tale. I get to travel all over the worldokay, minus Dubai. I get to go to amazing events. I get to live my dream life.

Even Natss proposal to me was like a fairy tale. She brought me and my friends to a castle in Paris, via helicopter, that was like something straight out of Beauty and the Beast. Listen to her voiceover in that amazing proposal video, it was as if I was Belle and she was the Beast transformed. And when we danced in the ballroom, I could just hear Mrs. Potts singing Tale as old as time

But whats more important, and what I think every Disney heroine looks for, too, is that Ive been able to find my tribe.

Ive got my tribe back in Toronto, where Im so grateful to have my real family. And Ive created my new family in Los Angeles. Family to me is something you can rely on that never ever goes away. And I look at all of them in my life and I wonder: How did I get so lucky?

Until next time, everybody. Stay gorgeous. XOXO

Me at the Vaux-Le-Vicomte.

Taking a tour of Paris to the destination where Id get engaged. Had no idea what was happening! LOL.

THE MOMENT I SAID YES!!!

I have a big family. I have my family back in Toronto, and then I have my family of friends here in Los Angeles that I chose. Were all our own unique characters, and we literally travel in packs. I cant go to a nail appointment without having five of my crew in the waiting area. They appear and reappear, but the fact that they are in my life stays constant. This can get confusing, so I figured Id lay it out nice and clear for you.