‘I have tried to live my life the way I thought was according to God’s ways. And I remember God talking to me and He said, “I love you for who you are and not for what the society wants you to be.”’
By Jennifer Leu-Yong
Born Napoleon Chu Javier, Nikki grew up in Zambales. She is the youngest biological child of a Filipino-Chinese entrepreneur mother and a Filipino-Spanish lawyer father. Her family is politically inclined—her uncle was a mayor, and her other relatives are also into politics. With this background growing up, she felt the need to always prove herself and to excel.
Nikki helped her mother manage their businesses in Manila. “We had a chain of night clubs and restaurants in the city. I used to work at the front desk to help my mom,” she says.
But her memory of her younger years was not without pain. She was only 14 when her dad was brutally stabbed 54 times. For her, this was the hardest part of her early life. “I think when my father was murdered something inside me was triggered,” she recalls. “Though the murderers were apprehended and are spending their lives in prison, my life has changed forever.”
Difficult as that was, nothing could have prepared Nikki for the next blow.
Just after she turned 17, while taking up Bachelor of Science in Hotel & Restaurant Management in the oldest university in Manila, Nikki was beaten to death by her schoolmates during a fraternity pledge (hazing). The news circulated nationwide, printed in tabloids in the Philippines. “I was lucky to be alive. I was beaten to death and the doctors had to stitch up my legs up to my thighs,” recounts Nikki.
Leaving the Philippines for a fresh start
Wanting a fresh start, Nikki moved to the US. But it was also not a life of milk and honey. “People might think it’s easier to be a gay man in the US, it isn’t,” she declares.
As the youngest biological son, she also later faced the pressure of getting married and having kids. When he didn’t want to follow, he was cut-off from family and their support, and she had to start life on her own. “I was kind of disowned by my family. I only had less than a hundred dollars. I bought a sleeping bag and slept at my aunt’s garage for almost a year,” recalls Nikki.
But with hard work, positivity, and her faith, it wasn’t long until Nikki was able to provide for herself. She worked her way up in the gastronomy and hospitality industries in the US—she started as a catering attendant for ARAMARK Corp in Pacific Bell, San Ramon, California. Six months later, she was promoted, and a year or so later, she became a catering supervisor. Two and a half years later, she became a food service director for the same company in NVIDIA in the Silicon Valley. She also worked as the company’s marketing champion doing trainings and seminars, travelling extensively to help open new food service accounts for the company. From her earnings she was able to save some money and she pulled through.
Tattoo Fashion: from hiding scars to showing true self
We have heard of people choosing to wear certain kinds of clothes as a fashion statement. For Nikki, wearing her body tattoo was more than just that. It was an honest revelation of who she was before and a brave declaration of who she is now. Describing her tattoo journey, Nikki tells us, “I have scars everywhere and it reminded me of that day I was beaten to death, and so the tattoo. Initially, I just wanted to cover a deep circle scar on my chest. But then I met Marvin Batinga, a very talented tattoo artist. We became very good friends and we agreed to work on a project to cover my whole body, and that is how I became his tattoo model.”
Their tattoo project lasted a year. They travelled around the Philippines and abroad and won many major tattoo competitions.
Gender transitioning
Nikki have been through many challenges and went through many phases in her life, but it wasn’t until one February morning in 2019 that she decided to transition, from being a man to becoming a woman.
“I just remember waking up one morning and I looked in the mirror and saw a man I could barely recognize. I knew I had to do something,” says Nikki. She underwent procedures for a full transition and was happy with the outcome. “I feel happy. I feel free!” she exuberantly declares.
It seems, however, one’s life cannot be without detractors. Even as she was successfully moving around in the art circle and was well-received in competitions where her scars are beautifully re-imagined as body art, she also faced a lot of criticisms. “It is a great challenge to be heavily tattooed, especially now that I’m a transgender. People think I’m mentally disturbed. They made me feel like I was a freak. That’s why I have this urge to share my story,” says a hopeful Nikki.
Nikki wishes to break stereotypes associated with body tattoo. Using the power of her art, she bravely shares her story to inspire others and remind everyone that it pays to be kind. “Just because we looked different, doesn’t mean we are bad people,” testifies Nikki.
Conquering the runway in Switzerland
Fast forward, three years later, Nikki Chu, now 52 years old, is in Switzerland, the land of chocolates (not just of milk and honey). Here, Nikki has captured a lot of Filipino hearts and has established a strong bond with the Filipino women in the city of Biel. Through the help of these Filipinas, she was casted as one of the models for a Philippine Food and Fashion Show in Switzerland.
“My inspiration and one of the reasons which keep me going here are my Filipina friends. These women took me under their wings and even gave me clothes for winter,” says Nikki.
She may not be a professional runway model, but she aced that runway, confidently declaring with each and every step the message she wanted to share with her international audience.
Jonas, a guest at the fashion show, has eloquently put this message into words: “I love it when the full tattooed transgender walked the runway. She left an impact and gave a message of inclusivity and diversity.”
*Contributing writer Jennifer Leu-Yong is the owner of Jennyralized, a digital-marketing and events planning company based in Switzerland focusing on Filipino cultural events. You can follow her on Facebook @jennyyongleu and on Instagram @jennyralized. Join her advocacy in supporting Global Filipino talents and share her stories.