Sasja Sydek is no stranger to glitz and glamour. By profession, she's a freelance wardrobe stylist. Sasja is a woman of transgender experience. She was born and raised in Singapore. Sasja is a feminist and a fierce advocate with an empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically.
Dec 2020
Sasja was a bright student in schools. She studied at Bedok North Primary School for 6 years. She did impressively well at her PSLE - Primary School Leaving Examination.
8 year old Sasja in red checkered shirt at her primary school
Sasja sent in her applications to three of her chosen schools like every other students after graduating from primary school. Springfield Secondary School accepted her application. Although Springfield Secondary School was not her first choice but she was delighted to be in a brand new school. Sasja first year was in all boys class, students that scored the highest in PSLE. She was also known for her achievements in theater performing arts in Malay LDDS where she attended enrichment courses by professional theater companies and contemporary theater and arts practitioners in her high school at Springfield Secondary School. Sasja took a break from studying for a few years after finishing high school to focus on her transitioning. Being an only child, she was given the full attention from both parents and grandparents. Sasja's father passed away when she was only 3 years old. Sasja grew up in a Muslim household. Holding on to her faith while being “different” can be a real struggle, and being trans is a pretty big “different” to deal with. Her family just won't understand, or be truly supportive, they refused to believe she's trans. At 16, she had to make a really tough decision, that is to leave home and with only $6 in her pocket, a backpack full of female clothing and hope. She was later adopted and mentored by Amy Tashiana, a transgender public figure in Singapore. Amy took Sasja under her wings and helped Sasja in her transitioning process. She taught her to be an independent strong woman, taught her fashion and beauty, social skills and even got her to start on legalized HTR.
Sasja & Mom
Sasja's Mom & Grandma
Unfortunately her relationship with her mom and grandparents were just strictly on the phone. They even stopped talking almost entirely for a year, except for Eid Mubarak wishes on the phone. Sasja reunited with her family six years later. She is very close to her mom and grandma. When the effects of hormone therapy kicked in, she transitioned, got jobs, worked and built her life as a woman, and her life didn't descend into chaos and death like they predicted. Sasja was basically financially independent when she turned 20. She had her first breast augmentation at the age of 21.
Sasja enrolled into Raffles LaSalle Design Institute Singapore to obtain her advanced-diploma and degree in Fashion Marketing & Management. She left college early and progressed into the fashion world and quickly worked her way up to becoming a fashion stylist. Sasja has been involved in a few notable assignments and has worked with a few A-listers such as Supermodel Lily Cole, Bollywood actress & model Nargis Fakhri, Photographer Chuando Tan just to name a few, and big-names entertainment industries. She was an editorial & advertising stylist, before she got into production in fashion runway and tv/movie sets.
Before beginning her career in the entertainment and fashion industry, Sasja was an erotic adult model for an American and Japanese websites & magazines.
2002 - Japan Shemale Magazine
Sasja, a self-proclaimed exhibitionist and has always been fascinated by erotic beauties that she decided to get in contact with the agencies. Roxy (model name) stayed in the industry for 8 years and ended up banking more than she expected. Her final photo/video shoot was in 2008.
2008 - L.A AsianShemales Web
Sasja was featured in a film documentary that made it to the European Film Festival 2001. Sasja who has no acting skills, but her personality that caught Andy's (film producer) eyes. The film was in German and it was about Sasja's daily life as a young transgender woman living in Singapore. Film crews followed her everyday and everywhere she went, they filmed her for 7 straight months. Unfortunately the film did not win an award. The film was called Leben einer “Prinzessin” (Life of a “Princess”)
In 2003, Sasja was probably the first openly transgender person from Singapore to be featured in FHM Singapore and was later featured in FHM Thailand that same year. She received a lot of public attention for her two page spread interview: "In Bed With A Transsexual" and her posing in a little black dress and a pair of patent leather thigh high boots.
FHM Magazine Singapore
Sasja Sydek was in a music video alongside celebrity trans, drag queens and showgirls of Singapore. Girls You Got It - Rima S was directed by Royston Tan. Music produced by George Leong. Music and Lyrics by Marcus Frenell and Michael Erickson. Video feat: Kumar, Liz, Helda, Sammi Zhen, Sasja Sydek, LeRoy, Mistevious, Amy Tashiana, Sabrina, Noristar, Crescent, Veron, Voguelicious and The Burly Girlies. Antonio, Adriano & DJ George.
Rima S - Girls You Got It (Music Video)
Sasja has traveled the world and lived in different countries such as Shanghai, England, UAE just to name a few but end up falling in-love with Melbourne, Australia a place now she called home.
Sasja is Co-founder of Trans Sisters United (a not-for-profit community group that creates projects that benefits the transgender and cisgender female community), Co-founder of Trans Pride March Melbourne (alongside Rebeckah Loveday & Miss Katalyna) and is also that familiar voice to one of the three radio presenters at Behind Closed Doors @3CR 855am. Sasja is a strong believer in equality, human rights, pro choice and trans & female empowerment, and is a passionate sex work advocate representing trans & gender diverse people.
Sasja, Rebeckah (business partner) and The Sistergirls of Tiwi Islands
On the 8th March 2020, Sasja was involved in Th!s Is Me fundraiser project and movement to raise money for a family violence support group in Melbourne. This event was inline with Melbourne Fashion Festival and International Women's Day. Women are told to be better, be slimmer, be fitter, be prettier, be younger. Media tells us to look a certain way. Patriarchy tells us to behave a certain way. The fashion industry can often typecast, objectify and sexualise you.
Th!s Is Me Fashion Show
Th!s Is Me is a platform for women to celebrate their diverse and authentic selves. 'We are no more, no less worthy but this is what we offer'. Supporting two organisations that help women rise when they feel that they can't do so on their own. suffering a family friendly event which hopes to impact all men, boys, girls and women to see that women are beautiful just the way we are. To hear stories of resilience and courage that will inspire everyone. Sasja was one of 34 women that strut the runway for a cause that day.
Th!s Is Me - IWD2020
Sasja Sydek portraits alongside 10 women ranging between 20-60 years of age female & trans woman and from a range cultural
background such as Vietnam, Tanzania (Zanzibar), South-East Asia, Indigenous and European Australians were featured by artist, Bernzerk (Bernie Cliford) at his art exhibition, P.O.M.E.
This is Me... Anymore It’s You...
This is Me... Anymore It’s You... is Series 01 photo series spanning 18 months with subjects. This is Me... Anymore It’s You... stimulates a discussion comparing deliberate sexualized photos for dating and sex worker apps compared with a range of portraits with no intent to deliberately present a sexually alluring atmosphere. Exhibition ends February 2021.
Sasja is the National Director of Miss Trans Global Australia, hosted by Trans Sisters United, an international digital event held to bring trans feminine individuals from all backgrounds together to showcase their abundant talents, intelligence and creativity to raise awareness on transgender issues within Australia and worldwide. Miss Trans Global Australia is a franchise of Miss Trans Global, On the 12th of September 2020, Rebeckah Loveday, co-founder of Trans Sisters United, an actor, model, radio presenter and transgender advocate became the first winner of the title Duchess Global, representing Australia in Miss Trans Global 2020 pageant based in London, United Kingdom for transgender women from all around the world.
SlutWalkMelbourne invited Sasja Sydek to speak at their 'rally' 2020. SlutWalk movement was founded in 2011 after a Toronto Police Services representative announced that women could reduce their risk of sexual assault by not dressing like "sluts". Sparking outrage, a the global movement took root. This year's 'rally' was broadcast by 3CR Community Radio on Sunday 29th at 1pm. Sasja spoke on her personal story, discrimination, harassment and violence towards trans and LGBTQIA+ people. She raised awareness on slut-shaming, body-shaming, victim-blaming, sexual harassment and rape culture. Sasja ended her powerful speech by saying 'The core of the problem lies in the difference between how society are raised and educated, but people will not become aware of that until they first learn what rape culture and slut-shaming are and how they have taken part in it. The first step to solving any problem is educating others about it first, and I think that really resonates through the Slut Walk Melbourne movement.'
SlutWalkMelbourne Rally