Will someone you know recognize you while en femme?

[Iris Tse]

Question for you ladies. Would someone you know well recognize you while en femme? Assuming of course that they were unaware of your CDing. If not an absolute yes or no, then what percentage? Just curious.

[Hell on Heels]

Hell-o Iris,
If you take a look in the pic gallery section, in the stickies
at the top of the page there is a boy/girl mode thread.
Judge for yourself how hard it might be to recognize one of us.
Much Love,
Kristyn

[Iris Tse]

Hello Kristyn, Thanks for the tip. i will check out that thread. Kisses to you too!

-Iris

[prene]

I think 50% for me.
I am tall and have big thighs.
Plus my voice, wish I could change it.
If I stayed in the back and did not stand 10-20%.
Prene

[redtea]

<1% chance of being recognized. I dressed up as a Pirate to a party once wearing a wig and people couldn't figure out it was me.

Aside from that I have been cursed and blessed with a nice butt worthy of being stared at.


Though being a tall "girl" with no breast would likely give me away as a crossdresser though there probably isn't too much correlation between body growth to chest growth

[Curiosity666]

This is a pretty common question, and IMO it has more to do with context than what you actually look like.

If it's a crowded street, I bet I could pass friends in boymode and they wouldn't even notice me. If it was a small pub that I frequented and they could clearly see my face, I doubt they would not notice.

As for girlmode, I feel like it has a little more anonymity as it removes that context. They aren't even thinking of you when they see a girl, or a "man wearing a dress". However if it was a location that you frequent, or you with with mutual friends, or worst case with someone associate with you such as an SO, then the chances of being recognised increase.

[Tracii G]

My daughter and son in law were 4 feet away looked my way and walked right on past me.

[natalie edwards]

I'm 99.9% sure nobody would know me

[alwayshave]

I don't think anyone would recognize me. At least my fiancee states I'm not recognizable.

[Danitgirl1]

So I obviously cannot say whether YOU will be recognised or not because I do not know you, or your friends/family...
BUT I can give you some first hand anecdotes that may help you...
One memorable Saturday I was in the mall with my spouse. The place was PUMPING... In the course of one afternoon I walked past THREE work colleagues. I actually brushed shoulders with one of them, we were that close in the pharmacy. Not one of them recognised me.
One night when on business in Cape Town I sat down at a table in a restaurant. I ordered a drink and started sipping it... I looked up and sitting at the next table was a work colleague. Someone I was going to spend the whole of the next day with... He was facing me and must have seen me... He did not recognise me...
My spouse was catching up on Facebook on her iPad... My 4 year old daughter walked in and asked her 'who is that lady?' It was me... no recognition...
Finally we (my spouse and I) were at the mall last Monday morning. It was VERY quiet... Hardly a soul there. We were walking from one shop to another when we bumped into a former work colleague. One who we have entertained out our house and who we have socialised with a bit... I just carried on walking. She didnt even notice me I don't think, let alone recognise me...
So your chances of being recognised are low imho

[Amy Lynn3]

My adult children see my Amy pictures, mixed in with family pictures all the time. They have never said who is that or is that you Dad ? I doubt if your neighbor saw you at the Mall dressed they would know it was you. Now here is a footnote to that statement.

Note: If they see you in your car they know, I am sure it will raise a question, as to who was driving your car. If you have your dog with you would be another give away. Be careful in these areas, because it does not take much for people to figure it out.

[Sara Jessica]

If anyone I know were to see me more than a passing glance, I'm guessing at about 99% certainty that I'd be recognized because I don't wear a wig.

[Jackie7]

they will read me as a man in a dress but not recognize me, I've had many experiences encountering people who know me in one mode and don't recognize me in the other. Lotta fun actually.

[Pat]

Depends on you, depends on them, depends on the environment, depends on the extent to which you dress (wigs seem to make you almost unrecognizable, maybe because people don't expect men's hairstyle and color to change,) depends on other physical cues you may have and to some extent depends on what you mean by the question. It's more probable that they'd recognize they're looking at a crossdresser than that they'd recognize the crossdresser is specifically you. I've heard lots of stories of people not being recognized while out crossdressed.

There's really only one way to find out. ;)

[Elizabeth G]

I think I would be pretty recognizable although maybe it's just me. When I look at myself in girl mode I don't get that OMG! moment, I still largely see myself. Maybe I'll post to the boy/girl thread and see what others think.

[DIANEF]

The only person who I ever showed a picture of Diane to, apart from on this forum, was a work colleague. She believed me when I told her it was my wife.

[Ceera]

Unlikely. My femme self looks 15 to 20 years younger, and has a less ruddy complexion and no bags under her eyes. And a full head of hair plus female curves plus a confident female attitude and voice goes a long way to making the connection difficult to make.

A lesbian GG friend of my femme side that's known Ceera for over a year, and who had never seen me as a male but knows I am Trans, recently commented that she doubted she would recognize me if we passed on the street and I was in male mode. I showed her a pic of me in a business suit and presenting male, and her reaction was "Oh, hell no! I would have walked right by you! Please don't be offended, but my mind would have read you as 'straight white male' and I would have not recognized you at all."

A GG neighbor who had only seen me in male mode didn't realize it was me in female mode when I answered the door en-femme and invited her inside to talk about a fence replacement project, until we had chatted for several minutes in my home, and then she saw my daughter walk into the room and realized she wasn't talking to her male neighbor's daughter, as she had assumed. She knew that the male owner of the home was a widowed guy who lived with his daughter, so if the other person was that daughter, then the older 'lady' had to be... OH! (She was quite accepting, once she knew and we chatted about it.)

My sister found my female side FB page and put it together, but likely only because of the amount of information on that page. She knew the name as one I had used for a female gaming character, and the birth date and city I lived in matched. But I suspect that if she had seen me on the street and wasn't expecting her brother to be there, she would not have recognized me.

[sara66]

For most of us I think 90% unlikely. I went in and purchased a new wig, went and changed and came back dressed about an hour later and they did not recognize me until I spoke. Can't change the voice.
Mind you I 6' tall and almost 300lbs.
Sara

[XemmaX]

possibly..

[jessica33]

Years ago I went to KMart store in the middle of the work as Jessica . I saw my next door neighbor(wife ) in the card section . She glanced at me for a second and continue on with her business . I walked pass her and she did not even give me a second look . She walked pass me when I tried a pair of pumps , again , no reaction from her . I don't think your friends or neighbors would recognize you unless they see you in a familiar setting , your own car , house , with your SO .

[Robertacd]

It would depend on how well I did my hair and makeup. I have walked right up to a co-worker once when dressed on Halloween. He didn't recognize me until I spoke, and even then I could tell he was unsure until I told him who I was.

[carhill2mn]

Whether or not someone you know would recognize while en femme depends a great deal on your presentation. I have been seen many times by people who know my male self and have even spoken to a few and have never been recognized.

[Mickitv]

While en femme I was would say yes people would recognize me. However, I have had professional makeovers by good quality makeup artists and I did not recognize me.

[NikkiS]

While en femme I was would say yes people would recognize me. However, I have had professional makeovers by good quality makeup artists and I did not recognize me.

Agree... quality of makeup will be the biggest factor in getting recognized or not.

[Cheryl T]

If I were talking and didn't see them first they might have a clue.
Otherwise I think anyone would be hard pressed to recognize me under my makeup and wig.

If I were out with my wife they would recognize her and that would clue them in, but we generally don't stay that close while shopping and have little signals should we spot someone we know.

[Lana Mae]

When I came out to my sister in law, I gave her a picture like my avatar and told her it was someone she knew! She was totally stumped! I then told her it was me!
Recently my son came to visit, I was out to him verbally but he had never seen Lana Mae! I showed him most of my pics( various shots from the transformation!) and he said he would walk right past me on the street if I looked like that! I think the make up and the wig will make or break you! IMHO Hugs Lana Mae

[NancySue]

My wife doesn't think so 😉 She checks me over and may make a suggestion or two. I follow her advice always. Sometimes, I like to dress a little more...makeup, heels, hose, etc., which we both feel would attract. We live in a small town where everyone's business is known. Discovery would not be good. We are careful when we go out, usually out of town to a shopping center to shop, dine and see a movie. I've seen a few people I knew...from a distance..so far, so good.

[Kate Simmons]

It's highly doubtful unless they would hear my voice. I look nothing like Rich en femme. :battingeyelashes::)

[sometimes_miss]

I'm a quite large hulking presence. I'd be unmistakable for anything other than a man in a dress, and my body type & size is past the 99th percentile. People recognize me from behind from a distance at flea markets, bank lines, from a block away, etc.. So, yeah, I'd be spotted pretty quick. While being huge is a definite advantage in some situations, when trying for anonymity is not one of those times. When I was at a flea market with someone, and she wanted to go look at something a bit far away, I told her to just call my cell phone when she was done, in order to find me. Her response, 'Oh, that's not necessary. I just look for one of the heads poking out from the top of the crowd'. This had never occurred to me before, as to me, I have to look through a whole crowd when trying to find an average sized person. But when looking for someone significantly taller, it's pretty easy to spot us.

[TrishaLake]

I think more women would recognize me then men. No-one would think I Crossdress , so that would throw them as well.

[Jodi]

Recognition would not depend upon looks, but giveaways would be voice, and body gestures.

jodi

[Michelle (Oz)]

Not so far in over 1000 outings. Of course I don't speak to anyone I know that would be a give away.

[Nikki A.]

I don't think that I look that different, but we are our toughest critics. Twice when I dressed for Halloween once at a party and another time I went to another office at work. Both times it took people a couple of minutes to figure out who I was ( both times it was when I opened my mouth). Another time was when I came out to my accountant, she had no idea who was waiting for her ( she was expecting me not Nikki). All these situations were early on in my dressing. My accountant now says I am doing a much better presentation, which is encouraging.
Basically, when you add a wig, a little body shaping, boobs and make up, the cues are female and that is what most people will see. However your car may out you, or if you're with your SO then people may look for you if they see her.

[Diane Smith]

The one time I ran into a work colleague while out and about, she recognized me instantly. (And wasn't freaked at all. We had a nice conversation.) I wasn't wearing wigs then but still trying to fake it with my receding male hair. I think it would be more difficult to recognize me nowadays, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.

- Diane

[mbmeen12]

It so dynamic that I would get that double take look.

[Teresa]

Iris,
To me the answer is no.
I came out to some very old friends they thought my pictures were a lady I was having an affair with until I spelt it out to them .

Many people don't expect it so they find it hard to believe, OK it is very flattering when people don't know .

[Rachael Leigh]

I've always believed nobody would know me unless they interacted with me close up. I don't 100 percent pass but I do look
just different enough that they might think I look like someone but I think maybe 30 percent chance they would know

[Alice Torn]

I do not go out very often, maybe 3 to 6 times a year. i surely hope no one i know recognizes me, as if my brother and sister, and relatives on my late dad's side of the family, and locals found out, my life would be far more difficult, and i would have to move away.

[Elizabeth G]

Now I'm not so sure about my earlier statement about being really recognizable. I sort of had the reverse situation happen to me. I was in drab tonight at my favorite consignment boutique when in walked the makeup artist who has done makeovers for me three times, most recently was two days in a row about a week and a half ago. She has never seen me in drab before. She has seen me without makeup but otherwise fully dressed. She walked right past me within two feet and didn't recognize me at all, so maybe I'll do better than I originally thought I would when it eventually happens.

[CynthiaD]

i doubt it. This has happened to me, and they never gave me a second glance.

[ChristinaK]

So, recently I went to group therapy and a strange woman, very attractive, sat down next to me. In the discussion, it was revealed that I am a man. She told me that she thought I had. Better makeup than her and never realized I was a man.

Fast forward to the next week, different meeting and I'm in man mode. She walks up to me and says she met me the previous week at a meeting. I didn't recognize her, but she recognized me even though I was in man mode! Doh! That really upset me inside, but when I thought about it, my hair was almost the same, I'm 6ft 1in and broad shouldered.

I think if I had worn a wig I would have been less recognizable, but it has made me feel more vulnerable when out and about.

[robbieatbest]

Yes I am quite sure those who know me as male would recognise me dressed as a woman.

[BillieAnneJean]

I was at a club dancing enfemme. A woman I have known for 35 years was dancing just next to me. My SO was dancing about four feet away from me and facing the other direction. They have also known each other for 35 years. We are rather close friends. During a lull in the music my SO and our friend had a conversation that evolved in to laughter. I thought maybe I had been outed so I talked to that friend. She was SHOCKED that she had been dancing next to a 6'2" (in heels) CDer, wearing a color coordinated outfit and hat totally unlike any other woman in the place who were all wearing baggy this n that. AND that it was a CDer and ME! Yes I outed myself.

The thing is you do a good enough job drawing the focus to what you WANT them to see, and they will see just that. As long as you keep it short. Obviously if you had a conversation or ate a meal with them you couldn't keep up the ruse.

[Cherylgyno]

Iris. I am 6'6" 250 lbs. I stick out like a sore thumb in and out of femme. Now I have D cup breasts due to gynecomastia. A sore thumb is invisible next to me.
Oh and all of my heels are 4-7". As a joke my wife posted a sign on our ceiling fans "Caution low bridge".

[Nikki A.]

I remember that I was at a gay club (CD weekend) and ran into two of my daughter's teachers, one that I knew well. I stopped and said hello and he had no idea I was until I threw in some clues. So I guess I do look different

[susan54]

The most likely way to get recognised is via your car, dog or partner. If you are alone and on foot most people would recognise someone they know by their hair, clothes, voice or walk and if you have change all four you are likely to be OK. I have been in the presence of people who know me and not rumbled. I think the most likely way to be rumbled is to go to a small function, with fewer than 20 people. First they will notice you are a man and then wonder if they know you and the slightest cue can remind them of someone they know and then they will look for more evidence. I try to avoid such gatherings because of this. On the other hand I have gone out to restaurants knowing a friend or colleague could be at the next table which carries a similar risk. But I now prefer going out and about as Susan far from home - the preference is in the build up rather than the reality - I find that once I am completely dressed I am also completely relaxed in public - it is the thought of going out and getting past the neighbours in bulky outerwear and make-up that I hate, as well as the final transformation in a laybye. Once my wig and lipstick are on and my baggy trousers are off I am flying.

[Krisi]

This is a question with no possible answer. Walking down the street, if someone I know walked or drove by, I am confident that they wouldn't recognize me. Sitting in a restaurant eating a meal with them across the aisle for several minutes, there is a possibility that they would eventually recognize me. So, the direct answer is; "It depends."

[sherri]

When I was younger I'd say 60/40 odds they wouldn't, maybe even 70/30. Nowadays I'd say 50/50 at best, maybe worse. As others have said, a lot depends on context, circumstances, etc. My outings are always in a nearby city and the chance encounters with acquaintances from home have been in clubs, with only a couple in stores. Some have recognized me, some haven't. One interesting thing I've experienced, people who had only ever seen me as Sherri clocked me immediately the very few times they've seen me in male mode, whereas I think people would have had to study me a moment in a vice versa situation. My SOP rule is if it matters, err on the side of caution. I've had to leave a club or store when I spotted someone I absolutely didn't want to clock me, but that's been rare. Usually if it's a gay person in a gay club I figure our secret is pretty safe.

[Tracy Irving]

Assuming I make every effort to blend:

If they are at my house, I would hope so.
Seeing me at a store or restaurant, maybe.
Walking past me at a major sporting event, probably not.

[Alice_2014_B]

I've been told by friends that know I dress up that they would never recognize me all dolled up.
One main thing is that I wear glasses 99% of the time as a guy, 1% eye comtacts.
Those percentages are reversed when in girl-mode.

:)

[Beverley Sims]

I was dressed androgynously once and I was not recognised then.....

When I was eighteen even my girlfriend at the time spent an hour or more looking or me at a party.

I had been made up by others and she was to meet me at the party.

We had only been going together for a month and her girlfriends wanted to play a mean trick on her.

It did not work as my girlfriend was pleased to have another girlfriend that really cared for her and pay for her going to the movies. :-)

Talk about a win, win.

[jazzysherry]

I came out as CD to a friend early last year and we agreed to meet for dinner a few days later at a restaurant in London with me dressed. He was running late so I took my place at the table. When he arrived - he couldn't find me!! I had to frantically wave to show him where I was.

I fly quite a bit as Sherry and on a couple of recent trips to and from a conference I found myself on the same flights a many people who know the other me. I even walked right past one when leaving the loo - nothing said and I can only assume they really don't see anything.

[Marianne S]

I don't know if they'd recognize me or not... today, that is, in the flesh. However...

On a coffee table in the living room are a couple of framed photographs, including myself and my wife when we were younger... and one of me as Marianne. It's there on open display, but so far no-one has ever come close to realizing that's me!

Now I admit it was taken over thirty years ago, and I was wearing contact lenses at the time, whereas today I wear eyeglasses. Then too, my own hair is very fine and brown. When I was nineteen, a friend of mine prophesied that I'd be bald by the time I was thirty. I'm glad to say that didn't happen, but in recent years I confess that I have balded very significantly, while in the photograph I have long thick curly blonde hair. On top of that, many people have known me in later years with a beard. So compared with my recent appearance, that photograph is heavily disguised!

If anyone asks who it is, I'll simply tell them "that's our friend Marianne." Anyway it is amusing to see if anybody ever does spot a likeness to myself!

[jodylynn113]

I would say people who know me well would say yes as they have seen me out dressed and have walked up to me dressed and talked to me but I'm not sure people who don't know about Bethany would recognize me

[Stephanie Julianna]

A simple 'NEVER'. I have actually run into my old boss at a jewelry counter at Macy's once. We drove to work together for years at this time and we ended up shoulder to shoulder at the jewelry counter while I was out dressed. She looked right at me and I moved over so she could look at the counter. She never even hesitated and continued shopping. I then went to the ladies' room to clean myself up. Another time I dressed as a female nurse at work for Halloween at a subacute wing I worked on. My supervisor that I was a new hire. I truly never worry about being recognized.

[ToniG]

Probably not. DO tend to travel to distant places Only in daytime, with Large Frame Designer Shades on that cover my face. Keeping speaking to a minimum helps. Toni G..

[Stephanie47]

Aside from my six foot, 200 pound body the answer is a definite yes. People are really good at facial recognition. I can easily identity people walking towards or anyway from me. I have to assume the same. There are many beautiful ladies who post pictures. They have a small petite frame. Not too tall. Slip them into a dress and heels, not pants, and, I think they would not be readily identified. We tall ones just attract the scanning eyes of the public.

[fantasticsix]

My car will be my giveaway one of these days. I drive a rather distinctive bright yellow Mustang and sooner or later a friend or neighbor is going to see a woman driving this car and wonder why...

[DaisyLawrence]

No they don't.

[Helen_Highwater]

Not that long ago I attended a CD social evening. Some of those attending changed on the premises. At the end of the evening 2 gurls went into the changing rooms and a little later 2 gentlemen walked out.

My inital thought was, "Where did these blokes come from?" But then the penny dropped and I realised it was the 2 CD'ers back to drab. The transformation was dramatic. If I hadn't seen them exit the changing rooms but instead passed them on the street I doubt I'd have made the connection.

Now the difference is of course I didn't know either of them previously so if it had been me seeing them enfemme for the first time would I have instantly recognised them. My instinct is to say up close, face to face, yes. Passing by in a crowded street, mmm not so sure.

[Babbs]

it depends on the level of dress/makeup. If I go all out with makeup, wig , breast forms, padded girdle, full female dress ensemble, walk-stand-sit in femme mode, then it is not likely someone will recognize me, maybe 10% would. But as soon as I open my mouth and speak, that would surely give it away.

I feel the same way about a stranger recognizing that I'm not a girl with the % jumping to maybe 25%

[Danielle_cder]

It’s a pretty good disguise, I mean you are changing perceived gender! I’ve walked right past my mother, friends and never got so much as a rise from them! So from my experiences no, but that doesn’t mean in the future I would get away with it.

[EliseMichelle]

I'm in the same boat as Stephanie. It's kind of hard not to get read when you're 6'1", 212 lbs and have definite male features such as a prominent adam's apple. That's why I'm still deep in the closet and doubt I'll ever venture out dressed.

[Teresa]

To give an updated answer it would still be NO .

When we moved venues for our social group Carole and I met the function manager, she is lovely. We were in drab and I commented that this may be the last time she would recognise me. Just before Xmas I met up with Carole who was sorting some last minute details with the manager , I was wearing the outfit in my avatar. I slipped my coat off and sat next to them and said , " Hello ****** she looked and said Hello back , I then added," you don't recognise me , do you ? I said you wouldn't !" The penny dropped because of my voice , the look on her face was priceless !

[Peggie Lee]

I came out to my weekend coffee group at the local Mac D's, and they were surprised all right but were also very accepting. In the past there is one fellow that comes in and if seeing me will turn around leave, this morning he came over sat down with us and chatted for 25 minutes as if I were someone new to the group, finally one of the others asked him why he sit down with me there, the look on his face was priceless, he just got up and left, it certainly made my weekend.
Passing for 25 minutes while talking to someone that doesn't like you tells me I am making good progress on my transition.

[Shelly Preston]

The simple answer is some will and some wont.

The vast majority wont recognize you unless you are really close up and they know quite well.

It happened to a friend of mine when we were out having dinner. She was asked if she was formerly known as ********. However the person asking did not know me but they should have.

[Dana44]

I would say no. I have been identified as a femlale many times out and about.

[Sarah Doepner]

This is a reverse side to the question. I've been going to DLV for a long time and used to just spend 2 or 3 days there. When I first spent 5 days I had to take a day off to give my face a chance to recover from the close shaves. I still wanted to go out and went to a mall where others were getting makeovers. When I went to compliment a friend I had to bring out my name tag so she understood I wasn't a total stranger. That's happened a couple of other times when I've encountered someone who has only known me as Sarah and I end up being there as Dave.

When I dress and do my makeup I always keep that in mind, but have the big and tall thing going as well, so it's possible I'd be recognized if they had more than a few moments to look at me. I haven't seen anyone who knows me when I've been out dressed, so that question has not been tested yet. I'll let you know when it happens.

[Karmen]

I don't know, but I thing they would, because my facial features are quite obvious and not very feminine. I don't think I can hide them with makeup and a wig with long hair, but it's enough that I won't be spotted a mile away and I could hide or change my course before meeting them face to face. But I still hope I'm lucky enough I won't meet someone I know face to face to check that out.

[Alice B]

For me the odds are - No. I have been in several situatiions where people I knew did not recognize me until I talked to them and a couple of them were still not sure.

[Emily Barton]

I think this really depends, but mostly I think I'd have to say "no".

Certainly not from the right picture - we tested it at uni when I wasn't out to many people and had just done my first photoshoot. My uni friend sent a picture to a few of our friends asking what they thought and no one smelled a rat.

In real life it's definitely closer. When I first dressed up at a work party one of my friends told me a funny story afterwards. We were all congregated in the lobby and I'd arrived a bit late. He heard my voice behind him and turned to find me, but was then baffled as I wasn't anywhere. I had my back to him, and with my dress, wig and heels he didn't stand a chance!

If I had to interact with them in any way, then they certainly would because of my voice! Even if we weren't speaking and were just close-quarters, like in a lift or something, I think most people would realise. But passing by on the street? Nah, no way.

[tylia]

I think there are physical characteristics that may make some of us recognizable for sure, even from a distance.......I really need to work on my femme walk

[Becky Blue]

I would like to think not, i think I look totally different, I have yet to test that hypothesis and hopefully never get to do that.

[rachel_rachel]

I'm paranoid that people are looking and I think that might be evident.

[JustJoni]

Well, perhaps not at first. But then again, most of my friends have seen me dressed (albeit in costume) on Halloween, so that may actually work towards being recognized. Of course I try not to frequent places I know my friends or family usually go to while dressed. However, the law of averages says, at some point, if I go out enough, I will run across someone I know.

My wife suggests that she may actually be my biggest tell out. She figures I may be in better camouflage if I am not seen with her, as the eye/brain will pick up the female she is with just happens to be me, lol.

[Ressie]

They might if they come face to face with me. And suddenly being face to face with someone you know can happen. As beautiful as I am, some of my men friends might approach and hit on me! ;)

[Rollermiss]

My guess is that I am at about a 10-20% chance I would be recognized, especially with the people I work with. Hence Why I don't go out here in town. My partner did, in about 2 seconds, he just raised his head looked at me then put his head down, moaned and went back to sleep. It may have been I came from our bedroom not outside but who knows.

Kelsey

[BrendaPDX]

If I took time with my makeup, and hadn't dressed in a hurry, no. If I opened my mouth, they would know something was up, but probably still wouldn't recognize me. Thanks for the fun question. Brenda

[StephanieCLT]

I'd like to think no, as my biggest fear is someone putting two and two together and being outed, whether it's via a picture or a real life interaction. The one affirmation I got was recently. I was on a plane, in male mode, sitting next to a nice woman about my age. For some reason, as we were talking, I got the urge to show her some of my pictures on my laptop. I asked her if she recognized the girl in the pictures, and her response was that she looked familiar, but couldn't place her. I just smiled and said, "look me in the face." :) So, that was good!

[Mickitv]

Without a professional makeover I believe someone would recognize me. I try to stay true to who I am when I do makeup.

[Susan Smokes]

For me I would say 50/50. My image as a crossdresser is on social media, so I think at some point I will be discovered.

[Karmen]

That's the only reason why I don't use any social media or upload my photos in female clothes to the internet. I had a FB account at start, but soon discovered that FB started suggesting to my friends and family this female account as potential friend, even I used separate web browsers for different accounts. After that, I disabled my female account.

[Alenko]

I don't know. But when I show a before and after picture, people freak out.

[IleneD]

I just had one of these.....YESTERDAY. I posted about it in another thread but I'll reprise it for this string.

I went to get my nails done; mani/pedi. I deliberately went to a new shop that was a distance not too close to my residence. I even scouted it out a couple hours before I showed up en femme. I thought all was cool.
A man stepped out of the back and sat down at a workstation at the far end of the shop. He sat down and began styling a set of acrylic nails on another customer. The man was also my next door neighbor. I was so startled that I spoke his name out loud to myself. He heard me make a sound and looked my way but never gave much notice to me otherwise.
My neighbor is Vietnamese. Very nice man and we see each other outside, as neighbors do. His English is very poor and it's difficult to hold even a short conversation with him. I figured out from the interactions with the other employees that it was one of his shops.

I was already in-deep on the nails and couldn't walk out of the shop. I finished. As I was sitting in the chair, when Neighbor donned his jacket to leave. As he walked past he stopped and looked at me and said, "Do you know me?". I could tell from his face that he had NOT made me at all (behind the wig and makeup), so I didn't depart my Ilene character and "tell on myself". All I could say was " No, I was just saying hi." He turned, shook his head a little, took one more look and walked out. Nothing else.

I could not believe it. He was maybe 4 ft from me. I know he's seen me face to face many times and heard my voice. I wouldn't be surprised if somehow it all dawned on him later when he reflected upon the encounter. (I'm not too worried about being out-ed to him. Who's he going to tell? He speaks almost no English.) But within the context of a chance meeting and me being entirely en femme, it didn't register with him at all.

[Glenda58]

I was in the mall shopping when my EX girl friend walked by. Was waiting for her to yell out there's that CD. But she just walked by didn't even take a second look. I don't think most would back then but now that I'm older someone might.

[Bianca Fay]

I've still very much in the CD closet & have never been en femme in public. In fact, I'm still working on aquiring complete outfits & only one person in this world knows my secret, but I very much want to step out someday.
If I ever get the courage, I think I'd go to a nearby city other than where I live to avoid being recognized.
The trick would be remembering to 'blend' & resisting the urge to wear a LBD & stilletos during the afternoon.
My hat's off to you ladies who've found the courage to take the plunge.

[Sarah Doepner]

I went to see my therapist since my last post. A lot of good discussion and suggestions, but that's for another post. He has seen me both as Dave and as Sarah and went into some detail telling me how "transformative" (his word) my presentation is and he doubted that family members would recognize me at first. I'm not paying him for false praise, so I hope that was an honest response. I still think I'm easily recognized as not a genetic woman, just maybe not as easily identified with specificity.

[Karen RHT]

I've yet to attain the knowledge and level of skill with makeup that is required to hide my male mug well enough not to be recognized by those who know me. I've been amazed by many of the "boy mode vs girl mode" pics I've seen on this site and others. More power to those of you who have reached that level of success, but one look at my avatar gives one a pretty good idea of how relatively easy it would be for those who know me to recognize me.


Karen

[Taylor186]

I would say that outside of my hometown someone I know would not recognize me even though I do not blend in.

I will add that I was a member of a CD social/support group a few years ago and met a lot of people not knowing where they lived. One Sunday at church, while not paying much attention, I heard a familiar voice at the front microphone during congregation share time. It caught me by surprise so I looked to the speaker and immediately knew that it was someone from my CD group. I had seen this person at church many times but had never heard him talk until that moment.

My conclusion: your voice will out you to an acquaintance more quickly than your look, and, of course, having your wife by your side will out you too.

[nikkiwindsor]

I'll share a little story and you can draw your own conclusions. Many years ago, my daughter, who at the time was in her early teens (and as with almost all adolescents, full of curiosity and questions), stumbled across some pics on our home computer of me en femme. Fortunately, the pictures were not taken inside our home or any other place frequented or would be recognized by my daughter. She asked my wife (her mom) who the woman in the pictures was and my wife worked hard to keep a straight face while explaining that the pics were of someone who was a family friend. You can imagine the scolding (putting it too mildly b/c she was seething) I received from my wife.

[IleneD]

...stumbled across some pics on our home computer of me en femme. ...... You can imagine the scolding (putting it too mildly b/c she was seething) I received from my wife.

While I have shared a story below on how a neighbor failed to make me out, I too have an example of being made by a 6 yr old, quite similar to what happened to you, Nikki. And mine ended with a disastrous break in the budding new CD relationship I had just revealed to The Wife. A bad mistake.

I left a photo (actually 2) of me dressed on The Cloud (to make the long explanation on "how" to be short). I thought I'd truly transferred them all off common photo storage points. And it was about 3 months after I'd Come Out to my wife; so we were still dealing with a very delicate and tenuous approval of being CD.

My daughter, granddaughter and sister-in-law were visiting. We have a feature on our TV that scrolls photo albums from my hard drive or internet. I was upstair showering and not with them when it happened. A photo of me in one of my new dresses and my new wig popped up on the TV.
The ladies and my wife were not gazing upon the TV at the time, but apparently my 6 yr old granddaughter was. When the picture appeared on the 65 in screen she exclaimed out loud "Hey, that's Boppa in a dress!" She knew. Of course it was my first wig and I was new to makeup, and I do have a rather distinct face. But even a 6 yr old could see Me.
Of course The Wife was "blown away" embarrassed and quite angry about it. It was a (bad) turning point in our relationship with regards to dealing with my CD and possible transgender issues. I regret the mistake, that's for certain. Now.... at the core of nearly all our discussions about WHERE we as a couple are going with this CD life there is the implicit requirement for Information Control; for keeping this in the house and only to those with a strong need to know. She has been all about security. I, on the other hand, am all about GOING OUT and being Ilene.
But.... lesson learned. Mistakes are costly.