Eye Candy of the Month: Randi Lee Richards

Introducing our Eye Candy of the Month: Randi Lee Richards

For our first Eye Candy Girl of the year, we have a Glamor Girl Contest favorite.  We were so excited to sit down with her for an interview and were even more excited when we received her beautiful photos for it.  Let’s all get to know the amazing Randi Lee Richards….

Hi Randi!  Thanks for sitting down with us.  Let’s start by telling everyone where you are from?

Born in Iowa, raised in Chicago and Los Angeles….and have been fortunate to travel the world for business and holidays.

When did you first start dressing and how did it come about?

I was born into a family of performers.  My parents were competitive professional ballroom dancers.  Rumor has it that I was in tights and dance shoes before I could walk.  My family starred in musicals, so wardrobe, costumes and stage makeup were part of our life as well.

When I was in my young teens, I went to an all-boys sports summer camp (I went for many years).  In one of the camp theater performances, they had a tradition of doing a number where the popular jocks would dress up as girls and sing and dance.  It was all good fun and not a joke.   I was not a jock but one of the camp coaches knew I had a theater and dance background and asked me to help choreograph the number (which I did).  That same coach told me (I think I was 11 years old at the time) that I would make a beautiful girl, and dressed me up with a wig, makeup tights etc and then made sexual advances towards me.   I was conflicted, feelings that I had never experienced, and I can say that my very first sexual experience was dressed as a girl with a guy.  Did that have an impact on my development and my angst regarding gender?  How could it not?  Although now Men are off my list, I much prefer my relationships with Cis-gendered and other trans-women.

After graduating from high school at 18 years old I relocated to LA with a group of male friends (all stage dancers) to try our luck in show business—it was a rough road.  But then one of my friends won an amateur female impersonation contest, and our entire crew was recruited to become a “girls” group—and the “Broadway Babes” were born.  Still in tights and stage makeup but now performing as a young lady.

How did you come up with your Femme name?

When I was in the “Broadway Babes” my stage name was Samantha Johnson.  I had a huge crush on a high school girl named Samantha (she was beautiful.  Amazing hair, perfect makeup and a smile that would just make me melt) and I was a Sammy Davis Jr. fan, so Samantha made sense.  However, when I came out in the real world, I changed my name to Randi Lee Richards.  My male name was Randy, so I became Randi with an I.   My middle name was Lee and it remained Lee, and Richards was in honor of one of my old dance friends who is no longer with us.

How often do you dress?

I am in the process of transitioning, however work at times still demands my boy self to be present as needed.  However, I dress as my genuine and authentic feminine self about 70-80% of the time.

What are some of your favorite outfits/fashions?

OMG…This is a tough question as my outfits, wardrobe and fashion sense has evolved over time, and wonderfully continues to evolve.

At one time if I wasn’t wearing a dress, pantyhose and heels I didn’t feel very aligned with my internal femininity.   However, that also changed.  Now I go from wearing dresses from work to girls’ night out, to glamourous gowns, as well as jeans, leggings and more.   And at one time I favored the LBD (Little Black Dress) and I still do, however just in the past few years I have learned to embrace and love colors (something I was hesitant to do for years).   And I experiment with different looks and presentation from accessories to many different hair styles and hair colors as well.

Stockings or pantyhose?

Pantyhose but do I really have to choose?   My Cis-Gender girlfriends don’t wear pantyhose or stockings very much by comparison, however there is something about hose that just gives me that warm hug that I adore.

Heels or flats?  

Heels for sure…I never have been much of a flats fan, however…heel height does not have to be crazy.  Something about how heels help show off the beauty of one’s legs.  And boots, and booties—I am obsessed with them.   Having said that you will find me wearing my Keds and my combat boots as well.

Favorite places to go when dressed?

Great restaurants, bars and clubs, and the theater.  However, pretty much I go anywhere and everywhere when dressed.

Go to accessories for a night out

Need a purse that allows me to have my “tools” or “emergency kit” at the ready.  For makeup repair on the fly, hair fixes, room for my phone, and more…but it must be trendy and in concert with what I am wearing.  And of course, all the other pieces that helps create a “look”.   Earrings, belts, jackets, scarfs and more.  Don’t forget if you are going dancing your heel/shoe choice is also important.

Who is/are your female role model(s) and why?

There are many but if I had to pick one that boosted my confidence, shaped my perspective and helped me grow it is Ashley Graham.

Yes, she is a model, however she pushed the modeling industry to accept and embrace curvier folks.  “Bodies are Beautiful at Every Size” and her book “A New Model:  What Confidence, Beauty and Power Really Look Like” She shares her life lessons, embracing your figure, leaning towards community over competition and focusing on being strong rather than being slim.

Her insight and wisdom have given me strength on my own journey.  I feel more powerful, more comfortable in my own skin and I am living my genuine and authentic self.

Tell us some fun facts about yourself. What are your hobbies (either when dressed or not), likes, things you do in your spare time, or anything else you would like to share?

I love the mountains and the oceans.  Nothing more Zen for me than skiing down or hiking up a mountain.   Meditating on a mountain top or on a vista looking out on the ocean immediately grounds me.

I am a Reiki Master Teacher/Trainer, Bengtson and Color Meditation and Harmony Healer.  Believe it or not, I come from a spiritual psychic family…just naturally gifted in these areas.  This is not a business for me, nor my job…but it is my passion.

And I love the stage…so great theater and live music/dancing brings me joy.

Any stories you would like to share about yourself and your journey?

I have a background in television and theater production and direction.   Many years ago, when I was brave enough to want to venture outside in my Randi femme presentation I frankly was ill equipped to do so.   I could easily create the illusion while performing on stage but doing so in real life left me incredibly insecure and adrift.

I remember traveling to a different city just to go shopping for wigs, shapewear and clothing.  I was so very nervous yet excited to take this big step.  I returned home with bags over-flowing from my trip.   I vividly recall looking at all my purchases and putting them on again and realizing that I had just bought some of the sluttiest outfits ever and that instead of making me feel more comfortable in my own skin, I was just putting a target and spotlight on how I didn’t fit in nor belong in a feminine presentation—I went from excited to sad.

I went back out to the major department stores, the creepy guy walking through the plus size women’s dress department and started shopping again.  Returned home and reviewed my purchases and this time not slutty BUT instead matronly and very old lady.  I was lost.

So, I put my producer skills to the test.  I reached out to professional makeup artists that I knew, and I ran online ads for a personal shopper and more.  In the end I pulled together a rock-star team to help guide and coach me—wardrobe, makeup, wigs and more.  And I learned piece by piece how to put it all together.

Now, many years later I have a pretty good grasp of what is possible, and I coach and assist as many new girls as I can handle.  And I have a go-to team of experts who can help others as well.  It is important to know that you are not alone.   And I have become somewhat of an expert on Facial Feminization Surgery—over the years I have consulted and helped build websites for different FFS Surgeons.

As a former Glamour Girl Contest Winner, what is your advice to capture that perfect photo?

First, we must remember that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  Not every image resonates equally with everyone.  I have some amazing photos that have been duds and some average pics (in my humble opinion) that have been winners.  However, there are some lessons that I can share that could be of use to others.  Here are 5 quick tips to consider.  1) Your Outfit.  It all starts with your outfit, hair, shoes and accessories.  Nail that look first before you worry about taking pictures.  I attempt to pre-produce and pull all items together before I even look at a camera. 2) Lighting.   Lighting matters.  And if you can shoot in natural light, it can be amazing.  Natural light is typically softer and balances the skin tones.  If you cannot shoot in natural light some basic photo/studio lights and even one from Lume that you can put right on your camera helps with a balanced look.  3) Camera.  Shoot with a camera vs. your cell phone.   Your ability to color balance, crop and finish your images have many more options coming out of a camera vs a cell phone. 4) Perspective/Angle.  If you shoot with a selfie-stick or if you have a friend shooting with you, experiment with the angles.  Shooting slightly downwards typically is more flattering.  Be sure to move your head and chin forward as well.  That provides some additional depth in your shots.  5) Volume.  Take tons of pics and then narrow them down to your selects/hero shots.

If you have social media, what is the best way for others to follow you?

Facebook is the best way to follow me or contact me: www.facebook.com/randi.lee.richards/

I try to reply to all messages as quickly as I am able.