Change the Channel!

Femulate will be a bit hit-or-miss this week as I help a dear friend through surgery—chauffeuring to and from the hospital and handling dog duty until they’re back on their feet and ready to resume full-time pet parenting.

While waiting in the hospital’s waiting room during surgery yesterday, I had an interesting little slice-of-life moment. A television was on to keep the crowd occupied when the network broke into regular programming to cover King Charles III’s visit with Donald Trump.

The reaction was immediate. As soon as Trump began speaking, the roughly twenty people in the room started grumbling—then openly suggesting someone change the channel. After a minute or two, a Hispanic woman took matters into her own hands, tracked down whoever controlled the remote, and just like that, the broadcast disappeared.

And so it goes.

Wearing Adrianna Papell

Miguel Bose femulating in the 1991 Spanish film High Heels.
Click here to view this femulation in YouTube.

Trending

Wearing Shein

Wearing Shein

Harold Lloyd femulating in the 1918 film Kicked Out.

Stuff 117: Pageant!

By J.J. Atwell

I Did It Again

Regular readers of Stuff may recall a three-part story about participating in a beauty pageant. Stana published Stuff #86, 87 and 88 in September 2025. This year our local group held its third beauty pageant. There were five contestants, of which I was one. There would have been six =, but one had to back out at the last minute for personal reasons. 

A quick summary of how the evening went is that the pageant consisted of three parts; Fancy Dress, Talent and Beach Wear. There were three impartial judges and an MC who introduced us individually. The MC read our CV’s as we walked on stage. After we were all introduced, the judges asked us to say a little bit about ourselves and how we feel that being a CD has helped us better live our lives. 

Talent

We all have our unique skills! I’m not one of those people, but I decided to try stand-up comedy. I played a distant cousin of Julia Child and showed everyone how to make Coq au Vin. It was a hit! Other contestants showcased their musical abilities and another one also did a comedy routine. I was particularly impressed with one sister who played the keyboard while wearing a beautiful, piano-themed outfit with a voluminous skirt and incredibly high heels. 

Beachwear

This category was particularly difficult for me and for most of the other participants. Fortunately the category was not actually about bathing suits but rather about what a person might wear on the way to the beach. That what we could avoid the kind of exposure that sunscreen doesn’t cover. 

I found a blue skirted one-piece suit that covered all that must be covered. Over that I went with a gauzy coverup and matching flip-flops. I also carried a beach bag with a towel and a fan which I attempted to use as a prop. Not sure I carried that off though. 

The other participants were similarly attired with some more daring that others. One of our members regularly uses a breast plate and this was put to good effect in the beachwear portion. 

Dressing Room

We were fortunate that the venue has a separate area that we used as a dressing room for costume changes. We all arrived in ordinary female streetwear and changed outfits for each of the sections in that room. I must say it was a bit odd to see each other in various stages of transition. Imagine watching a wig change. Or holding onto breast forms while swapping out bras. Yes, we saw it all. 

The judges had a very difficult time selecting this year’s Miss FEM Florida. Only one point separated the winner Cathy from runner-up Heather. Our winner was given a beautiful crown and sash commemorating the event. Sorry that I can’t post any pictures from this event, but I don’t have authorizations from the participating members. 

I’ll Be Back

It was a fun experience and I look forward to participating in next year’s event. Until then, I’ll be finding more Stuff to write about. I welcome comments and suggestions here on Stana’s page or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com.

Wearing Boston Proper

Robin Williams femulating in an episode of television’s Mork & Mindy.

Working

When did you make the gender switch?

Hamvention in 2016 was one for the books—full of moments to sort through. Where to begin?

For anyone just tuning in, Hamvention is the largest amateur radio convention this side of the Arctic Circle, and I attended regularly since 1979. Over the years, I’ve built a bit of a reputation in the ham radio world—five books, more than 1,200 articles, and a lifetime in the hobby.

Since 2010, though, I’ve been attending Hamvention a little differently—presenting as a woman.

The first time was nerve-wracking. But I quickly discovered something unexpected: most people didn’t recognize me at all. I wasn’t “Stan, the writer.” I was just another middle-aged woman—perhaps a spouse helping out at a booth. In other words, I was invisible.

The only “aha” moments came when someone looked closely at my badge and connected the call sign. Those moments were rare. For the most part, I passed without question.

This year, that changed.

Hamvention selected me—Stan—for their Special Achievement Award. It didn’t take long to decide who would attend to accept it. About 30 seconds, to be exact.

The same “invisible” woman who had been walking the aisles for years would go to Dayton.

I submitted my biography and a current photo for the website and program. Which meant that anyone paying attention would see it: the award recipient they knew as Stan… now appearing as a woman.

That led to some understandable confusion. A few people assumed the organizers had made a mistake—pairing a stranger’s photo with my write-up. That part’s on me. I chose to keep the name “Stan” for two reasons: first, that’s who was nominated; and second, those accomplishments being recognized were earned under that name.

Still, for some attendees, it created a kind of double-take moment.

One interaction captured it perfectly.

Throughout the weekend, I kept crossing paths with a couple at the hotel—familiar faces from past Hamventions, though I couldn’t quite place them. We’d exchange a quick “hi” and move on.

Then Saturday evening, I was heading out to the awards dinner, dressed to the nines. The husband was outside having a smoke. I greeted him and kept walking—until I heard:

“Stan… when did you make the gender switch?”

I turned around.

There was no hostility in his voice—just curiosity. So I answered him, simply and directly.

“I’ve been reading your articles for years,” he said. “I had no idea.”

And honestly, that was the exception, not the rule.

A few people asked what name I preferred. Most didn’t ask anything at all—they just accepted me as I was, in that moment, without needing an explanation.

And it’s hard to ask for more than that.

Wearing Ann Taylor

Volker Spengler femulating in the 1978 West German film In a Year of 13 Moons.

It's Always About the Shoes!

Wearing JW Pei Lucia bag

Cross Check for James by TheAlphaSissy
Click here to watch this femulation on Deviant Art.

Mama’s Girl

Most kids, growing up, try to please their parents. If one parent isn’t around much, the effort naturally shifts to the one who is.

That’s where things can take an interesting turn. In my case, the constant presence was my mother. My father worked two jobs and most weekends to support the family. He was gone so often that one of my earliest memories is wondering who this “visitor” was when he happened to be home.

With Dad largely out of the picture, my attention—and approval-seeking—focused squarely on Mom. That’s how a boy becomes what people call a “Mama’s boy.” Add a few other variables—temperament, environment, maybe even a dash of biology—and you get something a little different.

In my case, a “Mama’s girl.”

My younger sister arrived just a year after I did. While Mom was clearly raising her as a girl, there wasn’t much effort to steer me in the opposite direction. I simply drifted alongside her, a willing passenger on what I’ve come to think of as the good ship Lollipop.

I remember one small but telling moment. Mom sewed an apron for my sister. I was instantly jealous. Without hesitation, she made one for me, too. No questions asked.

Then there was my brief ambition to become a circus clown. Lacking proper supplies, I improvised—covering my face with Mom’s cold cream to create a clown’s “white face.” When I proudly presented myself, she interpreted my effort a bit differently. Instead of a clown, she saw something closer to a little girl experimenting with makeup. She wiped off the cold cream and, this time with intention, made up my face properly.

Looking back, I don’t think she set out to encourage anything in particular. But she didn’t discourage it, either. If anything, her comments nudged things along. She’d remark on my “nice legs,” how I walked on my “tippy-toes,” as if I were made for high heels.

More than once, she said, almost casually, “You should have been a girl.”

It’s funny what sticks with you.

And so it goes.

Wearing SER.O.YA

Hanns Lothar femulating in the 1961 film One, Two, Three.

While not a great femulation, this 12-year-old was impressed when I saw this film in the early 1960s because it was the first time I saw a man dressing as a woman in a contemporary outfit.

Stuff 116: Support

By J.J.Atwell

We All Need Support

Yes, I’ve sung this song before. And here we go again. Everybody, not just our Femulate community, needs support. No, not the kind of support that shapewear provides, although that is comforting. Support in the way that helps us all and reinforces the importance of the individual. 

Some Background

Part of my being, aside from being a crossdresser, is that I’m also a veteran. I served in the army at a time when returning soldiers were often scorned or called baby killers. People looked askance at us and feared that we would do terrible things. As such, many of use retreated into ourselves and didn’t mention their time in the service. Most of us still don’t talk about those days. 

Only recently have I come to terms with those feelings. Yesterday, I went to a theme park wearing my Vietnam Veterans hat. The number of times that people thanked me for my service was gratifying. At least a dozen times over the course of four hours somebody commented. Including a couple of other brothers who also served. Every time it happened I was humbled and embarrassed, fumbling for an appropriate response. 

Why Am I Telling You This?

As I was driving home that day I realized that the support I was getting really helps me understand who and what I am. It also brought home the fact that we all need some kind of support. Giving support is just as important as getting support in our lives. With that in mind, I’m asking you to lend your support to everybody in our CD community, as well as the world as a whole. It will make us all better.

I’ll Be Back

Before my usual closing, I wanted to say that this is not some of my best writing. This is pretty raw in some areas. I had originally asked ChatGPT to suggest some things to say on the topic. Never looked at the result. Instead I just let my thoughts flow. Normally, I review and edit my writings several times before I’m satisfied with how it reads. Not this time. What you see is my raw product.

I’ll be finding more Stuff to write about. I welcome comments and suggestions here on Stana’s page or by email at Jenn6nov at-sign gmail dot com.

Wearing Stylewe

Mihai Trăistariu femulating Amy Winehouse on Romanian television’s Your Face Sounds Familiar.
Click here to view this femulation on YouTube.

The Operative Word