The latest American Horror Story: Freak Show cast member to film a promo clip is Erika Ervin, a.k.a. the sideshow giantess Amazon Eve.

Ervin, a trans woman who transitioned a decade ago and has found success as a model, reveals the role of Amazon Eve was originally envisioned for a man. “I slicked my hair back, no makeup, bound my breasts, lowered my voice and walked in [to the audition]—and nailed it.”

In the clip below, she discusses her path to discovering herself—including years spent hiding from the truth, the death of her mother from AIDS, and rejection from her family. The parallels between the outcasts of the carnival and the trans community are not lost on Ervin. “It’s not always easy. There’s a lot of criticism and hate toward transgender people,” she says. “I can only control what’s in [my heart]. I can’t control someone else.”

Meet Amazon Eve and the other Extra-Ordinary Artists when American Horror Story: Freak Show debuts October 8 at 10pm on FX.