Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer

"Dylan makes me laugh and makes me brave. I love Paper Doll, and I love this woman.” —Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed

Actress and content creator Dylan Mulvaney’s honest account of her journey through girlhood

When Dylan Mulvaney came out as a woman online, she was a viral sensation almost overnight, emerging as a trailblazing voice on social media. Dylan’s personal coming-out story blossomed into a platform for advocacy and empowerment for trans people all over the world.

Through her “Days of Girlhood” series, she connected with followers by exploring what it means to be a girl, from experimenting with makeup to story times to spilling the tea about laser hair removal, while never shying away from discussing the transphobia she faced online. Nevertheless, she was determined to be a beacon of positivity.

But shortly after she celebrated day 365 of being a girl, it all came screeching to a halt when an innocuous post sparked a media firestorm and right-wing backlash she couldn’t have expected. Despite the vitriolic press and relentless paparazzi, Dylan was determined to remain loud and proud.

In Paper Doll: Notes from a Late Bloomer, Dylan pulls back the curtain of her “It Girl” lifestyle with a witty and intimate reflection of her life pre- and post-transition. She covers everything from her first big break in theater to the first time her dad recognized her as a girl to how she handled scandals, cancellations, and . . . tucking. It’s both laugh-out-loud funny and powerfully honest—and is a love letter to everyone who stands up for queer joy.

About the Author

Dylan Mulvaney (she/they) is a trans actress, comic, and creator of the viral TikTok series Days of Girlhood, which received over 1 billion views across all platforms. For her Day 365 live show, Mulvaney partnered with the Trevor Project to raise nearly $200,000 for LGBTQ+ youth crisis support. She was crowned 30 under 30 by Forbes, Woman of the Year by Attitude magazine, Out 100, THEM Now Award, a Webby Special Achievement Award, among others. Mulvaney was invited by President Joe Biden to speak at the White House about trans rights. Pre-pandemic, Dylan attended the Cinncinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and played Elder White in the Book of Mormon Broadway musical. She now lives in LA, where she works to bring trans stories to the mainstream.