Look Who it Was Random video

The Truth Behind the Costume | Valerie Larkin | TEDxNewport

1,356 views · Published 2 February 2017 · 16:10 · Indexed 23 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2017 · Nonprofits & Activism

Watch on YouTube

Her talk, “The Truth Behind the Costume” takes a look at the unique role that costumes have played in her discovery of what it means to live authentically.  
    

Valerie Larkin was born in New Jersey, and first came to Newport in 1980 as an officer in the U.S. Navy. She’s lived here  historic hill. lives and works in Newport, RI. She first came to Newport as an officer in the U.S. Navy and settled here permanently 2 years ago. Valerie holds a BA from The University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Applied Mathematics & Engineering from Brown University. She’s done research in pattern recognition, image processing, neural networks, and environmental and ocean modeling. She’s been a civilian employee at a Naval laboratory for the last 20 years, fostering collaborative research between industry and academia and commercializing new technologies. She is an avid writer, musician, and bicycle advocate who has two daughters in college. In 2014, Valerie underwent a gender transition, finally resolving her presentation to the world with her innate identity. Personally and professionally, she’s now able to live with the freedom of knowing her truth.  

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx

More from this channel