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The woman formerly known as Bruce Jenner has just revealed her new name, posing publicly for the first time as a trans female in Vanity Fair‘s latest cover shoot: Meet Caitlyn Jenner.
Annie Leibovitz shot the photographs of Jenner in her Malibu home while Buzz Bissinger conducted the interview. Jenner told Bissinger, “If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, ‘You just blew your entire life.’ ”
Jenner is now referring to “Bruce” in the past tense, signaling she has left her male identity behind completely.
“Every day, [Bruce] always had a secret,” Jenner said in a video interview published by the magazine (see below). “From morning till night. Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets. As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I’m free.”
Jenner told Bissinger that her two-day photo shoot with Leibovitz was “better” than winning the gold medal for the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. She did have struggles, however, revealing she had a panic attack following a ten hour facial-feminization surgery she had in March. (Jenner has not had genital surgery, according to VF.)
Jenner said she initially thought, “What did I just do to myself?” A counselor from the Los Angeles Gender Center “assured her that such reactions were often induced by pain medication, and that second-guessing was human and temporary.” Jenner said she has not second-guessed her decision ever since.
In response to any criticism she has received about doing a documentary-series about her gender transition, Jenner said, “I’m not doing it for money. I’m doing it to help my soul and help other people. If I can make a dollar, I certainly am not stupid. [I have] house payments and all that kind of stuff. I will never make an excuse for something like that. Yeah, this is a business. You don’t go out and change your gender for a television show. O.K., it ain’t happening. I don’t care who you are.”
Via her brand-new Twitter account, Jenner tweeted, “I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me.” She posted the same message on her new Facebook account.
I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) June 1, 2015
Khloe Kardashian immediately posted her response on Instagram, writing, “We were given this life because you were strong enough to live it! I couldn’t be prouder!!! Caitlyn, You are beautiful!!!”
Kendall Jenner also wrote on Instagram, “Now that’s a cover” and tweeted “be free now pretty bird.” Kim Kardashian tweeted, “Caitlyn Jenner for Vanity Fair Annie Leibovitz! How beautiful! Be happy, be proud, live life YOUR way!”
For the article, Bissinger spoke with Caitlyn Jenner’s four children from her first two marriages. Jenner’s daughter Cassandra said she really bonded with Caitlyn over girls’ nights Caitlyn hosted with wine and food.
“We talked more than we ever have,” said Cassandra. “We could just be girls together.” Burt said, “I have high hopes that Caitlyn is a better person than Bruce. I’m very much looking forward to that.”
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GLAAD responded to Jenner’s July cover and published transgender terminology tips for journalists. “By sharing her journey with the world, Caitlyn Jenner is accelerating acceptance of transgender people everywhere and reminds us all how important it is to live as your most authentic self,” said GLAAD President & CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.
“For a transgender person to step into the world as his or her authentic self is a moment of tremendous freedom,” said Nick Adams, GLAAD’s Director of Programs, Transgender Media. “The world can now see what Caitlyn Jenner has always known, that she is – and always has been – a woman.”
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