Kenya’s popular hair and makeup artist John Mokuna Mungai, widely known as Jony the hairdresser, has opened up about his identity, cross-dressing, and how he navigates perceptions about gender and sexuality.
Known for his bold and creative looks, Jony, during an interview with Nicholas Kioko in an episode aired on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, explained that while he embraces feminine energy in his style, it does not define his gender.
The hairdresser firmly disclosed that he identifies himself as ‘he’ because he is a man.
“I do not identify myself as ‘they’ because you cannot be them; you can either be ‘he’ or ‘she’, and I am a ‘he’,” Jony revealed.
Jony emphasised that his cross-dressing is largely for content and artistic expression.
“Biologically speaking, hii tu ni kibindi, this is just for show, just for content, but on a normal day, utanipata bila makeup niko na short hair nimenyoa”, he added.
Sexuality
When asked about his sexual preference when it comes to dating, Jonhy maintained a neutral stance
“Whatever you want to feel, go by that if you feel I am in the community, go by that, and if you feel I am not in the community, go by that. I do not feel the need to explain or identify my sexuality,” he added.
“Mimi nko kila mahali.”
Crossdressing
Jonhy also spoke about what cross-dressing means to him beyond public assumptions.
“Feminine is just a personality; it is just an energy,” he explained.
He further noted that cross-dressing is a deliberate part of his artistic expression and career.
“Yes, I am a crossdresser. I am a top crossdresser in the country, and crossdressing haimanishi that you are labelled in a type of way, crossdressing inamaanisha you are tapping more into the feminine energy. nimeona fashion ya wanamume haigive na pia ukiwa crossdresser lazima ukuwe hiyo energy you have to have that vibe,” Jony noted.
The fashion police went on to say that cross-dressing opens up unique professional opportunities, adding that he has gotten several endorsements through cross-dressing.
“Huwezi vaa dress alafu unatembea kama mwanamume na huwezi tembea na heels, lazima ukuwe na hiyo energy, crossdressing is also a career itself, because unakuta napata endorsements za manguo, makeup na viatu, so it is a whole new career that people do not understand, and it does not associate with a sexuality,” Jony said.
