Bravo

**Bravo** is a German news website that did an interview with Kim Petras on 2018. The interview is translated from german and contain gramatical errors.

## Interview

Kim Petras is just getting off to a flying start as a pop singer: in her adopted home of Los Angeles, the 25-year-old from Cologne can hardly walk the streets undetected and even stars like Paris Hilton are fans of her. Kim lives her dream - but not everything went so perfectly. Because Kim spent the first years of her life as Tim ... She was born a boy. Even as a toddler, however, she knew: she was in the wrong body, she wanted to be a girl! That's why Kim Petras swallowed female hormones early on, which stopped her developing into a man! At the age of 16, she underwent gender reassignment surgery. For years, Kim was accompanied by cameras on her way to the girl's body.

Today nobody who doesn't know Kim's story would assume that she was a boy - because Kim is a real girly! In an interview with BRAVO.de, the confident "Heart To Break" singer spoke about her new life as a pop star and revealed how she deals with her past.

**When people speak to you, is your music more in the foreground or is it your past?**

Sure, here in Germany most people know me as a twelve-year-old, who was born in the boy's body and feels like a girl. But in America most people know me as a songwriter and pop star. It's really cool to be recognized for your music and not just because of the story ... although of course it's very important. I am still fully committed to the rights of transsexuals ... and that all of this will eventually become easier for children who are going through it.

**Does it never bother you when you are constantly asked about your transsexuality?**

No, zero. I love to talk about it. There cannot be enough articles about it. People have to learn that it's a normal thing. Parents should not force their children to live in the wrong gender. Some parents think this is a super freaky thing and the child never has a normal life and can never achieve anything. I want to be a good example that you can still be quite ok.

**Do you sometimes wonder what your life would have been like if you had stayed Tim?**

As sad as it sounds: I think I would have killed myself. I didn't want to live in the wrong body. I cried every day, I couldn't do anything with my body and I hated myself for it. I don't think I should have wanted to live. It is really depressing and I wish I could say that I would have just become a footballer ... but luckily everything didn’t turn out that way.

**Your look is very flashy and striking. Do you also run around privately?**

I can remember when I went to school ... I often had crass things under it so my parents thought I was wearing normal things. I was then in class in Dr. Martens and latex dress. In any case, I always wanted to express myself through my clothes.

**Is the bun on your head your trademark?**

Totally. I've had it since I was 19. There was a time when the space buns were all the rage and I was always too lazy to do two. Sometimes I make the bun five times until it's good. Then I stayed with it and was recognized again and again. People with the bun also come to concerts. I'm currently working on making clip-on buns for my fans. You can just clip it in.

**You've been living in LA for six years. How do you live there**

I live in a shared apartment, I have a roommate. We have been living together for a year and we are homies.

**You actually come from Cologne. Don't you miss it?**

I constantly miss my home and friends. But my best friend from Germany will also soon be moving to LA, finally he also dares. I get him the plane ticket and he stays with me in the apartment. It's super cool. I still miss Cologne all the time. Unfortunately I don't see my family very often either. You have never been to LA!

**Do you write all of your songs yourself?**

I write some songs completely in 20-30 minutes. Somehow, when I'm inspired. I also like to work with other people. But it's always different, I never know how a song happens. Sometimes I make melodies without words for hours and then I use the words later. Sometimes I'm super frustrated and then it takes months to get something done.

## References

<references>

1. ↑ https://www.bravo.de/kim-petras-sie-kam-als-junge-zur-welt-jetzt-ist-sie-pop-prinzessin-378285.html