Starr says her service benefits trans women who want to present a more feminine appearance
DAVID TAFFET | Staff Writer
taffet@dallasvoice.com
Way back in 1996, Nikki Starr started Miss Victoria’s Feminine Illusions, a business dedicated to helping those — male or female — who wanted to be more feminine in appearance.
Starr suspended operations in 2001 because she traveled quite a bit with her job as an executive for a software company dealing with supply chain logistics.
But with the encouragement of a friend, Starr decided to try again, and Femme X Studios has been up and running since 2006.
Starr said she works with a variety of people: Some might have a fetish; others are transgender women who know they are women but never learned how women’s sizes work or how to put on makeup.
“They don’t know where to start,” Starr said.
While her target audience is varied, Starr said she rarely works with drag queens. She said she is not in business to help someone present an illusion or exaggeration of femininity.
“I provide a service as an image and style consultant,” she said.
Some of Starr’s clients are just coming out as transgender and learning to be more feminine. One client is a married cross-dresser whose wife does not know.
“She’s just trying to figure it out,” Starr said of her client.
Much of Starr’s business comes from people who are in the closet. Some are high-powered business executives who need a private, discreet place to explore.
Starr said she schedules three or four appointments a week and while an appointment may last up to eight hours, the basic appointment is usually three hours.
“Everything’s included,” Starr said. “They don’t have to bring anything — clothes, shoes, hair, lingerie. What do they want? Photography? Makeup?”
Starr has release forms for all pictures on her website. To assure discretion, she said she’ll use the client’s own camera and hand them the memory card. But, she noted, photography can be useful for the client to see and compare differences in makeup or hairstyles. And some do want a glamour shot session.
Starr said that some clients are very nervous on their first visit. They might spend the entire visit just drinking a glass of wine and talking. And Starr said she is careful to take that client through each step and talk about the experience as they go.
She also offers a very basic one-hour make-up class in which she discusses products, skincare and basic makeup application techniques.
Starr also helps her clients prepare for their own forays into the world of retail. Her advice for people shopping for the first time who have not developed a relationship with any salespeople is to call ahead.
“If you call ahead, they can prepare for you,” she said.
Starr used that same principle in planning an outing with a transgender group.
She made reservations for a group at the Uptown restaurant Sambuca and explained who they were. They told her, “as long as you’re dressed appropriately.” Starr said that when her group arrived, they were assigned a waiter who went out of his way to make the evening a lot of fun.
And while Starr specializes in image consulting, she refers her clients to a number of other people — including counselors, cosmetic surgeons and doctors to prescribe hormone therapy, as well as friendly gyms, retailers and restaurants.
Starr said that each of her customers is looking for something a little different and she said the key to success is spending time making sure she understands that client’s needs.
“We can customize an experience that’s right for you,” Starr said.
This was a great article, and am glad to see someone I know personally get written about. I feel there should be more people out there willing to lend a helping hand to those in transition, that they deserve to be the gender they were meant to be. Nikki Starr has helped many people in their path towards femininity and I hope she continues to move forwards for many years to come. She has changed lives, and just knowing her has changed mine, she is a good friend, a mentor to many and in my opinion, sexy and beautiful.
I congratulate the Voice for doing two articles about transgendered people that did not involve RuPaul or Israel Luna. I’m taking this as a sign…
I want to congratulate Nikki on her business, and on her success. I’ve visited her new location for an open house, and it’s a great place.
It is always heartening to see someone willing to help and help those of use who are transgender whereever they are on the spectrum from transsexual to crossdresser or simply desperately wish they were women and are trapped by circumstance. Too often our pain is sensationalized or exacerbated by those who reject and despise rather than honoring, accepting and celebrating the diversity that humans exhibit. Thank you Nikki for being the kind of woman I wish to be.
Great to see an article that isn’t sensational! Your article shares some of the caring for others found in the transgender community. Keep going Nikki!
So good to see such a positive article on such a misunderstood group of people. It shows how much the transgendered have to offer, both in their work life and private life.
Outstanding!
I am so glad we have sisters that are in the world making things happen and not just letting it all go by. Good job Nikki.
The article about Nikki and Femme X was sooo special and soooo very positive and upbeat. . . The reporter did a great job and I can imagine a follow-up within a year to chronicle the continued success for Nikki and Femme X. . . I have sent a message to the reporter, David Taffet, thanking him for such an objective gathering of information. . . Congratulations Nikki. . .
Bravo! Great article for a wonderful and energetic woman! Congratulations Nikki!
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! You should be very proud and even though we have never met I am proud for you. It is one thing to live a questionable life by “normal” standards but to reach out to other in service elevates you to a whole new level in my opinion. Being different can be a daily challenge but together we can excel.
It’s been a long time since I met Nikki at a Texas T Party (no affiliation with you-know-who). She was doing something of the sort back then and I’m glad to see she is still helping others get over being too nervous to be themselves. I still fondly remember the night out at a comedy club with Nikki and a limo full of the girls where the comics were too intimidated to include us in the act, until one brave comedian talked to us before going on. He then went on to have the best set of the night.
I’m in Springfield, MO and while we have a support group locally for the gender variant community a service such as this is not available and would be invaluable. Keep up the good work Ms. Starr.
Nikki! Congratulations on your success and on helping so many girls realize a lifelong dream. I must admit that I was stunned to find out that this concept began in ’96! (You must have been in high school at the time!)
xoxo, CiCi
Wonderful. That’s what its all about…helping people.
Hey all – thanks so much for the wonderful comments – Teeje – how the heck are ya!!! it’s been way to long. Anyways you all have touched my heart and I will continue to provide not JUST a dressing and makeover service – but a service that can help girls calm their fears, build their confidence and help them accept themselves. The service is a ton of fun – but I also take it seriously as it pertains to making someone not just feel good about how they look but with how they are. I’m all about celebrating ones femininity and expressing it in a way that is light and fun.
You can feel free to email me directly at nikkits4@yahoo.com
or you can visit Femme X Studios at https://www.femmexstudios.com
Great article. I hope to become a client soon.
Congrats. Nikki…I’m so glad we are friends. The world needs more people like you…Thanks for all that you do.
Very nice article. Keep up the good work Nikki!
What a wonderful article about an incredibly wonderful person! Nikki has made such a difference in my life and I am so very thankful for the tireless support she provides for this community. Go see Nikki…NOW!
Very nice… thank you for sharing…
Terrific piece! I’m delighted to see more ink on your sub-community of our sub-community! Though things are changing slowly, the more information the vanilla public has about trans and other non-traditional orientations the better! Thanks you Voice for running this!
U R supplying a great service . Keep up the good work . We need more like U . Joie Bee plasticpantie lover on fetlife