{"id":68062,"date":"2024-12-01T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-01T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/?p=68062"},"modified":"2024-12-02T14:44:01","modified_gmt":"2024-12-02T14:44:01","slug":"transgender-author-five-years-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2024\/12\/01\/transgender-author-five-years-on\/","title":{"rendered":"Transgender author Zoey Allen shares journey of fear, family, and finding success"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cardiff\u2019s Zoey Allen talks about her experience as a transgender author and jewellery entrepreneur ahead of her third year at the Cardiff Christmas Market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Close up image of Zoey Allen, a transgender author and owner of jewellery business, KelZo\" class=\"wp-image-68378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1152x768.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1400x933.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Close up image of Zoey Allen, a transgender author and owner of jewellery business, KelZo\" class=\"wp-image-68378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-770x513.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1152x768.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1620x1080.jpg 1620w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1155x770.jpg 1155w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-370x247.jpg 370w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-293x195.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/pl-1400x933.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Zoey Allen, 43, came out as transgender five years ago.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>University is a time when many people discover themselves and for Zoey Allen, that was true. She realised she was transgender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allen initially kept her feelings hidden, fearing she would \u201close it all.\u201d She recalls how many stories she read about people coming out ended in loss. She had a good job, a happy family, and was in a successful band. The thought of losing it all was terrifying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her \u2018now or never\u2019 moment came a couple years later, aged 38, when she came out to her then-wife, Kelly, at the end of 2018, starting the new year with a stronger sense of self and hope for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Five years later, Allen is a children\u2019s author, businesswoman, and a LGBTQ+ advocate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote has-small-font-size\"><blockquote><p>As long as I\u2019m happy, that\u2019s all that mattered to them<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From Personal Stories to Children&#8217;s Books<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Five years ago, Allen came out as transgender to her family, which included her two children, Molly and George.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allen says their response to her news was simple and sweet: \u201cAs long as I\u2019m happy, that\u2019s all that mattered to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Growing up, they were surrounded by books and information about the world, allowing them to be open and understanding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, after some research, she discovered there were only a few \u201cvague\u201d children\u2019s books about trans lives and decided to share her story in a kid-friendly way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was just there in a bath with a bottle of wine, chatting to Kelly and writing stories in the bathroom,\u201d she recalls. \u201cI thought it would be nice to kind of put it from Molly\u2019s point of view, just seeing it as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The two books, <em>My Brother George<\/em> and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.queerlit.co.uk\/products\/my-momma-zo?srsltid=AfmBOoqPm_8i9h9DU-rdIC6o1tSNjtI_Ac21TiKvK5UA_K-JPKhxobij\">My Momma Zo<\/a><\/em> are written from the perspective of their daughter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allen is currently working on a third children\u2019s book, set to be released early 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Supporting LGBTQ+ With Style<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Outside of books, Allen also creates jewellery. This year will be her third year at the Cardiff Christmas market, selling her handmade earrings and accessories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kelzojewellery.com\">KelZo<\/a>, co-founded with Kelly in 2020, features an \u2018affordable, fun, and quirky\u2019 LGBTQ+ collection, in which Allen donates 10% of the profits to LGBTQ+ charities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allen also managed a stall at the Christmas market for the first 11 days before returning to work at Lidl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Zoey Allen sat at her desk, working on her earrings for her upcoming Christmas collection.\" class=\"wp-image-68386\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1366x768.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1400x788.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Zoey Allen sat at her desk, working on her earrings for her upcoming Christmas collection.\" class=\"wp-image-68386\" style=\"width:770px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-770x433.jpg 770w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1366x768.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1920x1080.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Working_ZA_JB-1400x788.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/noscript><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Allen working on her Christmas collection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The decision to go back to work after leaving in 2021 comes from the financial challenges of owning a small business in the midst of the cost-of-living crisis.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Allen says that her coworkers at Lidl were very supportive when she came out five years ago and continue to be so, making the decision to go back reassuring.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe financial climate has had a hit on people, so they haven\u2019t got as much expendable income,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Online sales have been \u201cdire\u201d over the last nine months, despite her best efforts with advertising.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNo matter how hard I push it, it\u2019s just not paying off,\u201d she says. As a result, she plans to keep her jewellery business going as a side project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Christmas market, now in its 30th year, started on November 14, exhibiting handmade arts and crafts from small Welsh businesses.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While she loves the festive spirit of the market, she\u2019s also happy to stay warmer this year with a shorter schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Listen to Zoey Allen&#8217;s advice on being comfortable coming out<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"zeen-lazy-load-base zeen-lazy-load\" width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"about:blank\" data-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1949392375&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><noscript><iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"166\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/w.soundcloud.com\/player\/?url=https%3A\/\/api.soundcloud.com\/tracks\/1949392375&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=false&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><div style=\"font-size: 10px;color: #cccccc;overflow: hidden;font-family: Interstate,Lucida Grande,Lucida Sans Unicode,Lucida Sans,Garuda,Verdana,Tahoma,sans-serif;font-weight: 100\"><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/cardiffjomec\" title=\"CardiffJomec\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc;text-decoration: none\" rel=\"noopener\">CardiffJomec<\/a> \u00b7 <a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/cardiffjomec\/zoey-allen-gives-advice-on-coming-out-as-transgender\" title=\"Zoey Allen gives advice on coming out as transgender\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color: #cccccc;text-decoration: none\" rel=\"noopener\">Zoey Allen gives advice on coming out as transgender<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n\n\n\n<p>Zoey&#8217;s top three products<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kelzojewellery.com\/products\/mirrored-red-acrylic-welsh-dragon-drop-earrings?_pos=1&amp;_psq=drago&amp;_ss=e&amp;_v=1.0\">Red acrylic Welsh dragon earrings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kelzojewellery.com\/products\/pride-rainbow-acrylic-star-necklace-lgbtq-jewellery?_pos=2&amp;_psq=rainbow+acrylic+star&amp;_ss=e&amp;_v=1.0\">Rainbow acrylic LGBTQ+ necklace<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/kelzojewellery.com\/products\/triple-rainbow-pride-star-acrylic-earrings-sparkly-lgbtq-queer-drops?_pos=1&amp;_psq=rainbow+acrylic+star&amp;_ss=e&amp;_v=1.0\">Rainbow pride star-shaped earrings<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-69308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2-300x169.jpg 300w, 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https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2-1366x768.jpg 1366w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2-293x165.jpg 293w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2024\/11\/Allen-is-also-the-lead-singer-of-Fenix-a-queer-rock-band-formed-a-year-and-a-half-ago-which-will-headline-Fuel-in-Cardiff-on-November-8.-2.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/noscript><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cardiff\u2019s Zoey Allen talks about her experience as a transgender author and jewellery entrepreneur ahead of her third year at the Cardiff Christmas Market.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1190,"featured_media":68378,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7936],"tags":[1927,448,3702,8129],"coauthors":[8070],"class_list":["post-68062","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-public-life","tag-cardiff-christmas-market","tag-christmas","tag-transgender","tag-zoey-allen"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Transgender author talks about life five years after coming out<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Zoey Allen talks about life five years after coming out as transgender, ahead of her third year at Cardiff Christmas Market.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cardiffjournalism.co.uk\/altcardiff\/2024\/12\/01\/transgender-author-five-years-on\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Transgender author talks about life five years after coming out\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Zoey Allen talks about life five years after coming out as transgender, ahead of her third year at Cardiff Christmas Market.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" 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