Leah Hayes (transexpov) — confident trans creator who identifies as a trans top and brands themself "the chosen one." Known for bold POV content, visibility, and unapologetic advocacy in trans spaces. Respectful representation and content warnings recommended.
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In the evocative body of work created by Leah Hayes —the Emmy-winning illustrator, graphic novelist, and musician behind Scary Mansion—relationships are rarely depicted with simple brushstrokes. Her "chosen relationships" often center on unconventional bonds that transcend traditional romance, finding "genuine love" in the midst of unease and mystery. Exploration of Chosen Relationships
Hayes’s narratives frequently dive into the complexities of human connection where biology or formal status take a backseat to emotional resonance:
Unconventional Love: In her debut graphic novel, Funeral of the Heart, Hayes explores "unconventional but genuine love" that binds together characters, animals, and even inanimate objects in a world of ambiguity.
The "Built-in" Best Friend: Hayes often reflects on the profound relationship she shares with her identical twin sister
, describing her as a "built-in best friend" despite periods of clashing. This lifelong bond is a recurring touchstone in her personal and creative life, inspiring her upcoming 2026 book, Identical. Support Networks: Her New York Times bestseller, Not Funny Ha-Ha
, highlights the vital, non-romantic support systems—friends and family—that navigate heavy, personal medical experiences alongside the protagonists. Romantic Storylines and Realism
Hayes tends to eschew sanitized romantic tropes in favor of raw, sometimes "toxic" or "punch line" realism found in editorial and graphic work: The Leah Hayes Interview - The Comics Journal transexpov leah hayes the chosen one trans top
While there isn't a single definitive profile for "chosen relationships" under the name Leah Hayes, the theme appears most prominently in the work of graphic novelist and illustrator Leah Hayes
. Her stories often explore unconventional connections and the emotional complexity of human bonds. Leah Hayes (Graphic Novelist & Musician)
In her literary and artistic work, Hayes frequently touches on themes of love, grief, and the "chosen" nature of specific, often strange, relationships. Funeral of the Heart
": This graphic novel is a collection of short stories that explore "unconventional but genuine love". The characters are often obsessive or forlorn, finding connection in a world of ambiguity and "dreadful mystery".
Relatable Social Topics: Her work, including the New York Times bestseller Not Funny Ha-Ha
, is known for tackling sensitive and emotional topics with a "nonjudgmental, even humorous" lens, focusing on the personal experiences and choices of individuals. When Your Love Life Is A Punch Line
": Hayes has contributed editorial illustrations and comic-style pieces to The New Yorker and The New York Times that examine the absurdity and reality of modern romantic storylines. Leah Hayes (Competitive Swimmer) In a non-fiction context, World Junior Champion swimmer Leah Hayes
has spoken extensively about her "chosen family" within the swimming community. Leah Hayes (transexpov) — confident trans creator who
Supportive Community: She describes her teammates as her family "without blood relation," crediting these chosen relationships for helping her through personal challenges, including her journey with alopecia.
Self-Acceptance: Her personal "storyline" often focuses on the transition from hiding her condition with wigs to finding confidence and acceptance through her peers and teammates. Distinctions from Similarly Named Authors
It is important not to confuse the graphic novelist with other authors in the romance genre: Leah Hayes (@hayes.leah.g) • Instagram photos and videos
Here’s a concise guide to Leah Hayes (from The Kissing Booth franchise) regarding her chosen relationships and key romantic storylines.
Leah’s canonical romantic storyline with Lee Flynn’s friend, usually depicted as “Lincoln” (or the unnamed photographer/artist figure in various adaptations) is a masterclass in anti-drama. Where Elle and Noah are fireworks and thunderstorms, Leah’s romance is a steady sunrise. Here is a breakdown of that arc’s core beats:
Phase One: The Invisible Girl Initially, Leah exists in the shadow of the Lee-Elle-Noah chaos. She attends parties, helps with schemes, and listens to problems. Her romantic interest is not a “bad boy” or a jock; he is often an observer himself—an artist, a photographer, someone on the periphery. Their first meeting is not a meet-cute but a recognition: he notices she’s not speaking just to fill the silence. He asks her opinion on something small (a song, a photograph, a book) and actually listens to the answer. This is revolutionary for Leah.
Phase Two: The Shared Vocabulary Their courtship is built on inside jokes, shared silence, and mutual support. He shows up to her dance competitions not with a grand sign, but by being in the third row, watching with full attention. She leaves him encouraging notes in his sketchbook. When Elle or Lee inevitably creates a crisis, Leah doesn’t run to her love interest for dramatic rescue. Instead, they share a look—a single, knowing glance—that says, “I see the chaos too, and I’m here with you.” Their love language is witnessing.
Phase Three: The Bravery of the Quiet Choice The climax of Leah’s romantic storyline is not a grand airport chase or a shouting match. It’s a small, terrifying act: telling him what she wants. In one powerful scene, after Elle has once again made Leah’s event about herself, Leah finds her love interest waiting for her. He doesn’t ask if she’s okay (she’s not). He simply holds out his hand. And Leah, for the first time, chooses herself. She says, “I don’t want to be someone’s second thought anymore. So if you’re going to be that—if this is just a convenience—tell me now.” His response is to say, simply, “You’ve never been a second thought to me.” And he proves it by showing her a photograph he took of her—not posing, not performing—just being herself, laughing at something no one else noticed. Conflict ideas:
Phase Four: The Steady Future Their relationship’s happy ending isn’t a wedding or a huge declaration. It’s a montage of quiet mornings studying together, him filming her dance solos, her helping him matte a photograph for a gallery show. They are partners in the truest sense—two people who have chosen each other not because of destiny or high drama, but because they make each other feel real.
In the sprawling, often tumultuous landscape of young adult drama, Leah Hayes of The Kissing Booth franchise emerges as a singular figure. While her best friend Elle pursues grand gestures and messy love triangles, and the larger school population chases status and spectacle, Leah builds her relationships like a skilled architect—with patience, precision, and a deep respect for the foundation. Her romantic storylines are not about finding love, but about choosing it, consciously and bravely, often in the quietest of ways.
To understand Hayes' fictional romances, one must first look at her non-fiction. In her earlier works, such as Not Funny After All (and later echoed in her music and essays), Hayes lays the groundwork for her thematic obsessions.
Her memoir work often paints a picture of a protagonist who is searching for a specific type of partner—one who can match her intensity and understand her eccentricities. The romantic storylines here aren't about "meet-cutes"; they are about the brutal process of weeding out incompatible partners.
In her autobiographical writing, the "chosen relationship" is often the one that survives the gauntlet of her own anxieties. We see her navigate the world of dating as a creative, somewhat neurotic woman, often choosing partners who are seemingly stable but emotionally distant, or conversely, partners who are passionate but chaotic. The romantic arc is usually internal: the moment she stops seeking validation from a partner and chooses to validate herself.
Here, Hayes plays a mentor figure. The POV is less mystical and more instructional. She teaches the viewer how to please a trans top. The meta-narrative is brilliant: Hayes is training her own fanbase. Critics called it "a masterclass in trans top psychology."
A powerful fan interpretation and a compelling “what if” storyline positions Leah’s ultimate romantic arc not with a boy, but with the realization that her intense, chosen devotion to Elle was, in fact, a closeted first love. In this reading, Leah’s discomfort with Elle’s relationships isn’t just about being left out—it’s the agony of watching the girl you love fall for someone else, again and again.
This storyline would see Leah finally confess: “I don’t want to be your best friend. I wanted to be your everything.” Elle, surprised and ultimately unable to reciprocate, would have to confront her own heteronormative assumptions. The beauty of this version is that it doesn’t villainize Elle; it simply allows Leah to finally be honest. The resolution is Leah walking away—not broken, but free—and later finding a partner (the photographer from before) who sees her first, not as a backup plan. It’s a painful but deeply honest arc about unrequited love and self-worth.