Next Top Model contestant: I came out as gay because I didn’t know what a trans person was
An upcoming Next Top Model contestant has opened up about coming out as transgender.
22-year-old Talulah-Eve Brown is set to become the first transgender person to appear on Britain’s Next Top Model.
Speaking on Lorraine, the model and reality star opened up about her journey to transitioning.
She explained: “Growing up it was a little bit difficult for me because I didn’t understand what I was. There was no real education about it when I was growing up – not even about being gay or anything, let alone transgender.
“I didn’t understand what I was until I read a story about [transgender reality star] Nadia Almada from Big Brother and thought ‘oh my god, this is me!’ I knew from that moment on, I was the same as her. But people at school were never going to understand that, so it was easier for me to come out as gay.
“That’s what I did, and as I got older I started to experiment, and thought, you know what? I don’t care what people think anymore, I’m just going to be me and be happy.”
Ms Brown transitioned to female a few years ago, but explains that her family were only able to fully understand her after seeing the support she got on Next Top Model.
Of her family’s reaction, she said: “Doing it so publicly [on Next Top Model] has really helped my family accept me because they’re seeing the support from people. My grandma thinks I’m crazy to be honest.”
Of her journey to BNTM she explained: “I got scouted for the show and thought, why not?
“I’m Miss Transgender Birmingham; it was a warm up for me. I thought if I can handle being in a pageant with 100 bitchy trans people, I can do Britain’s Next Top Model!
“It wasn’t an easy ride, it was an eye opener doing the pageant.”
The contestant is upfront about being transgender from the very start on Next Top Model.
She explained: “The build-up to it, I was so nervous about [telling the other contestants]. I didn’t want to spring it on them whilst I was getting changed, or anything like that if you know what I mean.”
Britain’s Next Top Model returns tonight at 9 PM on Lifetime.
