Angel Maxine, a Ghanaian transgender musician and activist, urges transgender youth in Ghana to approach their transitioning journey with patience and self-empowerment. Reflecting on her own experience, she notes that many are unaware of the challenges she faced as a transgender woman. “People think I just woke up one day and became who I am. They don’t know my story or my struggles,” she says.
In a video shared on social media, Maxine emphasizes that her transition was a gradual process requiring hard work, education, and personal growth, not an “overnight” transformation. She expresses concern about the flood of messages she receives on social media from trans youth who assume transitioning is easy. She warns against the troubling trend of some young trans individuals—aged 18, 19, or 21—hastily leaving their family homes, coming out to their parents without preparation, dropping out of school, and drifting without purpose. “They pack up, leave home, quit education, and wander aimlessly, thinking just identifying as trans and crossdressing defines their life,” she observes.
She firmly states, “Being trans is just an identity, not a job qualification or a life plan. It’s like being gay, lesbian, or intersex—just a part of who you are.” Maxine challenges the misconception that identifying as trans is enough, urging youth to seek out those familiar with her journey to understand the effort it took.
Maxine cautions that leaving home impulsively, abandoning education, and expecting LGBTQ+ organizations to solve resulting problems is a risky path. “You can’t just move around without a plan, get into trouble, and then feel entitled to help from organizations because you’re trans,” she says.
Her advice to trans youth is to take it slow. “It’s one step at a time. I didn’t become who I am overnight. I’m educated, I’ve worked hard, and I’ve done jobs some of you wouldn’t consider. I’ve lived a normal life, faced the same struggles as anyone else, and it wasn’t easy,” she shares. Maxine stresses the importance of staying in school, learning skills, and working diligently. “Don’t let your identity make you abandon what matters. You can’t just dress up and drift without purpose. Empowerment comes from education and effort.”
She also warns against risky behaviors like trading sex for small sums of money, encouraging youth to stay with their families, pursue education, learn a trade, and build a stable life. “If you want to be like me, it takes discipline and hard work. I didn’t become Angel Maxine overnight. My journey was tough, and those who know me can confirm it,” she concludes, urging trans youth to prioritize long-term growth over short-term impulses.
Rightify Ghana 