LGBT PERSONALITIES

Simona Aurelia Maier is a passionate winemaker from the beautiful town of Mühlhausen near Heidelberg in Germany. But it wasn't always this way.Not because the passion was missing—no, the truth is that Simona wasn’t always Simona. She was born 29 years ago as Simon Maier. From a young age, Simon realized he preferred playing with girls rather than boys and had many female friends even in elementary school, with whom he felt a deeper sense of belonging than with his male classmates.“I felt happy and thought I simply belonged with the girls,” Simona says in the interview.

That Simona Maier is able and allowed to produce wine today as Simona rather than Simon Maier was not something that could be taken for granted. The journey was long and difficult, and only at the age of 26 was Simona able to become who she truly is—a happy woman.Puberty was especially challenging: bullied by boys, rejected by former girlfriends, and just before she planned to come out, Simon’s father passed away. Out of consideration for his mother, Simon postponed the coming out. It wasn't until the age of 26—on the verge of depression and severely underweight due to rejecting his own body—that Simon, with the support of a close friend, took the brave step “to find himself and begin the journey to becoming Simona.”

In Germany, the transition from Simon to Simona is governed by strict rules and regulations, including multiple psychological evaluations and therapy sessions.“If you eventually make it through, then you're allowed to take hormones,” Simona explains. These hormones will be part of her life forever.After three exhausting years, eight surgeries, and the official change of name and gender, one thing became clear: her childhood dream of becoming a Wine Princess could finally come true. She immediately applied. Her expert wine knowledge impressed the jury, and Simona was chosen as the first transgender Wine Princess.

By now, Simona has built a strong fan base not just in her hometown but across Germany. Still, she calls on society—even in the year 2020(!)—to be a little more tolerant and to allow everyone to find happiness in their own way.

When she does manage to travel, cities like Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, and Vienna top her list. Cruises also offer Simona the kind of relaxation she seeks.But her greatest passion remains her profession.“Just as an artist paints with colors, I try to create wines from various aromas,” she says enthusiastically. Her two sparkling wines, “Rosa Liebe” (Pink Love) and “Bunte Liebe” (Colorful Love), perfectly embody this passion.

We ask every one of our interview guests how they would use a 3-minute TV appearance. We are happy to share Simona’s answer as a quote and are honored to have had the chance to speak with her. We wish this dedicated winemaker all the best, lots of strength, and continued success with her wines.And we join Simona in her heartfelt hope:

“Only through a joint fight for more legal equality and greater acceptance will it be possible to live life according to our own wishes. Every day I march in my own personal Pride Parade to show that poisoned looks can’t harm me, and I truly hope that my actions will help make things easier for future generations in the LGBTQ+ community.” – We share this hope too.

Interview: Alfred HolzknechtPhotos: Simona Maier