As a transgender 11-year-old, she struggled to find comfortable, well-fitting bikini bottoms.
So, her father made them.
The bikini bottoms contain spandex and gauze to provide a compact fit, allowing transgender girls may feel comfortable doing the same activities as their cisgender friends.
“The response was incredible,” Ruby said. “I’m so happy to see all the kids who can once again enjoy the activities they love, such as swimming, dancing and gymnastics.”
A transition from childhood
At age 3, Ruby loved her mother’s high heels and the drama of Disney princesses – it interested her father, Jamie Alexander, called ‘gender-creative’.
“She took a sheet and wrapped it around her hair and went up the stairs and threw the sheets down the stairs,” Alexander said. “That’s when ‘Tangled’ appeared. She was always the princess.”
Ruby’s parents have joined a group founded by the public school system in Toronto for parents of sex-creating children.
When Ruby was 8, Alexander said that some of the kids in the group were starting to transition. Alexander told Ruby that she could too, if she wanted to.
Ruby told CNN she was excited about her father’s offer – and impatient.
“I will be a girl every day for a while. I want to be a girl, I want to be a girl,” she said.
Shortly thereafter, Ruby arrives at her entire school.
According to her, some students stared at her or asked questions about her anatomy. But many rejoice and rejoice.
“The saying where there is a weight and it goes off your shoulder … it felt that way,” she said.
Limited bikini options for transgender girls
Ruby was 11 when she told her father she wanted to wear a bikini like her friends, Alexander said.
Her parents bought her one, and Ruby was happy with it. But Alexander said they were worried it would attract unwanted attention because of its poor suitability.
When the family decides to take a trip abroad, they feel nervous about Ruby’s safety. They did not know if she would be accepted there.
After returning from the trip, Alexander went to work. There were a few swimwear brands for trans kids, but none in which Ruby felt comfortable.
“I bought everything I could,” he said. “I even sewed on certain things … For Ruby, she did not like it. It did not feel like a bikini.”
With a background in technical entrepreneurship, Alexander created a bikini that he thought looked like one. While other bikinis Ruby tried on were bulky, he said, the RUBIES bikini bottom was made with a sleek and stylish fit.
A global community
“Having a trans child spans geographical areas,” Alexander said. “Depending on where they are, they may not have the support we have.”
With the goal of reaching people around the world, Alexander recently translated the RUBIES website into five other languages: German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, and Chinese.
Alexander said that most people outside of Canada find RUBIES through Facebook support groups or by searching for ‘trans girl clothes’ on the internet.
He has so far sent to countries including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain and Italy.
It is not uncommon, he said, to hear from people who seem “saddened” about their or their children’s gender identity. If this happens, he asks if they want a Zoom call.
“I’m always happy to do that,” he said. “To talk to people and share my knowledge.”
Ruby’s reach
Ruby, now 13, said she is writing postcards to those who order a bikini, and also weighs the design, materials and colors for products.
Alexander said the process was exciting for her as opportunities arose and products such as a swimsuit and underwear were developed.
“My future hope is that trans children will not be judged,” Ruby said. “I want all girls and all trans kids to just feel comfortable about their bodies.”