PROJECTS: Queer Youth in America -- Isabella Black: Bella hair

Isabella Morales-Black, 23, poses for a portrait in her new SRO room supported by Larkin in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Isabella grew up in North Dakota and had never heard the word {quote}transgender{quote} until she landed in San Francisco, where she fled to transition safely. One day before she transitioned she was feeling bad about the way she looked. A friend saw her crying and called her {quote}Bella,{quote} explaining it meant, and she was, beautiful. It stuck. {quote}Every now and then, people catch me on the bus saying, 'Is beautiful.' And they're like, 'What's beautiful?' And I say, 'I am.'{quote}
Bella hair

Isabella Morales-Black, 23, poses for a portrait in her new SRO room supported by Larkin in San Francisco, Calif., on Saturday, June 4, 2016. Isabella grew up in North Dakota and had never heard the word "transgender" until she landed in San Francisco, where she fled to transition safely. One day before she transitioned she was feeling bad about the way she looked. A friend saw her crying and called her "Bella," explaining it meant, and she was, beautiful. It stuck. "Every now and then, people catch me on the bus saying, 'Is beautiful.' And they're like, 'What's beautiful?' And I say, 'I am.'"