In celebration of Pride Month, this So Bold episode features Jehenna Bana, a transgender, a beauty queen, and a nurse by profession. Her road to success and womanhood was definitely not easy as she had to go through several hurdles to achieve acceptance and freedom.
Growing up in a conservative country like the Philippines, Jehenna experienced being bullied and being laughed at by the people in her town and even her own family, particularly her brothers. She recalls that she would have nightmares and sometimes wake up to being tied in handcuffs just because she was gay and feminine. However, through having a mindset of being the best and brightest in her class, she believed that she will not be a victim of this kind of discrimination.
At a young age, she found her love for pageantry through the influence of her sister. She competed in her first pageant when she was 14 years old, earning recognition from the people in her town and being further encouraged by her parents. Eventually, she moved to the US in 2009 where she was able to support herself and fully live her womanhood with the help of Kaiser’s Gender Affirmation Care. By 2017, she represented the Philippines in Spain’s Miss Trans International and was crowned as Miss Beyond the Crown.
With her dedication and strong educational background, Jehenna is currently a nurse and an Area Manager in various Dialysis Clinics in Southern California. She advocates for trans visibility by actively participating in programs for the LGBTQ community and sponsoring LGBTQ events and efforts in the Philippines. Moreover, she seeks for the LGBTQ community to remain strong and have the tenacity to work for their rights.
This episode is aired on #SoJannelleTV as seen on the following channels:
- Sunday, 4:30pm – 5:00pm PT (7:30pm ET) on TFC @kapamilyatfc
- Monday, 6:00pm PT on KNET Channel 25.1 (Southern CA)
- Saturday, 7:30pm – 8:00pm PT (10:30pm ET) on ANC
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