In an article and photos released Monday by Vanity Fair magazine, former Olympic champion Bruce Jenner — who says he has long suffered from gender confusion — made his debut as a woman. The Malibu resident is now Caitlyn Jenner.
“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 told Vanity Fair.
The article is accompanied by a series of portraits taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, including a cover shot of Jenner in white corset.
Jenner, 65, also unveiled the Twitter handle @Caitlyn_Jenner, which set a Guinness World Record by reaching 1 million followers in four hours and three minutes.
“I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self,” Jenner wrote. “Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for your to get to know her/me.”
Robert Garcia, the first openly gay mayor of Long Beach, voiced his support for Jenner on his Twitter page, “Proud of Caitlyn Jenner. She is showing the world that living an authentic life is real happiness.”
Questions about Bruce Jenner’s gender identity have been raised for months, and Jenner finally confirmed his transition to a woman in an April interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer.
“For all intents and purposes, I’m a woman,” Jenner told Sawyer.
Caitlyn Jenner told Vanity Fair she wasn’t making a splashy public debut to earn accolades.
“This is about your life. Bruce always had to tell a lie. He was always living that lie,” Jenner said. “Every day he always had a secret from morning til night. Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets.”
Despite Jenner’s official change in gender identity, an investigation is still continuing into Bruce Jenner’s involvement in a Feb. 7 crash in Malibu that killed a Calabasas woman. Kim Howe, 69, was killed in the multi-vehicle wreck on Pacific Coast Highway and Corral Canyon Road.
Just hours after Caitlyn Jenner was introduced to the world, ESPN announced that she will be presented the Arthur Ashe Courage Award during the 2015 ESPY Awards on July 15 at the Nokia Theatre.
“Bruce has received many accolades over the years for being one of the greatest Olympians of our time but The ESPYs are honored to celebrate Bruce becoming Caitlyn,” ESPYs executive producer Maura Mandt said. “She has shown the courage to embrace a truth that had been hidden for years, and to embark on a journey that may not only give comfort to those facing similar circumstances, but can also help to educate people on the challenges that the transgender community faces.”
Jenner said the honor is “truly special.”
“For the first time this July, I will be able to stand as my true self in front of my peers,” she said.
—City News Service