Paris Lees is an English author, journalist, presenter and campaigner who has been breaking barriers and making waves in the media and society. She is the first trans columnist at Vogue, the first trans woman to present shows on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4, and the first trans cover girl for Diva magazine.
She is also the founder of META, the first British magazine aimed at the trans community, and the author of What It Feels Like For A Girl, a memoir that reads like a novel about her turbulent and triumphant life.
Early life and Education
Paris Lees was born in 1988 in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, to a teenage mother and a bouncer father who separated when she was a baby. She grew up with the help of her auntie and grandmother, but faced severe bullying at school for being different.
She describes herself as having had behavioural difficulties as a child and aged 9 her mother sent her to live with her father. She began having sex with men in exchange for money at 14, which she later recognised as statutory rape. She also got involved in drugs and crime, and at 18 she was sentenced to eight months in prison for robbery.
While in prison, Lees decided to change her life and pursue her dreams. She said, "I just thought, ‘I’m this silly teenage boy in a prison cell who has made a huge mistake and I want to be this happy person’." After being released from prison early, she studied for her A-levels and moved to Brighton, a notably LGBT-friendly city, to study English at university. Not long after moving, she started to identify publicly as a woman and received hormone treatment to begin her gender transition.
Career and Achievements
Lees moved to London to pursue a career in journalism after graduating from university. She founded META, the first British magazine aimed at the trans community, and became the acting assistant editor of Gay Times. She also wrote columns for both Gay Times and Diva, and contributed to newspapers and magazines such as The Independent, The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, PinkNews, and Vice, as well as for Channel 4 News.
Lees also worked as a presenter for television and radio, being the first trans woman presenter on both BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4. On Radio 1, she produced a documentary entitled “The Hate Debate” for BBC Radio 1’s Stories in which the attitudes people have towards minority groups were considered, along with racism, homophobia, transphobia and Islamophobia. On Channel 4, she hosted the chat show The Salon and the documentary Revenge Porn.
Lees has been recognised for her work and activism by various awards and lists. She topped The Independent on Sunday’s 2013 Pink List, came second in the 2014 Rainbow List, and was awarded the Positive Role Model Award for LGBT in the 2012 National Diversity Awards. She was also named as one of the most influential people in Britain by Debrett’s 500 in 2015, and one of the most influential media figures by The Guardian in 2018.
In 2021, Lees published her first book, What It Feels Like For A Girl, a memoir that reads like a novel about her life from childhood to adulthood, written in dialect, Trainspotting-style. The book received critical acclaim and was described as “a dazzling debut” by The Guardian and “a remarkable story of survival and reinvention” by Vogue.
Paris Lees Books
Paris Lees is the author of one book and the founder of another. Her book is called What It Feels Like For a Girl, and it is a memoir that reads like a novel about her life from childhood to adulthood, written in dialect, Trainspotting-style. It was published by Penguin in 2021 and received critical acclaim
Her magazine is called META, and it is the first British magazine aimed at the trans community. She founded it in 2012 and was the acting assistant editor of Gay Times
What Are Some Of Paris Lees' Awards?
Paris Lees is an award-winning author, journalist, presenter and campaigner for transgender rights. Some of her awards include:
The Positive Role Model Award for LGBT in the 2012 National Diversity Awards
The top spot in The Independent on Sunday’s 2013 Pink List, which celebrates the most influential lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender figures in the UK
The second place in The Independent on Sunday’s 2014 Rainbow List, which replaced the Pink List1
The Ultimate Trailblazer Award in the 2014 Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women Awards, for her work in changing media representation of transgender people
She is also the first trans columnist at Vogue, the first trans woman to present shows on BBC Radio 1 and Channel 4, and the author of the memoir What It Feels Like For a Girl.
Paris Lees Net Worth
Paris Lees’s net worth is estimated around $2 million. However, different sources may have different methods of calculating net worth, and Lees herself has not confirmed this figure. Therefore, this answer should be taken with a grain of salt.
Controversy And Activism Of Paris Lees
Paris Lees is not only a successful author, journalist, and presenter, but also a vocal advocate for transgender rights and visibility. She has been involved in several controversies and activism campaigns, such as:
Challenging the media’s portrayal of trans people and calling out transphobia in the press. She founded the first British magazine aimed at the trans community, META, and became the first openly trans person to appear on BBC Question Time.
Speaking out against the government’s delay in reforming the Gender Recognition Act, which would make it easier for trans people to legally change their gender. She also campaigned for better healthcare access and support for trans people, especially young people.
Confronting the online abuse and harassment she faced from anti-trans activists and trolls. She exposed some of the hateful messages she received on Twitter and Instagram, and urged social media platforms to take action against transphobia.
Educating the public about the diversity and experiences of trans people, and sharing her own personal story of overcoming adversity and discrimination. She wrote a memoir, What It Feels Like For a Girl, and contributed to several anthologies and documentaries that celebrate trans voices.
Conclusion
Paris Lees is a trans woman who made history by being the first in many fields and by sharing her story with honesty and courage. She is a role model for LGBTQ people and a voice for social change. She said, "I don’t think it’s a trans memoir at all. I think it’s a human story about overcoming adversity and finding happiness."
