Alvar Bertrand: "I am not afraid of judgment, it can be a wealth" Interview with the content creator
Alvar Bertrand is fearless. She’s not afraid to show herself, not afraid to share her story, not afraid to speak her mind. As a trans woman in a challenging world for women in general and trans women in particular, she has chosen transparency: complete, rebellious, anarchic, chaotic, fun, and playful. A transparency she carries with her even when she comes to chat with us.
Her self-narrative becomes even more significant as a public, in-your-face story, shared through social media. "I’ve always wanted to tell my story. I even talk to the walls. I’ve always had a little secret dream of being Ilary Blasi. I feel this entertainment drive alive within me. It’s one of the few things I do really well," she explains, with a mix of seriousness and playfulness. "On the other hand, everything happened quite randomly. At the end of August, I decided to post an Instagram reel where, for the first time, I shared topics that are at the core of my journey, with my usual irony. I saw it worked, so I decided to ride the wave. It gave me great energy and made me want to keep going."
Interview with Alvar Bertrand: between activism and content creation
A push toward activism that may have started casually but quickly turned into a choice: "Activism can be expressed in whatever way a person chooses, not necessarily on social media. What I want to do is share my thoughts, try to untangle prejudices. Doing this is a source of energy and personal strength for me. Communicative activism is, for me, a necessary consequence of something I feel inside and want to share." Not everything is rosy. "I feel judged and misunderstood every day on social media. As a trans woman, you face judgment daily in other contexts too, often more stupid and trivial. I love confrontation; I love engaging with thoughts far from my own world. I can’t wait for someone who disagrees with my perspective to say: ‘Let’s talk, sit down at a table, and discuss.’ That would be a dream for me. I’m ready for judgment; I believe it can be constructive, a source for a 360-degree analysis that allows you to learn something and grow."
And if the word “judgment,” in Alvar Bertrand’s view, can also mean enrichment, then the word inclusion is linked to acceptance. "A person feels included when they are accepted. Acceptance is hindered by prejudice, which is a colossal obstacle to overcome. I, for example, am part of a minority but I’m happy. I believe huge strides are being made in communication on these topics." Improvement, then, despite (or rather, in response to) measures by Donald Trump toward trans people. "The exposure of transgender-related content on social media is evolving very rapidly and with little control. There are many questions. I don’t know what the future holds. What I notice among trans creators is a tendency to focus more on presentation than content. Without judgment, I ask myself: what are they bringing? What are they telling? There is a lack, this is what I’m trying to contribute, a bit of substance. I’d like people to be a little more exposed, to bring some truth, presenting it without feeling wrong."
A world on social media, a world offline
The next question is inevitable, and it concerns how she chooses what to share and what not to. "By nature, I expose myself 100%," Alvar responds. "It’s hard to make me blush or uncomfortable; I’m a bit cheeky. So I’m not afraid to tackle taboo topics. I would talk about everything. This could be a problem because it creates confusion for those who don’t know me. I’m trying to find some order in the thoughts that pass through my mind." Her inspirations are less varied: "It gives me energy to see balanced people who manage to find order between happiness and discouragement," she confides. "I feel the need to find stability."
On her side are also the women in her life, in a life made of women. "If I have to identify one woman in my life who helped me build my strength, it’s my mother. I grew up with her, my aunts, my cousins. I have friends I’ve known since kindergarten. There are also people, trans and cis, who recently entered my life and are giving me so much, showing me the world from another perspective. I’m trying to make friends with older women; I want to break the belief that people from another generation are closed-minded. I had a great-aunt, who died at 96, who accepted me more than anyone else."
Finally, we close with Alvar Bertrand’s message for people starting their transition journey. "Don’t be discouraged," the content creator immediately exclaims. "Transitioning is tough because it’s full of surprises. You start with one idea and then face obstacles you didn’t expect. You stumble, unsure of what awaits. Endless therapy. And it’s never really over; everything can change. Hormones tend to dominate trans girls, their needs. Every time I looked in the mirror, I felt different. Be strong, don’t give up. Believe in it. There’s always a solution: no panic! And if someone doesn’t give you the right energy, they are draining you. Run away; you can do it on your own too."
