Update *****

Dear all,

I wanted to thank you so much for helping me reach my goal for my facial feminisation surgery. Thank you for all the donations and sharing my story! It really means the world to me and I couldn’t be more grateful for all the support. Today I have completed my consultation for the FFS and will be getting the surgery this week. It feels like a dream to be living this reality I have been imagining for so long now. It has been emotional and filled with a lot of feeling. But, I cannot wait to step into this new chapter of my womanhood. I couldn’t have done this without all of you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

-Nicky

MY STORY-

My name is Nicky Daniels and I am 26 years old. I am a transgender woman and a professional dance artist working in the Netherlands. I grew up in New Jersey and during Covid I moved across the world to pursue my dreams and desires as a young dancer in a professional company. After 4 years I am still living and working in the Netherlands.

Since starting Hormone Replacement Therapy in October of 2023 I have had the privilege of witnessing my body settle and align with my identity, fully, wholly. It has brought me so much more then I could have imagined.

My love for dance has always been the heart of it all. In order to transform I have to feel first. Emotions as wide as the ocean, the gut sensation. A transcendence beyond the bone. It’s my protection and my truest expression. This is how i’ve found my trans identity. Through the dancing body. Even before my eyes could see, there was a truth lodged into my body that was yearning for the divine feminine.

However, the reality of being a transgender dancer is different. It is not easy transitioning in any environment (such as a dance company) that has very strict gender roles imbedded into its practice. This comes with a subtle transphobia and misogyny that permeates, despite the progression of trans rights in general culture. I struggle on a daily basis to work freely as I am confronted with my identity in a difficult way. Because of this reason, I am motivated to be the change for the future of trans women in contemporary dance. I want to do this by standing in my power and showing up unapologetically.

Unfortunately, I am still dealing with a lot of gender dysphoria and have been caught in many dangerous situations leaving me traumatized and needing safety-physically and emotionally. Given this difficulty, I am not able to focus and do the thing I love the most- dance.

I am starting this GoFundMe to ask for your support for a very important gender affirming surgery. Facial Feminization Surgery is a series of procedures aimed at correcting masculine gender markers in the face, making it much easier for me to be able to walk outside and not be in fear or danger. This surgery could benefit me in a really impactful way and give me the chance at a normal life. I believe it will also allow me to engage in a healthier/safer relationship with myself and alleviate the dysphoria that affects me daily. My hope is that this will make it easier to show up as the artist I believe I can be.

Your donation would be going towards the costs of the surgery (hospital fees, anesthetic, the procedures themselves etc.). Any donation or share would be greatly appreciated and would help me out a lot.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and I am grateful for any support.