Trantasia

Director: Jeremy Stanford

Cast: Erica Andrews, Cassandra Cass, Mimi Marks, Maria Roman, Tiara Russell, Dorae Saunders, Jahna Steele

(Smocko Productions, 2006) Rated: N/A

By Todd R. Ramlow

Performing Lives

 Official Site

I do it because I enjoy entertainment, and this was the closest I was gonna get to fame.
—Tiara Russell

Editor’s Note: This documentary screened at the San Francisco International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival in June 2006. It does not yet have a theatrical release date.

The desire for fame is common among transsexual performers (see, for instance: Jennie Livingston’s Paris is Burning [1990]). Directly expressed by Tiara Russell in Trantasia, Jeremy Stanford’s documentary of 2004’s first annual “The World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual Pageant,” it is implicit in most of the contestants’ narratives.
The desire is ore than apparent in their singing performances, like Dorae Saunders’ spot-on Tina Turner impersonation and Marie’s spooky channeling of Céline Dion. It’s also found in the exaggerated feminine stylings that are the stock in trade of the transsexual performer. Borrowing from Hollywood fantasies of femininity, the transsexual divas of Trantasia mark a familiar blending of consumerism and American celebrity-worship.
It’s no surprise that pageant creator and executive producer Norbert Aleman is billed as an “American Dream” sort of success story in the documentary’s production notes: “Born penniless in Paris, Aleman came to the U.S. in the late ‘70s and created two of Las Vegas’ longest running stage shows, ‘An Evening at La Cage’ and ‘Crazy Girls.’” He has done so by capitalizing on objectifications of femininity, illusions of glamour, and not just a little bit of tranny “freak” appeal.
Even as Aleman has apparently achieved a version of it, Trantasia opposes such fame to the realities of the performers’ lives. This strategy saves the documentary from being merely exploitative, or from merely trafficking in that “freak” appeal. The tension between fantasy and reality is explored in the segments that give us in-depth biographical sketches of several contestants. Tiara’s turn towards feminine fantasies and performance, for instance, was an escape from the reality of growing up in Chicago’s notorious public housing projects. As she says, “There’s always a way out. This was my way out, Tiara.” Others, like Mimi Marks and Cassandra Cass, find in their performing lives validation of their transgendered selves. And Maria Roman has parlayed her status as a performer in Los Angeles into activist work with HIV/AIDS organizations serving the street-hustling trannies who used to be her cohort.
The status of reality is also played out among the various contestants in a struggle over what constitutes “real” womanhood. Marie, in particular, is appalled by the vampy antics of her co-performers during a nighttime photo shoot on the Las Vegas strip. Marie insists they have no “class,” and jeopardize the “acceptability” of all transsexuals. It’s hard to argue with Marie, when one of the stated goals of the pageant is to “mainstream” transsexuality, and “mainstream” is aligned with conservative ideals of feminine comportment. But that the “respectability” is based in patriarchal norms that have hardly been progressive for women, whether born or made.
The often grim facts for transsexuals are demonstrated spectacularly in the life of pageant host Jahna Steele, briefly glossed in the documentary. A star performer in Aleman’s “Crazy Girls” revue at the Riveria casino in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, she was named “Las Vegas’ Sexiest Showgirl” in 1991. The next year, she was outed as a transsexual by the tabloid TV show A Current Affair and immediately fired from “Crazy Girls.” Here fantasy and reality are shown to be diametrically opposed. In order to be a fantasy girl (or “Sexiest Showgirl”), you have to be a “real” girl. Trantasia‘s contestants appear unaware of this saga, but fantasy is also about disavowal of reality. For good or bad, many of the women believe they will “make it.” Such belief is a symptom our incessant celebrity worship.

“The World’s Most Beautiful Transsexual Pageant” likely won’t achieve its goal of mainstreaming transsexuality, trafficking as it does in extravagant, campy drag and in freak-show sexual objectifications of transsexual bodies, all set against the hyperreal background of Las Vegas. The tourism board’s slogan, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” seems particularly apt here. Trantasia, however, takes a step toward making trannies’ lives visible, as they are both ordinary and fantastic.

— 7 August 2006
 
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Comments

Good News!  It’s coming out on DVD October 30th!

Amazon and other places have it for pre-order.

Comment by Michael from California — October 18, 2007 @ 3:01 pm

Dear Maria, I don’t know if you get these but I just wanted to know I saw you in Trantasia and you should have been the winner.I think you are so beautiful inside and out. you seem so sweet and such a gorgeous person to know . I hope you are always happy.  love a friend

Comment by Michaela Kline from Missouri — February 22, 2008 @ 12:40 am

I just watched Trantasia on Showtime.  I will say that these were some of the most talented individuals I have ever seen. I was really pulling for a couple of them who did not end up in the top eight.  One of which would be Tiara Russell.  I realize and I thought they all realized that only 8 would be chosen.  I was so disapointed at the end of the show to hear some of the things that Tiara had to say.  I was thinking this is a strong person to conquer the world as a black man is tough.  To go on national television and say this is who I am was even tougher but then to act like that killed it.  I thought more of Tiara and Terrance before that.  I hope Tiara continues to strive for what Tiara wants and don’t let small things defeat Tiara.

Comment by Shanna Love — February 26, 2008 @ 10:48 pm

I’m a married American (Swedish & Colonial English ancestry) mother of four, and a farmer (horses +).  I’ve seen the documentary 3 and a half times and thought it was wonderful in almost every way.  Marie was correct about some of the conduct of certain participants while filming in on an outdoor Nevada boardwalk. It wasn’t very “womanly”.  Wreckless disregard for your behaviors affect on those around you is not consistent with the genuine essence of how most women (unless they’re emotionally or psychologically unstable) approach the world.  That’s probably something for whihch we should all be greatful.

I have many positive things to express about the film as well but while I’m working on that review… the most important thing for me was to get the word out ASAP that I agree Maria Roman was absolutely the most beautiful woman/person participating in the pageant/project.

I have the highest respect and admiration for everything she has strived to become.  God Bless you, girl. You are an extraordinarily refreshing human being and an asset to our people.  Thanks for all that you do to improve existence.  If everyone did a little of that, the world could be an even more awesome place to live.

If our paths never cross, I want you to know I appreciate you and believe what you’re doing is important work.

(and so does God, though this is NOT a religious based message. I’m spiritual, but have never allowed my mind to be closed by the
man-made rules of “organized religion”).

Anyway, you all should be proud of yourselves for maintaining the courage to go out there and pursue your dreams. Besides the people who you know genuinely care about you, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. We have one life to make the best of that we can for as long as we can.  Hope and faith is alive and well in the United States, eager to take you where you need to be.  Keep believing in yourselves and get help for whatever problems you have any way you can.  Blessings to all.

~ Daria Blind, mother, wife/best friend, farmer, tattoo artist, writer, consumer advocate, philanthropist.

Comment by Daria Blind from Massachusetts, USA — February 29, 2008 @ 4:19 am

I rent this movie on demand & i think that the trans’s of this film where so trashy! running around vegas streets acting like fags! what kind of lady shows her tits out in public! trashy trashy trashy! these men need to get some cless before they try to be called lady!!!

Remember: Being a lady is not about how you look (not that you men look like a ladys) but its how you act!

People get bad ideas about trans girls because of trash like this video!

& whats so talented about lip synking?!?!?
lol

Comment by Amy polland from Las vegas — March 10, 2008 @ 7:34 pm

Maria I am 70 yo i like to think if it was as easy when i was young thats waht i would have done but i don’t think i could have stood to all of the ass holes like you have and kept such a bubbly personality i know lots of girls like you bot have never met one as likeable as you
            Love Wally

Comment by WALLACE HARPER from Arizona — March 10, 2008 @ 9:43 pm

sadly Jahna died January 2008

Comment by matrickz — March 17, 2008 @ 10:09 pm

I just saw the program on showtime and I just wanted you to know that I think you are very down to earth and beautiful person inside and out.
You were very attractive as a man and a beautiful woman. Some of the others seemed like major drag queens and you were your natural self.
I am a fem gay woman by the way!
Thanks,
Judy

Comment by judy riggins from tampa florida — September 11, 2008 @ 11:36 pm

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