KM Viray
William Bruce Jenner, more popularly known as Bruce Jenner, is a world-renowned decathlete (someone who competes in a decathlon, a combined event in athletics consisting of ten track and field events). Now, he is known as Caitlyn, the latest transgender woman to grace the cover of Vanity Fair.
Jenner was a well-known athlete who won the gold medal in the men’s decathlon event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and set an unbeatable world record until 1980. He also starred in numerous movies and television specials including several made-for-TV movies. He was also part of the popular reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians where he starred with stepdaughter Kim Kardashian and his own daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner.
But now, he has re-entered the world of entertainment in his true self as Caitlyn. Celebrities, fans, and the transgender community reacted with excitement on his coming out. And what better way to come out with a bang by being the cover model of Vanity Fair.
Jenner proudly shares, “Bruce–he was always had to tell a lie, he was always living that lie. Everyday, he always had a secret, from morning ’til night. Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets…As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I’m free.”
Together with his Vanity Fair cover, Jenner also opened a new Twitter Account under the name Caitlyn Jenner, which set a world record for reaching one million followers in the fastest time.
Once the greatest athlete in the world, Jenner is now a new role model.
During an interview with journalist Diane Sawyer, Jenner revealed how he started find out about his true sexuality. Jenner said it started when he was about eight or nine years old when he wore one of his mother’s dresses around the house when she was away.
“I marked the closet so when I put it back I could put it all back, everything back in the exact same spot so I wouldn’t get caught,” Jenner said. “And, at the time, I didn’t know why I was doing it. Besides it just made me feel good.”
As he grew older, Jenner crossed dressed more. During his stints as a motivational speaker, his hotel rooms provided an ideal venue for trying to express what he felt within. “I’d literally go up into the hotel room, change [into women’s] clothes, and walk around,” Jenner said.
Family played an important role in his life as he struggled to discover who he really was. Jenner’s ex-wives and sister kept his secret for decades. However, he soon told his mother and his six biological children (Burt, Cassandra, Brandon, Brody, Kendall, and Kylie) and four step children (Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Rob Kardashian).
“They all cried. Mainly because they didn’t want anybody to hurt dad,” Jenner revealed. “They are very protective of me.”
Opening the world’s mind further to the transgender community
Jenner’s revelation of his true sexuality is only one of the very many instances the transgender community has conquered the world. Several transgender persons also graced the covers of popular magazines with a mission for equality and acceptance.
1. Laverne Cox
The Emmy-nominated, high-fashion model is the first openly transgender person to appear on the cover of Time Magazine.
2. Andreja Pejic
Andreja Pejic is the first transgender to appear in the pages of Vogue Magazine, one of the top fashion magazines in the world. Andreja achieved further ground-breaking status in the magazine industry when she became one of the first transgender model to appear on the cover of Elle magazine.
3. Aydian Dowling
Aydian Dowling is a transgender male who is poised to grace the cover of Men’s Health Magazine. Aydian has also previously featured on the cover of FTM magazine.
4. Lea T
Leat T first appeared on the cover of Love magazine in a lip lock with Kate Moss. This photo propelled her to fame. The 34-year-old landed her first mainstream magazine cover in Elle Brazil Magazine.
Banner photo from dailymail.co.uk.
