Caitlyn Jenner’s Transformation: Welcome to the world, Caitlyn

Her first Twitter post read: “I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me.” In a record breaking time, Caitlyn Jenner amassed 1 million Twitter followers in just over 4 hours, breaking President Obama’s record by 27 minutes, and the hashtag #CallMeCaitlyn was the trending topic both in the United States and worldwide.

Caitlyn, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, broadcasted her decision to transition to life as a woman in a television interview in April 2015, and have since amassed innumerous comments – both negative and positive. The LGBT community praised Caitlyn’s transformation, calling it a moment of tremendous freedom and a reminder of how important it is to live authentically.

However, interspersed with the uplifting comments of Caitlyn’s supporters were the critics and skeptics. As one journalist for The Sunday Times wrote, “the former Bruce Jenner is just another reality TV trumpet. Why treat her like a cross between Mother Teresa and Diana?” But no matter the negativity behind her transformation, Caitlyn has managed to stay true to herself.

Speaking publicly for the first time since completing her transition, Caitlyn reflects on how much easier it is for her life now. She describes her former self Bruce as “always telling lies”, but “Caitlyn”, she said, “doesn’t have any lies.” Additionally, in her 22-page Vanity Fair cover story, Caitlyn reveals the real motives behind her transformation. “I’m not doing this to be interesting. I’m doing this to live,” Jenner told reporter Buzz Bissinger.

Thinking back to her public appearances after winning the gold medal in the 1976 Olympics, Caitlyn remembers “ [that] underneath my suit I have a bra and panty hose and this and that and thinking to myself, they know nothing about me…” Now, Caitlyn feels completely free. In fact, in a show of girly excitement, she writes on her Twitter, “what the hell am I going to wear?!”, referring to ESPN’s decision to honor her with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Caitlyn’s family has been supportive of her decision as well, with the media-savvy Kardashian clan rallying around her on social media. Step daughters Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardashian wrote words of encouragement on Twitter as well as on Instagram, and so did Caitlyn’s daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, with uplifting phrases such as “live life YOUR way” and “you are beautiful”. In addition, Caitlyn’s children from her first two marriages, Cassandra, Brody, and Brandon, has been more than encouraging. They told Bissinger of their happiness for their father, and how they would regard Caitlyn as a dad, regardless of any gender label.

As part of the transition, Caitlyn hosted a small “girls’ night”, where she could dress as desired and feel natural in the presence of women, and it was there that daughter Cassandra met Caitlyn for the first time. “I was just nervous that I wouldn’t make her [Caitlyn] uncomfortable,” Cassandra tells Bissinger in an interview. “I was worried I wouldn’t say the right things or act the right way.” However, the worry all but melted away when she arrived. Reflecting back, Cassandra remembers that “we talked more than we ever have. We could just be girls together.”

Caitlyn Jenner’s transformation drew tremendous attention worldwide, but despite any negative comments, Caitlyn feels ready to take on the world. Speaking to Bissinger in the final stage of her interview, she declares, “As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I am free.”