Asher Diaz grew up in a large Puerto Rican family in Cleveland, Ohio. He spent a good twenty-some years trying to understand what it meant to be a beautiful woman, learning from his tías, tíos and the grandparents that raised him. Then, at age 24, Asher came out to his family as transgender, and began his gender transition from female to male. For our sabiduría, or words of wisdom, Asher tells us how his role models and beauty rituals changed, and the endearing moments he shared with his family along the way.

Photos via Asher Diaz