Robyn Exton, Jill O'Sullivan, Mook Phanpinit
Robyn is the CEO & Founder of HER. Find her on Twitter.
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Robyn Exton, Jill O'Sullivan, Mook Phanpinit
Feb 24, 2026
So you’ve downloaded an app and are ready to take that step towards finding your person. You log in and see that blank white page staring back at you, and you’ve no idea how to get started. We totally get it. Starting your profile can be super intimidating. Writing a bio as a trans woman shouldn’t feel like assembling legal paperwork. It should feel like claiming space.
Your profile isn’t a disclosure document. It’s an invitation to get to know you and an introduction of who you are as a person. With just a little sparkle of “this is me: take it or leave it.”
Here’s the TLDR version:
Lead with your pronouns and the name you want to be called.
Say what you’re looking for and who you’re open to meeting.
Keep transition details optional.
Use safety and privacy tools on your terms.
The handy dandy checklist below turns that into quick, copy-and-paste lines you can tweak for today’s apps, especially if you want an inclusive, safe dating app for trans women that lets you be playful, protected, and fully yourself. We love that for you.
HER was built for queer women, non-binary folks, and trans people who want both expression and safety in one place.
Think:
Sapphic simply means women-loving-women: a roomy umbrella that includes lesbian, bi, queer, non-binary, and trans people looking for non-cis-male connections.
Unlike mainstream apps that expect linear boxes, HER is an inclusive queer dating app designed for fluid identities and real community care.
If you want tone inspiration, check out these profile examples from HER.
Start with what feels the most grounding, like your pronouns and the name that you want used on the app.
Pronouns are the words others use in place of your name (like she/her, they/them). They reflect your gender identity.
A display name is simply the name you choose to show on an app.
And if different spaces use different names? You’re allowed to say that.
“I go by Jess here, but Jamie at work.”
That’s clarity, not overexplaining.
Apps designed with trans users in mind, like HER, prioritize quick, editable identity fields so you can update as things evolve with no stress and no judgement.
| Context | Display name line | Pronouns line |
| Everyday | Jess | she/her |
| Fluid | Avery | they/she |
| Contextual | I go by Lani here (legal name on docs is Alana) | she/they |
| Exploring | Still figuring it out- open to she/they | she/they |
| Private | First name after we match | she/her |
For a primer on gender identity basics, this overview is a helpful start.
Set the tone you want. Outness is how openly you share your queer or trans identity in different spaces. Work might be different from friends. Friends might be different from apps and that’s totally okay. Remember that you don’t owe full visibility to everyone.
A few simple lines here can reduce emotional labor later:
Clear “seeking” notes help with less time explaining & more time connecting. And by the way, saying “trans-affirming only” is not dramatic. You deserve that respect.
Here’s where we add that friendly reminder that you never owe medical information to strangers. If you do choose to share something, keep it short and non-medical:
Transition status simply means where you are in your social or medical journey, or neither. It’s always optional.
Pair it with boundaries so you don’t have to repeat yourself in DMs:
Apps co-designed with trans users (like HER) include boundary presets to reduce invasive questions and protect your mental load.
You’re not an FAQ section.
Signal what safety looks like on your profile, and use the tools that back it up. Community moderation means that app users and trained mods work together to keep spaces respectful by reviewing content and flagging harm to remove that behaviour and content from the community.
What to surface:
User-centered eHealth studies for trans communities report high usability (scores around 5.9 out of 7) and measurable gains in user confidence when features are co-designed with the community. That’s not marketing fluff. That’s data-backed reassurance. If an app makes safety visible, that’s a huge green flag.
A tiny “Resources” row can be a lifeline both for you and your matches. Resource links are quick buttons to verified guides, clinics, legal help, or support communities.
Some ideas to include:
Research shows resource-forward designs boost people’s intention to seek support when needed.
Community care is hot. IYKYK.
Photos, voice clips, and captions are all great tools to express yourself, but remember that these are invitations, not obligations.
Some trans-focused apps are still catching up on accessibility; let’s lead by example with clear captions and alt text. We can set the bar higher.
Privacy controls let you decide who sees each part of your profile and for how long which is central to digital safety. Mix and match settings to fit your comfort level that day.
Smart toggles to try:
Evidence from community-built tools says that trust rises when apps are upfront about data use and let you adjust privacy granularly, a best practice echoed by HER and a systematic review of gender-diverse digital tools.
Example visibility map:
| Bio section | Visibility option |
| Pronouns | Everyone / mutuals only |
| Display name | Everyone |
| Transition details | Matches only / hidden |
| Photos | Verified users only |
| Voice clip | After matching |
| Resources row | Everyone |
Verification should boost your safety, not demand your history. Verification here simply means confirming you are you. No medical or legal docs.
Options that feel human:
When verification is optional and non-invasive, research consistently shows increased user confidence without pushing oversharing.
It should protect you, not expose you.
Only what feels safe and relevant right now. Keeping details private or saving them for a 1:1 chat is completely fine.
Use a brief, clear line in your bio, set boundaries, and control visibility with privacy settings so only the right people see it.
Decide who sees your profile, update settings as your comfort level shifts, and lean on Incognito Mode or mutuals-only views.
List what feels best today (like they/she), and say you’re open to others. You can update at anytime to better reflect how you’re feeling or want to express yourself.
Verified moderation, easy block/report, and granular privacy tools reduce harassment and make it easier to connect on your terms.
Sources for further reading and context: an independent review of HER highlights inclusive features built for queer women and non-binary people; Trans Women Connected showcases community-first design on identity, resources, and privacy; and user-centered eHealth studies for trans communities plus a systematic review of gender-diverse digital tools underscore how co-design, accessibility, and transparent privacy increase trust and usability.
Robyn Exton, Jill O'Sullivan, Mook Phanpinit
Robyn is the CEO & Founder of HER. Find her on Twitter.