Article | July 1, 2025
What Does Gender Euphoria Actually Feel Like? 7 People Share Their First Time
By Nicholas O'Connor
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PHOTO: SS IRS
We hear a lot about gender dysphoria—those moments of discomfort, pain, or disconnection from your body or identity. But what about gender euphoria? The beautiful, life-affirming sensation of finally being seen. Of feeling right in your own skin. Of aligning with your truth.
We asked seven trans and nonbinary people to describe their first moment of gender euphoria. Their answers were small and seismic all at once.
PHOTO: SS OSCA
1. Layla (she/her, 16)
"I cut my hair into a bob and wore a dress to school. Someone said, ‘You look really pretty today, Layla.’ I went into the bathroom and cried. Not because I was sad—because I finally felt like myself."
2. Finn (he/him, 19)
"I started T three months ago. One day, I heard my voice on a video I recorded, and it hit me: That’s me. That’s my voice. I played it ten times in a row. I couldn’t stop smiling."
PHOTO: SS VF
3. Aari (they/them, 15)
"My little cousin asked if I was a boy or girl, and I said, ‘I’m just Aari.’ They said, ‘Cool,’ and kept coloring. That moment made me feel valid in a way nothing else had."
4. Marcus (he/him, 22)
"The first time someone called me ‘sir’ at a diner. I left a huge tip and walked out floating. It was such a small moment to them, but everything to me."
5. River (they/them, 17)
"I wore this weird outfit—baggy jeans, chest binder, painted nails, beanie. It was messy, but it was ME. I looked in the mirror and finally didn’t hate what I saw."
PHOTO: SS IER
6. Nia (she/her, 14)
"My mom surprised me with a necklace that said ‘Nia.’ She said, ‘This is who you’ve always been to me.’ I wore it every day for a month."
7. Kye (he/they, 20)
"When my name was called at graduation, and the whole gym clapped for me. I felt recognized—not just for surviving high school, but for existing."
Gender euphoria isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s intimate, personal, and often fleeting—but it sticks with you. It builds hope. It builds momentum. And you deserve as many of those moments as you want.
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