REVIEW: Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero

"People can try to narrow the possibilities for our lives, even end them, but our spirits will expand to fill whatever space we are given. We will find the power in us."

Horse Barbie by Geena Rocero is a triumphant, beautifully introspective memoir exploring the trans experience.

Growing up in the Philippines, Geena knew she felt different. Not feeling like she matched her assigned gender at birth, she chooses her female identity at a young age. A striking beauty, she finds her success in trans beauty pageants where she was referred to as Horse Barbie. At the height of her pageant success, her mother brings her to the US for better opportunities.

What she finds there is a culture shock. The US is supposed to be the land of dreams but she feels pressured to be more secretive about her identity. An immigrant in a new country, she works hard as a model while grappling with the constant anxiety of being outed as a trans woman and losing everything. The more success she finds, the riskiest it feels to be truthful about who she is and the more she struggles with her connection to her own identity.

Geena writes beautifully, with a candidness and familiarity that immediately connects the reader with her and her story. I found myself equal parts inspired and wanting to be her friend; her charming personality leaps off the page. I appreciated her introspectiveness, and the way she conveyed this in her storytelling. 

I loved how Geena added color to her story by including details like historical and cultural anecdotes. Ideas pertaining to colourism, colonialism and religion in the Philippines, make her experiences even more vivid. 

Horse Barbie is the perfect read for Pride Month. It will touch your heart, make you laugh, make you feel hopeful and more connected to yourself and to those around you, especially to our queer community. You'll want to read this one.