At 26, she obtained her master's degree from the UK, published her first book two years later, held a couple of management jobs then went on to set up her now thriving public relations consultancy.

Tall, slim and self-assured, this 31-year-old Singaporean gal loves windsurfing, salsa and exotic dances, and enjoys an active social life. On occasion, she fights for causes that are close to her heart – like when the authorities threatened to close down the local windsurfing club.

Back in 1991, Leona was Leonard, 15 years old and the vice chairman of the English Language drama society in an all-boys school. With his falsetto voice and fair complexion, Leonard readily took on the female roles in school plays.

“I lived for the wolf-whistles and catcalls. At the end of every performance, I would take in the audience's appreciative looks before sashaying offstage with the poise of Gong Li,'' recalls Lo.

“My parents went ballistic (when I told them I wanted to be a woman). They hired an exorcist and monks. I was made to drink ashes and pray at the temple,” recalls Lo.

“It took them about two years to accept me for who I am. But deep down, they're still grappling with the changes and they're also very apologetic for who I am.

Under Singaporean law, post-operative transexuals are allowed to register their new sex status on their identity cards and are free to marry people of the opposite sex. (The first sex change operation was performed in Singapore in 1971.) But there is no legislation to prevent discrimination at the workplace – transexuals can be wrongfully dismissed or not hired on the grounds of sexuality.

The relatively higher cost of surgery and lack of options in Singapore drive many transexuals to Thailand for their SRS. But some transexuals suffer complications later due to a lack of follow-up treatment and information on the effects of lifelong estrogen therapy.

Lo has had her share of medical complications. Last year, she was diagnosed with a benign pituitary tumour, which she discovered was due to a time-release oestrogen implant in her body.

And, after a corrective post-sexual reassignment surgery last November, she developed urinary tract infection that required the attention of a specialist.

“For every disease, Singapore's Ministry of Health has clinical guidelines for general practitioners and specialists – except for post-operative transexuals,” explains Lo.

“I was idealistic and wanted to tell the story of transexuals and the discrimination they face every day,” says Lo, who braved herself to face the repercussions of coming out.

When the book hit the shelves, the press had a field day writing about the subject and interviewing Lo. This brought on a blanket ban on media reports on transexuals until just recently, Lo says.

“Apart from the ladies in Thailand, most in Singapore also willingly embrace prostitution because of the easy money. It is hard for them to break out of the lifestyle once they get into it,” says Lo, who became disillusioned.

Lo's family and friends are her pillars of strength. During the transitioning period after SRS, she also had Sister Juanita O Carum, a Carmelite nun, to lean on.

“I was quite lost, and my then boyfriend told me in my face, ‘You're not a real woman',” recalls Lo. Sister Juanita counselled her and gave her a lot of affirmation.

“I would love to go out with a local guy, but they're terrified of me, of what their friends and family will say,” says Lo who has just ended a one-year relationship with a guy who was posted to Switzerland last year.

“Windsurfing has done wonders for my self-confidence and exotic dance has helped define my femininity,” says Lo, who plans to take up a windsurfing instructor's course and teach women and young children.

The term also describes a person whose gender identity is fundamentally and irreversibly incompatible with his/her biological sex and whose ultimate goal is sex reassignment surgery.

Unlike transexuals, transvestites accept their biological sex, but enjoy cross-dressing. Experts say cross-dressing is usually practised for general sexual stimulation or sexual gratification.

The Malaysian term for male transexuals is Mak Nyah and refers to those who have undergone sex reassignment surgery (as well as those who have not).

The term was coined in 1987 when the Mak Nyahs tried to set up a society for the community but was denied by the Registrar of Societies. The term differentiates them from pondan or bapok, referring to men who are effeminate and includes homosexuals.

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