Believe it or not, it’s already been two years since Dylan Mulvaney first graced TikTok For You Pages with her “Days of Girlhood” series, in which she documented the process of her gender transition.
Since then, Mulvaney has become a household name, accumulating over 10 million TikTok followers.
To celebrate the two-year milestone of her transition, as well as honor the painful parts of the past year, Mulvaney — who has a background in musical theater — released a new single.
It’s aptly titled “Days of Girlhood,” and all profits it earns through Pride Month will be donated to The Trevor Project.
“I also want to celebrate the Trevor Project, which is an incredible organization offering crisis management resources to the LGBTQ youth,” she said in an Instagram video in collaboration with the nonprofit.
“I also wanted to let you know that every time that you stream my song or use it on a social media app, any profits that I make through Pride Month, I will be donating to the Trevor Project.”
Building on themes of support and resilience in the LGBTQ+ community, Mulvaney’s song is an upbeat anthem to all the women who have uplifted her thus far in her transition.
“Every day, every night / rise and shine, yeah, all mine / thick or thin, I’ll be alright / got my dolls by my side,” she sings atop a meaty guitar track and bounding bass line.
It’s an appropriate celebration for a year that Mulvaney said consisted of a lot of pain.
“I think the theme of this last year was pain. And it's not a bad thing, but it was so contrasting to the joy and ecstasy that I experienced in those early days, that it was almost comical, but also heartbreaking at times,” she said in the aforementioned video.
“I was trying to protect myself while also realizing that my actions could directly affect a lot more people than just me. And feeling that pressure build, I would often shut down and disassociate. But other times, I owned my pain, and I grew a thousand times stronger.”
Mulvaney’s most notable brush with pain came last spring when she shared a brand partnership with Bud Light. Quickly, the brand experienced boycotts from anti-trans customers and dropped Mulvaney from the partnership, leading to relentless online harassment for the singer and digital creator.
She recounted months of healing that came after this harassment (harassment that continues even this week, as Lady Gaga was met with hateful comments after posting a photo with Mulvaney).
Mulvaney said she has spent the past year building meaningful relationships, embracing her earnestness, and learning what “hyper-feminine” things she truly loves — not just what she thinks she needs to embrace to feel validated in her transness.
“This might be the most ridiculous thing I have ever said, but stay with me: Going blonde, like, saved my life,” she said. “I needed to do something that made me feel I had power over my body.”
Now, with her Barbie-inspired hair and joyfully pink aesthetic, Mulvaney has pivoted to consulting work, helping brands work to be more effective and responsible allies to the transgender community.
“I feel really responsible for the onslaught of transphobia that retroactively became corporations pulling support from queer and trans talent last year,” Mulvaney said in her Instagram video.
“I want to use what I went through as a way to help companies and executives learn what not to do when including trans people in their marketing campaigns.”
She also spoke about how she wants to make Broadway and musical theater more inclusive to trans performers, as well as a list of other desires for the year ahead.
“I would like to see some healing in the media and some olive branches. I would like for transness to be less political, no more anti-trans bills, no politician’s platforms debating our existence,” she said. “I want everything to hopefully be okay eventually. We're getting there.”
Comments flooded in under the video, from celebrities and everyday fans alike.
“You inspire me so much,” actor Joe Locke commented. “I’m so glad you’re in my life, my Dylan.”
“Love you so much sis,” Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose added. “Exceedingly proud of and for you, boo!”
A fan chimed in: “2 years of girlhood but a whole life of Queening.”
The Trevor Project — which honored Mulvaney as its Suicide Prevention Advocate of the Year in 2023 — also had some words of encouragement.
“We are so very proud to get to witness you in your journey through girlhood,” the organization wrote on Instagram. “Dylan—thank you for all you’ve taught us.”
Rounding out her video, Mulvaney vulnerably discussed her own mental health and drew a poignant contrast between her inner journey and the cheery exterior illustrated in her new song.
“Happiness is something that I will wait for again, even if I’ve lost it for a little while, because I know it’s coming,” she said. “Because that’s what I haven’t lost: the hope. I still have it. Isn’t that a beautiful thing?”
Header images courtesy of Dylan Mulvaney/TikTok and Spotify
