Any Villanueva

A life marked by courage, resilience and the pursuit of authenticity

Photograph of a middle aged woman posing at a photo backdrop with her right arm on her hip, smiling at the camera, sandwiched between a ring light on her left and a tripod on her right. She is wearing a long black halter dress with gold accent marks and wearing large gold dangle earrings and gold cuffs.

Any at a SAGE center gala, showing off her looks and pride in herself.

While Any did have support with her mother, Peru was not as close to supporting her. She experienced this firsthand during a traumatic incident in Peru, where she was targeted simply for being a transgender woman. A physical and mental scar is left with her during her attack, but this experience served as a catalyst for her decision to seek refuge in the United States in 2021, where she has now found safety, acceptance, and a community that embraced her for who she truly was.

Any es una mujer tranquila y feliz. This is what 67 year old Peruvian transgender woman Any Villanueva wants to define her personality as: a calm and happy woman. As a recent immigrant to New York City, Any’s life can be defined as a woman who has lived a life marked by courage, resilience, and the pursuit of authenticity. At the age of 24 Any received transition surgery in Brazil, where transitioning was not just a physical transformation but a profound affirmation of her true identity and a testament to her unwavering courage as a Latin American woman. She worked hard as a hairstylist, saving up for her transition and living away from her home country, Brazil was the only place that would allow her medical transition.

While Brazil gave her the ability to show the world who she was, Any always knew who she was from a young age. She expressed herself as a woman to her parents and 11 other siblings, some approved and some did not. But coming out to her mother at 15 allowed her to feel comfortable in her identity and allowed her to bridge her way to fully transitioning. “Mi mamá es mi héroe” (My mom is my hero.) Any loves her mother, a woman who defied all odds, during a time and place where there was no freedom to express or support the LGBTQ community.

A photo of a happy woman sitting cross-legged on an NYC subway, laughing. She is wearing an open neck black top and has a black purse in her lap.

Dancer in a maroon leotard, black block heels, and accessorized in gold. She is confidently posed with her right hand on top of a cabinet, and her left hand on her hip.

Any is on a train laughing, expressing her comfort in NYC. This is her favorite picture because it defines her personality: happy and calm.

Any is all dressed and glammed up to dance for a center.

Upon arriving in New York City, she discovered a vibrant and welcoming community that embraced diversity and celebrated individuality. Immersing herself in Pride parades became a powerful affirmation of her pride in her identity and a chance to stand alongside others who shared her journey. Any loves to make her own clothes with clothes she gathers from thrifting around NYC and attending galas that allow her to dress up all pretty and show her beauty. Any is open to sharing her biggest joy in NYC with performing, where she says every year she starts her year with a new dance. “Por los 66 esta bien” (with being 66, I am still good [at dancing]). Since dancing at a young age she is now more confident than ever to show her moves and express herself in a medium more than just storytelling.

Any is squatted down next to a white table with a photo of Lorena on top. There are two glass vases of flowers, one on the left of Any and the other on the right side of the table. There is a cross and two candles on the table, and a transgender pride flag (colors top to bottom: blue, pink, white, pink blue) on the wall behind Any.

Any is at a mass celebrated in memory of Mexican-American activist Lorena Borjas, who helped her with her treatment in NYC.

Any was able to feel comfortable in telling all positives and negatives of her life story due to a specific obstacle whilst being a transgender woman. Any attributes the life she has today to a dear friend and LGBTQ activist, Lorena Borjas. Before fully moving to New York City, she found Lorena, who inspired her to seek help after being diagnosed with HIV. Scared because of stigma and lack of medical support in Peru, Lorena showed Any the way to the organization, Voces Latinas. It was the support and guidance she needed to make her feel seen.

While Any is living the life she deserves in New York, she still holds Peru close to her and hopes the stigma and narrow mindedness towards the LGBTQ community and HIV victims will soon be different. Any believes that while it is much better than when she was younger she states “No hay visibilidad para las chicas trans mayores” (there is no visibility for older trans women.) Her story today is proof that with all the hardship, her authenticity is a story that should be shared, not only for herself but other transgender women who are having a hard time.

Any at a Pride parade in NYC. She is standing confidently and proudly with both arms raised up. Any is wearing a sparkly silver bikini top, a hot pink ruffle sarong around her waist, and black sandals. Next to her is a man in a cap, sunglasses, necklaces, a vibrant blue speedo, and white Adidas shoes. He has a pride flag in one hand, and the other posed around Any.

Any expressing empowerment in a pride parade in NYC.

Selfie with Any sitting on the right of 4 other people: her brother, two nieces, and another lady. There is one niece on her brother’s lap and the other on the lady’s. They are all smiling for the selfie.

Any with her brother and nieces.

Looking back on her life, Any sees the importance of sharing the memories she has made recently, as a happy and fulfilled woman. One of the most precious moments recently was celebrating her 50th birthday with her twin sister in Italy. This milestone was not just a celebration of age but a testament to mark a moment of personal triumph and reflection on the journey she had undertaken, filled with both challenges and moments of profound growth and self-discovery. Any is an inspiration to Latin American LGBTQ members who work hard to find their authenticity and joy. Any found it in her 60s in New York and she is proof that no matter what, it is possible.