“AJ Clementine always knew she was a girl. The problem was, she'd been born in a 'magical' shell that looked, on the outside, like a perfect little boy. In her teens, this conflict between her outer and inner selves exploded, igniting years of anxiety and panic attacks” (from her book blurb). Documenting her gender transition on social media saw AJ gain millions of followers as she became a passionate advocate for transgender rights and the celebration of gender expression.

In this chat with our junior writer Brooke Young, the TikTok superstar, model and author of a new book Girl, Transcending (Murdoch Books, $32.99) discusses everything from what it was like going to school where teachers didn’t know which bathroom she should use to having super supportive parents who encouraged her to explore her identity, and the daunting prospect of having gender confirmation surgery and the relief she felt when she had finally done it.

If you or someone you know needs support regarding any of the issues explored today, LGBTIQhealth.org.au is one good place to start and transcendaus.org is another for parents and carers who have a trans or gender diverse child.

CREDITS:

This podcast was hosted and produced by WH junior writer Brooke Young, and executive produced by WH editor-in-chief Lizza Gebilagin (https://instagram.com/lizza_marie/)

For more from Women’s Health Australia, check out https://www.instagram.com/womenshealthaus/, https://www.womenshealth.com.au/ or find the print and digital editions of the magazine at https://www.womenshealth.com.au/subscribe-to-womens-health-australia-magazine.

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