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= Khandie Arellano Segovia =

Early Life
Khandie Segovia was born on August 30, 1985. Her parents namely Val Arellano and Mercedita Segovia made an honest life in Hagonoy, Bulacan. She was the youngest between her and her brother, Valerio Arellano. In her father’s place, they had their own views, (as she claimed), which served as one of the hindrances as to why she couldn't live by her true self and was closeted for years. But when she was only eight years old when her parents were separated, her mother took her in - which is how she ended up residing in Pasay City and grew up there.

Khandie mentioned in an interview that she had girl crushes during first grade, indicating that at the time she didn't yet know who she was or what kind of people she wanted, not even understanding enough what she felt. She didn't fully understand who she was as a transgender woman until she was in high school. Khandie did not come out but she was discovered one time participating in a beauty competition in a nearby barangay, and people who recognized her informed her mother and relatives about it. Regardless, her mother and relatives accepted her and that’s when she started to openly live as a transgender woman, and continued pursuing her drag-racing acts and joining more beauty pageants.

Career and Influences
Khandie began transitioning when she was 20 years old, at which point she also began to make money as a freelance artist and designer for gowns and other outfits (mostly traditional ones to live up to the Filipino pride). She eventually found work as a make-up artist at a KTV bar, and with the money she made, she was able to support her family, save money for future cosmetic procedures (such as face feminization surgery), and start a business of her own.

Even despite not finishing high school properly, (much more college) she believes that although education may be important, people can still succeed without it and here she is, a living proof of that belief.

Being a transgender individual, she acknowledged that her unfinished education was influenced by anti-trans policies at schools, such as hair and dress code restrictions, which led her to avoid attending school. Instead, she preferred spending her time with friends who accepted her gender identity.

Khandie makes a living just by renting out costumes (which he made/designed herself) and uses some of the funds she earns from it to help finance LGBTQIA people whom had helped her and inspired her in this hobby.

As observed, Khandie has over 100 gowns and over 85 costumes  which all came from her handmade/handsewn effort, some from scraps, some passed down to her and recreated by her, some from bazaars, so on and so forth. She claimed she spent a lot on her collection but that investing is essential in order to earn some money. Spending a lot could result in earning a lot, but it could also result in losing a lot, she noted.

Going into this kind of industry had not been too challenging for her as she mentioned that out of all her jobs, this one had particularly been her favourite and something she genuinely enjoyed in her life.

In some ways, Khandie could be described as "conservative" in a variety of contexts.

For trans teenagers, Khandie also said, "You can be LGBTQIA but be a decent LGBTQIA person because people won't immediately warmly receive you."

"Show yourself in a professional manner like any 'decent' person; don't be a con artist LGBTQIA person. To be treated like a human being, behave as any other person would.”

But at this point, she also claimed that she had already understood the need of self-empowerment at this stage in her life.

Other Notable Creations/Designs:

 * Binibining Pilipinas 2022 National Costume show - Candidate no.2 - Krizzia Lynn Moreno of Camarines Sur (July, 2022)
 * "DEBOSYON" - Bb. Pilipinas Honey Be Parrenas (March, 2021)
 * It's Showtime Miss Q n A winner - Juliana Parizcova Segovia (2018)
 * Junrey Ward Duero Tajonera (Mr. Glam Asia Pacific International)