Last night I went out an bought a wig. It's a long style close to my own hair color. Cheap but looks pretty good.
I know it's a kinda obvious thing but when I have that wig on I look like my sisters. From the side I look more like my oldest sister. So much so that at first glance I could be mistaken for her. I never saw how much I resembled them until I had that wig on.
It may be stupid but this really bothers me and I can't seem to let it go. I don't know why it bothers me so much. I guess I was hoping to look like me not someone else.
Have any of you been surprised by you resemblance to family when en femme? If so, did it bother you? How did you deal with it?
I had the opposite look. People thought I was adopted, I looked nothing like family when hormones change my image.
I look like a taller version of my mum...and an aunt. mostly i just look like I'm my own twin...which is pretty funny when i think about it.
Well be thankful - I grew up to be my mother ;D
Yup, three sisters and we look alike. I probably look most like the one that is a year younger than me. However, I am the oldest, so when it has been pointed out that I look like them, I say, "No, they look like ME. I came first!"
A comparison of me and my sister:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnoobtown.co.nz%2Fsis.jpg&hash=a16045d4ab58fdb7d4cebdf6cd56744fd34e0a79)
When I tie my hair back I notice that I look like my sister. For me, this (a) makes sense since we're siblings and (b) lets me know that I have a chance at passing. If my sister can pass as a girl then why can't I? Right? :P
Wow, apart from the hair you're pretty much a spitting image of each other.
Quote from: Vexing on January 22, 2011, 02:21:51 PM
A comparison of me and my sister:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fnoobtown.co.nz%2Fsis.jpg&hash=a16045d4ab58fdb7d4cebdf6cd56744fd34e0a79)
Now here's the thing - you are by FAR the prettier of the two!
Quote from: rejennyrated on January 22, 2011, 02:27:43 PM
Now here's the thing - you are by FAR the prettier of the two!
Thank you Jenny *geekblush*
I
do have youth on my side though - she's four years older.
Here's a picture of me....from 30 years in the future
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprofile.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhprofile-ak-snc4%2Fhs224.ash2%2F48972_1091876977_4017950_n.jpg&hash=6b92bc3e01e33358a248d163ee874ddf93cee6fd)
I so agree Cait. And young or not you are the pretty of both of you.
I am getting to look more like my Mom. And what is really scary is that I am adopted.
The photos are great.
Wow, Vexing you're almost twins! You look great!
I am glad I don't look like my mother but my brother would. ;D
Quote from: Helena on January 22, 2011, 02:36:09 PM
Here's a picture of me....from 30 years in the future
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fprofile.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhprofile-ak-snc4%2Fhs224.ash2%2F48972_1091876977_4017950_n.jpg&hash=6b92bc3e01e33358a248d163ee874ddf93cee6fd)
Is your mum a smoker?
not for a very long time...but she is 60 this year
Quote from: Helena on January 22, 2011, 02:52:13 PM
not for a very long time...but she is 60 this year
She actually looks great for her age then! :D
Quote from: Helena on January 22, 2011, 02:24:14 PM
Wow, apart from the hair you're pretty much a spitting image of each other.
This. And I love red hair.
I look like my cousins more than my sister. My sister looks more like my dad's mother and I have more of mom's side of the families look.
This is funny, because when I first cut my hair short, I was worried that I would look too much like my younger brother.
Now, I'm not sure why it bothered me. I look a lot like both of my brothers, and each of them looks more like me than the other, though we all look obviously related. People who look at baby pictures can't tell me and my younger brother apart. So it was pretty likely that after I cut my hair or emphasized my masculine features, I'd look even more like my brothers, especially my younger bro. In fact, it's creating a bit of a time warp - until T catches me up to my real age, I appear now to family members far more like my brother was some years ago.
The upside is that I never feared that T would make me look unfamiliar or like a different person. I know pretty much what different versions of me would look like with the effects of male hormones.
The downside is that we are so similar and recognizable (and have not changed since childhood) that we are routinely recognized by total strangers who know our siblings. I was once approached when I was in female mode in a different city from where my brother lived by someone who went to school with him K-8 saying, "You must be[your brother's name]'s sister!" It's not horrible, but it means I do need to keep track of whether my brothers have chosen to out me to friends and acquaintences of theirs or not or if they are hoping to keep it quiet/stealth. Otherwise, if someone approaches me thinking I am "other brother," I don't know how to play it.
Sean, I think you may have discovered one of the reasons it bothers me.
It was kind of a shock to see my sisters looking back in the mirror but I'll get used to that.
QuoteThe downside is that we are so similar and recognizable (and have not changed since childhood) that we are routinely recognized by total strangers who know our siblings. I was once approached when I was in female mode in a different city from where my brother lived by someone who went to school with him K-8 saying, "You must be[your brother's name]'s sister!" It's not horrible, but it means I do need to keep track of whether my brothers have chosen to out me to friends and acquaintences of theirs or not or if they are hoping to keep it quiet/stealth. Otherwise, if someone approaches me thinking I am "other brother," I don't know how to play it.
This kinda scares me. I still live where my brother and sisters grew up and lived for years and other family still lives here. I've run into people who recognize my last name, it's really unusual, and went to school with my siblings. It could be really uncomfortable to be mistaken for my for sisters or just trying to explain the family resemblance since I haven't come out to my family yet.
That's the other part, my brother and sisters are very religious and I don't expect them to take it well, especially my brother. He outed me to my mother when I got my ear pierced in college, what's he going to do when I look like his sister.
Thanks for all the replies, I feel a little better about looking like my sisters.
I sent a picture to my mom this last week from my first night out in girl mode. I happened to be on the phone when she pulled up the email and said, "wow, you look just like your sister."
Which for me was a HUGE compliment (maybe not a compliment for my sister? Sorry sis!). I can definitely see the family resemblance. But coming from my mom it was so cool.
I wonder what HRT might do to me.
Here's some humorousness...
When I grew out my hair long, pre-hormones, I looked like the spitting image of the teenage version of my dad from the 70s. I wish I had the picture still so I could show you all a comparison.
When I started taking hormones the first time and began dressing up, I looked like the spitting image of my mom in her 20s.
Weird, huh?
Quote from: Tamaki on January 22, 2011, 05:14:05 PM
Sean, I think you may have discovered one of the reasons it bothers me.
It was kind of a shock to see my sisters looking back in the mirror but I'll get used to that.
I would play around with makeup after school through seventh grade and after I got a perm (...no ogilvy home perm) I thought I looked exactly like this girl Denise from school and it freaked me out. That recognition and feeling that my face wasn't mine made me stop for a while.
I don't have sisters, just brothers but can see that that'd be very weird.
Quote from: Tamaki on January 22, 2011, 05:14:05 PM
This kinda scares me. I still live where my brother and sisters grew up and lived for years and other family still lives here. I've run into people who recognize my last name, it's really unusual, and went to school with my siblings. It could be really uncomfortable to be mistaken for my for sisters or just trying to explain the family resemblance since I haven't come out to my family yet.
I think it makes sense to be prepared with a reply to the question, "Are you related to [your sibling]?" or "Do you know [your siblings]?" A good answer is, "Yes, we're related, but we're not close."
People won't typically push for further details if you say you're not close. They don't know if you mean that you are not closely related or not close as a relationship matter. They won't expect you to say hi or send regards back to your siblings or explain exactly who you are.
Good advice. Thanks!
I've noticed I look almost exactly like my sister too, except I'm significantly taller. We both share a penchant for tall boots too, so it was kind of odd seeing the two of us together.
I dont really look to similar to anyone in my family, except I just recently discovered I look just like my older cousin. I havent seen him in years, but I saw a picture of him recently, and I was like wow... we're twins!
It's odd how much I look like my mother:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-snc6%2Fhs070.snc6%2F168086_839595217546_25506573_43237675_8272668_n.jpg&hash=f5b9a01863b0faefb5daf8287b4aeac3cd271ea1)(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fsphotos.ak.fbcdn.net%2Fhphotos-ak-ash1%2Fhs746.ash1%2F163825_191985674147516_100000082533084_720586_6466112_n.jpg&hash=6c3f7b99e7b3afb399c58e5e0dff828e16549d80)
Early in transition, it was a shock to me when I ran into someone I grew up with but hadn't seen in about 5 years and he mistook me for my sister.
I don't look like either of my sisters. Similar yes but none of us could be each other's doppelganger. Amen to the "I look like my twin" thing. Someone asked me if I was related to "oldname." I gave them a sad look and said he was my twin brother and that he died a few years back.
Ok, I'll join in the fun. Here is a photo of me and my family from back in May at my parent's 40th anniversary party in New York (might want to click on it to embiggen and get better look):
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1124.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl567%2FMelodyMaia%2FDSC_2343.jpg&hash=360cb10fe4dd273d68eac45709dfccc8dffc2627)
Left to right that is my son, my youngest sister, my dad, me, my mom, my niece, sister (one year younger than me), middle sister, and nephew.
Here is me without makeup from yesterday:
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1124.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl567%2FMelodyMaia%2F030e7720.jpg&hash=8824867ab61449f2b084e172f0bea5b2af616e2c)
And my college graduation photo from 1993.
(https://www.susans.org/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1124.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl567%2FMelodyMaia%2FDSC_3977.jpg&hash=2e318330611e64102135a40edf7238ca1afe9988)
When we were kids, I used to be confused all the time with my sister who is a year younger.
Not to bring down the light attitude of the thread, but that is the last time I saw my dad in life. He would pass two weeks later and the crazy roller coaster of my transition would start.
Nicky
You look like somebody took a blender to all of your siblings features and you were the result. One sister's eyes, the other's nose, your brothers smile....mix well....there's Nicky! Of course, it was your parents doing the blending. I would also say you are the cutest of the lot (not that your siblings are bad looking or anything). ::)
Quote from: Melody Maia on January 23, 2011, 08:22:50 PM
Nicky
You look like somebody took a blender to all of your siblings features and you were the result. One sister's eyes, the other's nose, your brothers smile....mix well....there's Nicky! Of course, it was your parents doing the blending. I would also say you are the cutest of the lot (not that your siblings are bad looking or anything). ::)
Ditto
Melody, All I can say is eek! You don't look like that guy you say is you.
Quote from: LordKAT on January 23, 2011, 09:01:40 PM
Ditto
Melody, All I can say is eek! You don't look like that guy you say is you.
It seems like a bad dream now. Actually had trouble getting into my son's school the other day because my ID didn't match how I look presently. Going to get a new ID here in Florida to avoid trouble flying etc. I think I make a better looking girl than guy, if I do say so myself. I feel so comfortable now and he just feels like a cheap suit I wore for awhile.
That is great Melody! And your confidence in yourself will make you infinitely more sexy!
I agree, you look better as a girl.
Hugs!
You definitely look better as a girl, more real.
Thank you both. Divorce was made final today and to read both of your comments right after hearing the news put a smile on my face.
I feel more real. "Present" as they say. Again thanks.
It will be interesting to see whether Madelyn and I begin to look more and more alike as time goes by. People tell us there is a resemblance when she is in boy mode standing next to me. I even had a co-worker tell me that she is the male version of me and I'm the female version of her. I can see why this might be frustrating because feeling authentic in one's own skin is so very important. The last thing we want is to be refered to as the carbon copy of someone else. Madelyn has a classy sense of style and I'm glad that she takes my beauty tips with a giant grain of salt! :D
Quote from: veigabond on January 25, 2011, 02:01:17 AMMadelyn has a classy sense of style and I'm glad that she takes my beauty tips with a giant grain of salt! :D
Aww, thanks sis. I do appreciate your beauty tips by the way :) I need all the help I can get.
Quote from: Madelyn on January 22, 2011, 06:18:28 PM
I sent a picture to my mom this last week from my first night out in girl mode. I happened to be on the phone when she pulled up the email and said, "wow, you look just like your sister."
Which for me was a HUGE compliment (maybe not a compliment for my sister? Sorry sis!).
It's definitely a compliment, Madelyn :)
I look very much like my brother now. He's taller and very skinny, but otherwise we could probably be twins. Even when I was in my trying to be feminine phase, a friend of mine ran into him when shopping with her mother. Her mother later commented on how she recognized him as my brother before my friend introduced him to her. Now that I have short hair and a similar way of dressing, it's kind of scary.
I look like a 100 lb lighter version of my aunt Maxine. Believe me, that is not a sexy self image, if I let myself think about it.