HUMANS OF THE ISLANDS - Charlize Leo
CHARLIZE LEO
Miss Fa'afafine 2017 & Marketing Executive at Digicel
Samoan
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My name is Charlize Leo. I am the youngest out of 8 children, I’m 27, I grew up in To’omatagi, I’m a marketing executive at Digicel, and I love watching movies. Everything that I like has something to do with Hollywood. My favourite movie overall is ‘The Hours’ with Nicole Kidman and Merryl Streep, Julianne Moore. Yeah, I just love that movie.
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Congratulations of winning the Miss Fa’afafine Pageant 2017! What was that whole experience like for you?
Well, it really took 7 years in the making of course. Last time I competed was 7 years ago and the experience was umm, I guess my focus was on winning. But not to forget that at the end of the day we’re human beings so, the thing about the contestants is that you know I’m always available to help out and they were much younger than me, and some were older but a lot more experienced. But yeah, the focus was on winning and I’m glad I won and everyone said that I deserved it because it really took a village [to get me ready].
You also won the Pre-Pageant interview. What was the interview question?
The question was, how would fa’afafine fit into society with the evolving changes right now compared to 50 years ago? So with the amount of time that was given, the best option was to personalize it. I’ve been in the audience with Tania To’omalatai one of our founders. I’ve been in the audience with her speaking about the experiences and the struggles of fa’afafines from back in the day and the other source of information was from my own family. My own fa’afafine family members. Compared to 50 years ago, cross dressing was criminalized and discrimination was at it’s peak. So to make it more effective, I would say that we don’t live in Samoa anymore we live in the world and we’re coping with the changes because it’s global.
What is it like being a young fa’afafine in Samoa today? What are some of the challenges you face in your everyday life?
Some of the challenges I would say is that people tolerate fa’afafines rather than accept them. We’re only there as side pieces, we’re always known for being loud and obnoxious. Sometimes we feel like we’re only there for comedic relief and entertainment. But we do have feelings. And the reason why I say that is because we’re not really taken seriously when it comes to relationships. We’re always there giving the advice to cisgender men and women about their relationships but whenever we discuss ours we get pushed on the side and they laugh at this whole thing. So, that’s why I say we’re more tolerated in a sense.
Who are your biggest inspirations and why?
Actually, it would be Tania To’omalatai. I think she’s still loud and very beautiful today. You know, she’s very open about herself, and 50 years from now I would like to be just like that. My other inspirations are of course my Mum. I’m just so fortunate that I grew up in a family where they were very accepting and I didn’t really have much trouble coming out as a fa’afafine. I always liked girly things and they really just accepted it just like that. It’s because of love I guess.
What are your goals? Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Umm, good question *laughs*. Finally completing my degree. [Also] Ten years from now, I would like to be a real advocate of LGBTQI. I want to be one of the voices that actually formed an understanding about that other part of our community, because right now it’s sort of in a myopic view because it’s really [focused] on fa’afafine. Anything else like lesbians and gays and the idea of the notion of transgender men and women, it’s really hard to accept here. So I would like for people to form an understanding about these other gender roles, and only then I think will we have real peace.
What is your advice for young fa’afafines that may not be as comfortable in their own skin or comfortable about coming out to their families?
I would say that the thing is, if you don’t respect yourself how are you going to live? This is who you are, there’s no going back. One dangerous thing is that you do not want to be locked up in a place where you can’t allow yourself to grow as a human being and to have some sense of respect for yourself. If the reaction from your family doesn’t work out, then move out. Your family is there to love you and you have a God given right to be loved and to be appreciated, and if you’re not getting that from there then [in Samoa] there’s always an extended family. You’re not alone. One thing that we should know is that one child in the extended family is everyone in that extended family’s business.
What is your life motto?
I believe in being yourself and being the best version of yourself.