Katrina
Since the filming of Discovery Health's Transgender Teens, 20-year-old Katrina has begun taking female hormones and moved out of her mother's home to live on her own. Katrina, born male, says life has taken a turn for the better since she openly transitioned to living as a female. "I'm a lot happier now," says Katrina in a recent phone call to her new home, where she is living independent from her mother for the first time. "I used to be depressed and sad all the time."

Since she started taking female hormones in April, Katrina says she sees a noticeable difference in her appearance and has experienced no negative side effects. For the most part, friends and family have accepted her for who she is, she says, although some are still working through their emotions. Unlike many transgender teens, Katrina had the support and understanding of her mother, siblings and close friends. Still, for Katrina, getting others to accept her for who she is has been the hardest part of transitioning to her new life. And challenges remain. Katrina is currently in search of employment, a goal that remains hard to reach.

Looking back, Katrina says she has no regrets, save one: she wishes she had started her transition sooner.

Sadaisha
Unlike Katrina, Sadaisha had no family support and was homeless when Discovery Health's Transgender Teens was filmed. To support herself, Sadaisha, who was born male, turned to prostitution. Since the show was filmed, Sadaisha has disappeared, a common occurrence among homeless youth. Although she had landed a slot in a residential program that combines housing with counseling, she lasted only a short while before dropping out. Attempts to locate her have been unsuccessful.