If you know or follow me, you'll see that I change my hair as often as President Trump goes on a tirade on Truth Social. As a trans teen, unable to afford (or keep) a wig around, I used head wraps (and still do around the house). And no one could tell me nothing when I put on a Shake-N-Go pixie wig to head out to work or drinks in my early 30s.Oh, simpler times.I've experimented with blonde and brunette hair, both curly and wavy, in various lengths and styles. Still, I tend to prefer lengths of 30 inches or more. In recent years, I've come to understand and embrace the intimate and transformative nature of hairstyling. Each cut, each style, has not only transformed the way I look externally but also feel internally. There's a sense of pride, regality, even giddiness, in every piece I adorn like a crown.Celebrity hairstylist Mariah Molina isn't just styling hair. She's empowering individuals, building connections, and reshaping the beauty industry's landscape towards greater inclusivity and understanding.Kansas-born but Texas-raised, Mariah's clientele ranges from magazines to fashion houses to celebrities. But her earliest clients were her sister's Barbie dolls. "I would take control of them and do all their hair," she recalls. "And before you knew it, all the Barbies were bald at one time." A tap on the wrist aside, Mariah never planned on becoming a hairstylist. But it took a broken heart and a move back home that launched her on her path. Initially going to school for her nail tech license, a chat with a loved one reminded her of her early curiosity with hairstyling.Mariah eventually settled in New York City, where she has worked with clients across entertainment, music, and fashion. She was one of several hairstylists assisting on New York Magazine's annual "Reasons to Love New York" issue, which featured a tribute to 50 years of Saturday Night Live. Captured by renowned photographer David LaChapelle, 60 stars from the show were photographed. "To be among all those celebrities and to style themand get to know them," she recalls, "It was just an iconic moment."[[Embed]]As a stylist and a trans woman, Mariah understands the strength and vulnerability of trusting another with one's hair. She recalls a time when she sought a hairstylist, only to have the lack of communication between them lead to her getting "banana yellow" hair. "I was like, 'no,'" Mariah said. This moment would later serve as a lesson on how she would treat her clients, especially her trans siblings. "So you have to kind of step into their world of individuality to really understand what they want and what they need to have a successful look."And Mariah brings a successful look to life. She's worked many times with New York legend, Lina Bradford, including piecing together three units to create one formidable, fabulous hairdo. The moment was a full circle one, as Mariah fondly remembers watching her in the '95 docufilm, Wigstock: The Movie, as a teenager. The two quickly became friends. Similarly, she's developed a friendship with none other than Anna Delvey. Mariah recalls the Netflix series and the buzz around Anna. "I remember watching her as I sat in front of my television," she reminisces. It was at that moment that she manifested working with this larger-than-life figure. And, not long after, Mariah secured an assignment on Anna's photoshoot for Forbes. "We have a great relationship," she says. Moreover, Anna is a firm trans ally, always pushing Mariah to connect and network whenever and wherever possible.Though there have been joyful moments of working with photographers, people, and talent, Mariah notes there have been some moments of navigating through discomfort. On one set, she experienced what she could only assume was prejudice against her being trans. "I'm very vocal about it," Mariah says. "I don't care who knows." Nevertheless, like every shoot she's on, she continued her work with charm and grace. "When I go into a shoot, I want everybody to be happy," she affirms.Tension on set aside, Mariah admits her luck working in overwhelmingly supportive environments. "I'm fortunate enough to have great people and a team around, to uplift and guide me," she says. With her sense of light and love, Mariah Molina is a trailblazer, with a hair dryer in one hand and hope in another, proving that one's crowning glory isn't in a cut or curl but in one's grace, charm, and never letting someone ruin a good hair day.Voices is dedicated to featuring a wide range of inspiring personal stories and impactful opinions from the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Visit Out.com/submit to learn more about submission guidelines. Views expressed in Voices stories are those of the guest writers, columnists, and editors, and do not directly represent the views of Out or our parent company, equalpride.