An Interview With... Deanna Delights - Navigating the Industry as a Cross Dresser

[Guest lydiahardwood]

I am delighted to be posting yet another interview with our fabulous community. This time it is with @Deanna Delight on her experience as a cross dresser in the industry.

 

Q: Hey Deanna! Thank you for being part of our interviews with the community. It’s great to get to know you a bit better! So tell me a bit about yourself.
A: You're welcome Lydia and thank you for taking the time to send me these questions and conducting this interview with me. My short vacation was great and my face loved the break from the makeup. I was able to spend some time with my bf, friends and family. With my hours of work it's hard to see them all.

Q: I’m glad you enjoyed your trip - sounds idyllic! So tell me, when did you first get into crossdressing? Was there anything in particular that prompted you to start doing it?
A: I was a teenager of 14 years when I dabbled in crossdressing. A photo of a beautiful lady piqued my interest. She was bound, looking helpless and frightened which intrigued me. I started trying on clothing and venturing out. A gentleman picked me up one day and took me for a ride. He ran his hands over my body and under my short skirt. Then he took me back to where he picked me up and dropped me off. It left me with a strange and wonderful feeling. I dressed and ventured out for a few months then purged. Years later while driving to work I spotted a beautiful gown in the window of a seamstress shop. I eventually went in and bought it and had them custom fit it to me. I had been chatting with a Transvestite group. It was suggested that we go out for dinner and I agreed. One of the girls wanted to do a drag number at the dinner. I practiced a couple songs and did a lipsync number as well. That started me off on my journey.   

Q: How did you feel about the change at any time? Did it feel completely natural to you?
A: The change felt great and natural to me, you see I fell in love with the stage and attention I received. I was invited to perform in a Drag Show in a local club in Edmonton. I was very nervous but did my performance. I received a lot of tips and attention afterward and I was hooked. I was asked to perform at another club, I received a great applause, tips and attention. The Reigning Empress there took me under her wing and taught me about the Drag world. I supported the Drag Queen Court with all my support. I was voted in as a Princess for their next year. We worked hard that year with a lot of performances and attended a lot of Coronation Balls in other cities. We had a successful year of fundraising for non profit organizations. Then I was voted to be the Courts Empress with more fundraisers, shows and Balls. I now have lots of gorgeous Ball Gowns lol. When I first began my Drag Queen transition I was completely straight but within a year I was seduced by a gentleman and fell in love with the feelings I experienced and considered myself to be Bisexual. You see I love women and their form and mannerisms and also LOVE all my playtime with the men. That was the beginning of my journey.

 

Q: That’s interesting that it opened up new, exciting feelings for you! So how do you identify? As a man/woman/TG? Straight/bi/gay?
A: In my private life I identify as a man - he/him. In my public life I identify as a Bi CD TV Drag Queen lady - she/her 

 

Q: How did you get into escorting? Have you done any other types of sex work?
A: I am a journeyman Heavy Equipment Mechanic and was working at a local shop on equipment when the oilfield in Alberta was basically shut down 5 years ago. I was laid off from that job due to a turn down of work. Many people in the province were laid off as well, about 200,000. I looked for a job for 4 1/2 years with no success. I have never done any sex work but enjoyed "dates" with men and thoroughly enjoyed all my playdates with them. All the men completely enjoyed playing with me as well and I had a lot of repeat playdates with many of them. While going through profiles on the site I was on I saw an ad looking to hire for a local chain of Spas in Edmonton. I sent an inquiry about them hiring a CD. Within a few minutes I received a response stating that she would love to have me onboard. I was told how to get a license as a Body Rub Practitioner. I followed all the steps and received my license and was immediately hired and given some permanent shifts at the Spa I am now working at. That was the first job offer I had in 4 1/2 years. I am now an escort at the Spa offering all the same sessions as the ladies I work with. 

Q: Are you open about what you do for work in your personal life? If so, were people supportive?
A: Yes I am completely open about my new profession and have found support with most of my friends and family. My coworkers have been a great source of support and acceptance. I am a firm believer of honesty and have a belief that "you have to remember every lie you ever told". Since my memory isn't what it used to be I try to live by that rule. The truth never changes but lies can contradict themselves lol.

 

Q: I like that attitude! Have you faced much stigma and how have you dealt with it if you have?
A: I have lost the friendship of my bff of 36 years since she berated me and deleted our friendship but I have handled that quite well and avoided her for the last 6 months. My other straight friends have been accepting of me. When I became a Drag Queen there were a number of the older Queens that rode me hard since I was "straight" when I started doing that. I just ignored them and associated with the ones that accepted me although it did bring me to tears many nights at home alone trying to get to sleep, i'm all better now though lol. 

Q: I’m glad you’ve managed to handle it so well. What kind of Clients do you tend to get?
A: I tend to get clients that are interested to see what a CD Drag Queen is like. They are few and far between but have thoroughly enjoyed me with all the sessions. They were the lucky ones that "took a walk on the wild side" and they expressed their enjoyment. A few of them have returned to the Spa and requested me as their Service Provider. I don't want to get into the rudeness I experience at the Spa. I realize I am NOT "everyone’s cup of tea" and expect some attitude. I try to dismiss all that and keep a positive attitude. Sometimes it can get frustrating though. 
 

Q: I can imagine it is frustrating, there’s no need for nastiness! On a more positive note, what is your favourite thing about your work?
A: I LOVE and CARE for all the ladies I work with and also love to pleasure a client and see their satisfaction from playing with me. As a submissive it is my pleasure to bring pleasure to them. That makes me feel fantastic to do that and puts a spring in my walk and attitude every time.

 

Q: Is there anything you struggle with in this job?
A: My biggest struggle with this job is enticing the right clientele to come in and request or choose me as their Service Provider. I am a new flavour at the Spa and hopefully I can open up a new niche in the industry. It will take a little time to open this new niche but I am positive it will happen eventually. I am VERY GOOD at what I do but the clients are interested in the REAL ladies. They are used to seeing real ladies and not too sure about the transformation to me. I do a better business with in-calls and outcalls but would like more clients at the Spa. They say they are more comfortable with meeting me outside the Spa, so I tell them about the back door which is more discreet. Hopefully they will take my information and come to the Spa. The owner of the Spa is a wonderful lady.

 

Q: You mentioned that you receive a lot of support from other sex workers, that’s so refreshing to hear! How important do you think camaraderie is in this industry and why?
A: Yes the ladies have been a great support group for me. I am one of the girls in their eyes and they have accepted me completely. It is their support that has kept me in good spirits and hopeful of making this work. I have had a couple sessions with the ladies giving them a great massage and being paid for that, since they get the sessions and I don't get very many. I would have done the massages for them without asking to be paid. That is the kind of support I receive plus some tell their clients about me hoping they will tell others and bring interested people in to request me. This has been a very positive experience for me. The owner has been promoting me online as well in hopes of me receiving more clients. Plus many of the girls follow me on Twitter and love and retweet my tweets. 

Q: Thanks so much for your time, Deanna. Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: It has been a pleasure for me to do this interview with you Lydia. Thank you for the opportunity. I wish the best of luck to all that take this same journey. I say "WORK IT GIRLS", you will love it, I know I do. I just wish to thank everyone in my life that supports me and accepts me. Especially John my BF who totally supports me and allows me to do what I do. Kisses to everyone.

I wish to include a pic of a beautiful wedding gown that would be reason enough for me to get married to the right man lol.

[Sharpe 771]

Thank you for sharing your story Deanna.  I’m sure going from journeyman to the spa had a fair share of negativity, but I get a very positive vibe from reading this article seeing the support you received from family, friends and industry.

[waterat 20911]

Deanna, thanks for sharing your story and your experiences in this industry. Having spent time working in the oil patch I have to admire your strength, tenacity and bravery in pursuing this new path in life. To quote someone I admire: "WORK IT GIRL".

[Deanna Delight 155]

Thank you for your support Waterat and Sharpe. It has been a bit of a tough grind but then, I love to grind. I will never give up, I will never surrender. My clients love every moment they spend with me and experiencing my attentions. I appreciate all the support I receive from my all my friends in the industry including Lyla and all the members here. That support has given me the resolve to continue and bring my sweet flavour to the Edmonton scene. I hope to one day tour and bring my flavour to the rest of the world. I have many experiences to share and hopefully inspire others to embrace their aspirations. Be proud and strong and never fear change everybody. Embracing change can add a whole new sparkle to your life and keep you young and vibrant. It has done wonders for me over the last 20 years.

[NotchJohnson 214123]

Thanks @Deanna Delight for the great answers from @lydiahardwood.  Another amazing interview that I enjoyed reading.  It's nice to get to know all of the awesome members of Lyla, male, female and CD's as well.

[Guest ModCat]

On 10/25/2020 at 5:49 PM, Deanna Delight said:

Thank you for your support Waterat and Sharpe. It has been a bit of a tough grind but then, I love to grind. I will never give up, I will never surrender. My clients love every moment they spend with me and experiencing my attentions. I appreciate all the support I receive from my all my friends in the industry including Lyla and all the members here. That support has given me the resolve to continue and bring my sweet flavour to the Edmonton scene. I hope to one day tour and bring my flavour to the rest of the world. I have many experiences to share and hopefully inspire others to embrace their aspirations. Be proud and strong and never fear change everybody. Embracing change can add a whole new sparkle to your life and keep you young and vibrant. It has done wonders for me over the last 20 years.

 

Work it girl!

 

Love this quote I've seen online 'Please believe there is still time for you to be all you want to be', thought about it when I read you comments about change. So true we can embrace change and beautiful things will happen.

[Phaedrus 209521]

Awesome interview! Thanks!