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Micky Angelo Petrillo

My Story:
The Man I Was
Born To Be

62 years in the making. Told with humor, radical honesty, and the courage to finally be seen.

The D’Amore family reunion
The D’Amore family — New Jersey
Early Life & Family

Born Michele Angela Petrillo. January 3, 1964.

I grew up in an Italian, Catholic, middle-class family in a small town in New Jersey — the only girl in a house full of boys, and from the very beginning, something inside me felt amiss.

My grandfather immigrated from San Giovanni a Piro in Italy as a young man. My grandparents loved talking Italian and refused to teach the grandchildren because, as they said, “We don’t want you to know what we are saying.” I understood the curse words anyway.

I lived with my dad’s parents, his only brother, my aunt, and two male cousins — which meant I was the only girl among us, a fact that made me the center of attention for my grandparents. They must be rolling in their graves now knowing they have three grandsons.

Grandma Minnie and Grandpa Angelo — whom I later named myself after — were a profound influence on my upbringing. Unlike my cousins, I accompanied my grandparents everywhere. Grandma Minnie came from a family of twelve siblings, which meant a multitude of cousins and a big, close-knit family. The love was abundant.

But despite all that warmth, something inside me felt wrong. As young as five, I filled my childhood diaries with a recurring plea to God, asking to die while I slept. Every morning, I woke up disappointed to still be alive, carrying a profound feeling of not belonging anywhere.

Being the only girl meant frilly pink dresses and bows — carefully chosen by my grandma, yet always foreign to me. I longed to dress like my cousins. Whenever I had the chance, I would hide those dresses and sneak away in pants and a t-shirt.

Micky as a child

Michele Angela Petrillo — early years

“Oh boy, they must be rolling in their graves now knowing they have three grandsons.”
Royals #15
Royals  #15 Softball  •  New Jersey
Sports & Survival

The field was where I finally belonged.

As a child, I struggled to control my anger. At age twelve, frustration led me to punch a window. The resulting injuries were severe — cuts dangerously close to a major artery. I vividly remember the doctor asking my family if I had tried to commit suicide.

I sometimes wonder if, subconsciously, I was. The scars — four inches long on my wrist — remain as a reminder of that moment.

“Sports became my sanctuary. I felt most comfortable and at ease on the field or the court — and they played a key role in saving my life during those years.”

Softball and basketball were my entire world. I excelled as an athlete, even if academics were not my strength. And I never wanted to upset my grandparents or let them down. I knew that if anything happened to me, it would devastate them — and that thought kept me going.

Micky with Mark
Mark — the only man I was ever in love with
Micky's dad
Dad — the person I loved most in the world
Exploring Relationships & Self-Discovery

Something was always missing — until it wasn’t.

During my high school years, I dated men and had a boyfriend named Matt from fifteen until I was about twenty. We were engaged briefly, but I found myself uninterested in a sexual relationship. I can laugh about my dad’s reaction now, but it was certainly uncomfortable at the time.

After Matt, my romantic interests faded following the death of Mark, the only man I was ever in love with. Mark passed away when I was twenty-seven.

Then, at thirty, a business associate unexpectedly kissed me. Being kissed by a woman felt right — and I loved it. Finally understanding my own truth was liberating.

“When I told my dad, he revealed something unexpected: he was gay. That revelation became a turning point in our relationship.”

His need to conceal his identity had led to pain, anger, and alcoholism, which he sometimes directed at me until I was sixteen. When I was twenty-seven, he sincerely apologized. From then on, he worked tirelessly to become a better father and a better man, and our relationship was forever changed for the better.

Forever Daddy's Girl tattoo
A bond that never broke

“Forever Daddy’s Girl”

Even after everything — the pain, the anger, the years of silence — we found our way back to each other. My dad sincerely apologized when I was twenty-seven. From that day on, he became the father I always needed. This tattoo is for him.

Grandma Minnie

Grandma Minnie — the woman I loved most in the world

Loss & the Search for Help

Everything shifted when I was thirty-one.

My grandma Minnie — the woman I loved most in the world — passed away. The grief was overwhelming. I felt like I wanted to die with her. Suicidal thoughts consumed me, but something within pushed me to reach out for help.

“Terrified and desperate, I began calling every therapist I could find in the telephone book, telling each one: ‘I want to commit suicide, and I am scared.’ Time after time, I was told no one could fit me in for at least a week or two.”

Just as I was losing hope, I connected with Andrea, who told me to come to her office immediately. Andrea became my therapist for the next twenty-five years, guiding me through my darkest moments and ultimately helping me discover my true self at the age of fifty-nine.

Sadly, Andrea passed away just two months before my surgery.

Diagnosis & the Path to Healing

For the first time, I had a name for what I had been living with.

Andrea was the one who recognized that I was struggling with bipolar disorder and depression. She helped me find a psychiatrist and get on the right medications — which made it possible to control my moods, manage my anger, and step back from the “black hole” that had overshadowed my life for so long.

“Without Andrea’s support and insight, I might never have found the strength to keep searching for my authentic self.”

For the first time, I had tools. I had language for what I had been living with. I had support. The work was hard, and it would take another twenty-five years — but the path forward had finally opened.

Micky's path to healing
25+ Years with
Andrea
Becoming Micky Angelo Petrillo

At 59, I finally confronted my deepest truth.

Following a traumatic experience at the Morocco airport, I was forced to confront who I truly was. Although the assault was horrific, it unexpectedly became a turning point. In June 2023, I discovered my authentic identity as Micky Angelo Petrillo. With clarity and determination, I immediately found doctors and began the steps necessary to bring him to life.

Oct 28, 2023 Started testosterone therapy — the first physical step toward becoming myself.
Dec 20, 2023 Name and gender legally recognized as Micky Angelo Petrillo through the courts.
Dec 27, 2023 Surgery — the moment that helped me fully transition.
Jan 3, 2024 60th birthday — finally Micky Angelo Petrillo in every sense. Physically, emotionally, and legally.
“The moment I spoke my truth aloud, I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. All the anger that had weighed me down for years disappeared.”

My doctors were able to reduce my medications as I began to experience a new outlook on life. Suddenly, the world appeared colorful and beautiful to me.

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Micky Angelo Petrillo tattoo

The dates, inked permanently

Transforming Body & Mind

From self-hatred to self-love.

Fifteen years ago, I weighed 297 pounds. As of October 13, 2025, I am down to 174 pounds. I work out and lift weights every day, eat only healthy foods, take vitamins, and treat my body as a temple.

Where I once avoided my own reflection, I now proudly look in the mirror. I went from hiding from photos and never taking selfies to joyfully snapping pictures and jumping into group shots.

“I now appreciate my body, my hair, and my face. I genuinely enjoy spending time with myself.”

Even my cat, Nugget, is adjusting to the changes. She spent her first year with a sad, angry mama, but now has a dada who dances and sings in his underwear. Nugget is so confused she might need therapy herself.

297 lbs before
174 lbs today
123 lbs lost
Daily workouts
Micky before 15 Years Ago
Micky today Today
Moving Forward with Gratitude

This is my story for now.

I lost my dad on September 29, 2021, and he never got to meet his son. The sad little girl he once knew is now a happy son, living life to the fullest and embracing every moment.

Now, I wake up every morning eager to start the day — no longer dreading early mornings but embracing each new opportunity. I have been given a second chance in life, and I am determined to make the most of it.

“From my heart to yours.”

Micky Angelo Petrillo
Join the Journey

Two ways to be part of this story

Whether you want to support the film or see Micky speak in person, there’s a place for you in this movement.

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Whether you contribute $10 or $1,000, you are directly funding the post-production, festival submissions, and promotion that will bring this story to a national audience.

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See Micky Live

Upcoming Appearances

Micky speaks openly about his journey, identity, and why visibility matters. View upcoming events, screenings, and speaking engagements — or inquire about booking.

View Appearances

“From my heart to yours.”

Micky Angelo Petrillo

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