VR: Who is Raquel Reyes and where did she grow up?
RR: I was born and raised in Tampa, Fl. My parents were both born in America but my heritage is predominately Cuban and Italian with some German and Irish further down the line. I have two sisters. I'm close to my family.

VR: Where are you living these days?
RR: I spend most of my time (when I'm not traveling) in The Florida Keys. I'm an island girl at heart..

VR: I know this is a hard question, but can you tell us what your life has been about, say the last 10 or so years?
RR: I have had enough life experience in the last decade to last a lifetime. I have always believed that being true to yourself is what's best, in every sense, COME WHAT MAY. I was very young and inexperienced when I decided that I wanted to be a girl. I was always passable and the more comfortable I became, the more confident I became. Then came the beauty, the body and a whole new world of possibilities. I experienced everything that life had to offer and I took everything to the absolute EXTREME. By my early twenties I had been around the world twice. I did it ALL. I learned from my mistakes but I wouldn't change a thing.

VR: When you were a child growing up and each morning you would look in the mirror did you feel that was the wrong person looking back at you?
RR: I never related to myself in those terms. I never looked in the mirror and thought "I SHOULD BE A GIRL." I knew that I was a boy. I did feel feminine. I had fantasies. But it wasn't until years later- when I actually saw a transsexual- that I decided I wanted to be a woman.

VR: When you were a small, did you do all the things a little boy did, you know sports and rough housing and stuff like that?
RR: God, no. I played Wonder Woman and ran around the house pretending to be Cher. My poor mother. She was at the end of her rope. She didn't know what to do with me.

VR: At what age did you feel you should have been a girl and not a boy?
RR: Personally, I CHOSE to be a woman. I was 17.

VR: Who was your inspiration growing up?
RR: I have always been partial to classic film stars, even as a child- my favorites were Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield, Mamie Van Doren, Sophia Loren and Rita Hayworth.

VR: You have a really beautiful body, at what age did you start taking hormones?
RR: I was 18 when I started hormones.

VR: How old were you when you first started living as a woman?
RR: 18

VR: When did you start being an internet model?
RR: My website went online in the Summer of 1999

VR: Have you ever done any print media type modeling and if so what magazine?
RR: I have been on over two dozen magazine covers throughout the world. I have been featured in Australian Penthouse, V2, Sex In The City (New York Publication Named After The Show) etc..

VR: How does it feel to be one of the most downloaded models on the internet?
RR: I'm proud of what I have done with TSGODDESS. It really is in a class of it's own. It's a huge success and I am thankful for that.

VR: What has been your biggest accomplishment to date?
RR: Coming to terms with who I am… and being happy.

VR: Do you have any pet peeves?
RR: I cant stand a mess. I'm a neat freak.

VR: Do you think you are a nice person or do you think you can be a bitch at times?
RR: I think we can all be bitchy at times… but overall, I'm a person with qualities that I admire in others. I am honest, compassionate and dedicated.

VR: What do you think makes you stand out above others in your field of endeavor?
RR: CLASS AND INTELLIGENCE. THE BEAUTY ONLY GETS YOU SO FAR.

VR: Do you get nervous when you are asked to speak to a group or perform on stage?
RR: No, I have always been an extrovert. I'm an articulate person. I'm a writer. Public speaking does not intimidate me.

VR: Do you ever get invited to do any of the adult conventions in Las Vegas and if so what are the like?
RR: I am always invited. I have been once. I'm not in the industry of making adult films. So beating off every producer and filmmaker whose looking for "the next big thing" isn't really my idea of a good time. I'll leave that to the others. I don't want to be the star of Transsexual Prostitutes 569.

VR: Would you ever get SRS(reassignment surgery)?
RR: Probably but for now, I'm happy with the way I am.

VR: Are you in love now and if so can you tell us a little bit about him?
RR: I don't usually discuss my relationship but for you Vicki, I will make an exception. I am and he is a real man. He is honest, deeply caring and devastatingly handsome.

VR: Who do you admire these days?
RR: I love Angelina Jolie. At first, it was a physical thing. I find her so beautiful. But the more I read about her, the more I learn. She is a true humanitarian. Her work with children and the poor in third world countries is truly inspiring.

VR: Where do you see yourself in the future?
RR: I see myself happy, settled, content… everything I am now.

VR: As a transgendered person do you think you have received proper respect you deserve in life?
RR: There have definitely been moments when respect was sorely missed. But overall, I have been afforded luxuries in life that most genetic women will never experience. I have known amazing people from all walks of life. I have been treated with kindness and generosity by nearly every person that has ever mattered to me.

VR: What do you think you have to offer the transgender community, anything at all?
RR: I'm not sure I have anything to offer. The problem with most people in the transgendered community is that they believe that "working girls" and by "working girls" I don't necessarily mean escorts or call girls but any girl that is working in any adult related business (adult films, internet, etc..) give transsexuals a bad name and continue to reinforce the same old stereotype. I believe that we are all here to live our lives. Some of us may choose a different path than others but in the end I would like to be remembered as an example of someone who stayed true to themselves. I will always make my choices based on how they will affect me and the ones I care about FIRST. What society thinks is of no consequence to me. How is that for honesty?

VR: What words of wisdom would you give to someone who is reaching out for help?
RR: Help is there… you just have to look for it.. And once you find it, be open to receiving it. Don't ever make the mistake of thinking that you weren't meant to be happy just because you were born in the wrong body. Happiness is what you make of it and you can do anything and be anything you want to be.. And if that's a woman, don't let anyone tell you differently.

VR: Do you have a final statement, for our readers?
RR: FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK YOU VICKI FOR BEING ONE OF MY STRONGEST SUPPORTERS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. YOU HAD A LARGE INTERNET PRESENCE LONG BEFORE I DID AND YOU WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING ME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE WORLD WIDE WEB. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF TSGODDESS AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL ENJOY ALL OF MY SUPRISES FOR 2005. THE PICS I HAVE INCLUDED WITH THIS INTERVIEW ARE ALL BRAND NEW AND EXAMPLES OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND ART THAT I WILL BE PRODUCING THIS YEAR. KISSES TO ALL…

Note from Vicki Rene: About 5 or 6 years ago I got this email from this girl telling me how much she liked my site and would it please be possible to have a picture of her on it. Well at that time the only section I really had was "Prettiest of the Pretty". She also explained to me that she was an "adult model".

I had to think about it because that section was not like that and at that time I was not ready to start a new section.

I thought and thought about it and then I decided to look at the picture! Once I picked myself up off the floor and new I had found the girl of my dreams<smile> there was no question she was going on my site....

That was a few years ago, we have been great friends ever since...I have gone to her on a couple of occation and told her I need some help from her for my site, both times for "Lady of the Month" and bingo, 12 new pictures were on my computer the next day.

Raquel is someone I would do almost anything for. Look up the words "Loyal Friend" in the dictionary and you will truely find her name next to those words.