AG百家乐在线官网

Bea Wood won the Miss Transgender UK pageant and transgender Top Model for 2017-18.

She came out as transgender five years ago, and now lives her life as a woman, working as a model and photographer and running her own support network called .

For transgender day of visibility, she discusses being a transgender female trying to make a difference.

I came out as the true me almost five years ago after battling and hiding my emotions since being a child. I found it so tough hiding who I was deep inside, living life as the male everyone knew and expected me to be and equally, if not even tougher coming out as the true me.

Finally being true to myself and blossoming as the female I am inside has been the most amazing, life-changing thing I have ever done. I finally gave up the fight of hiding who I was inside and embraced the true me.

Sure, I'm a transgender female, but I am a female none the less. As a trans female I do not expect special privileges, but nor do I wish to be discriminated against. I just want equal rights to live as the true me free from hate and discrimination, as any other person wishes.

Unfortunately, from my experiences, I still face hate and discrimination. Things have improved so much with the Gender Recognition Act, and the Equalities Act but unfortunately, I believe we still have a long way to go. Suicide rates and hate crimes against transgender individuals are still high and, in some areas, rising.

Trans day of visibility is an amazing day to highlight that transgender people are still real humans, with real feelings, just trying do what everyone else is doing and live a normal, happy life.

When I am in a pageant, modelling, being a photographer, or running BeaYourself, my aim is always the same, to show full equality and acceptance for all, to promote body confidence and most of all to show that everyone should and can be proud of who they are.

No matter whether you are a transgender male, transgender female, a CIS (natural born) male or female, in reality, what is the difference? We are all human, we all eat, sleep, and breathe the same. Trans day of visibility is here to show this, no matter who you are, how you choose to live, we are all human and all deserve acceptance.

As the title holder Miss Transgender UK, I have the honour and privilege to have been contacted by several Pride events in the UK. I am so excited to be attending and to show my support to these events to promote equality and freedom for all.

I have struggled for the last five years feeling alone and isolated. My breakthrough was winning Miss Transgender UK in November 2017, getting signed by Dream Street Models, and now furthering my career to involve photography alongside my modelling and pageantry.

I have never been happier, and my life has done a complete u-turn. I also now have a partner after six years of being single who is fully supportive and loves me unconditionally.

No matter what stage of someone's transition (I have been there myself) there are huge struggles and at times people can hit a low.

I hope my story will show that no matter what the battle, being true to yourself is what matters and you can do it no matter how hard it seems.

My story, and my situation, to many people sounds like a dream, but the five years prior to this have been awful. I have come so far but there's still so much to do. I still struggle for sponsors, and an income but I remain positive and believe that things one day will fall into place.

I am Bea, I am your Miss Transgender UK 2017/18, and for 2018 transgender day of visibility I wish everyone about to come out, who has come out, or is struggling with their transition all the best of luck, and most importantly, NEVER give up, never stop being true to yourself.

Being transgender is OK, being different is OK. Let's bring equality for all!