YouTuber NikkieTutorials comes out as transgender: 'I am free'
Popular Beauty vlogger Nikkie de Jager, better known as NikkieTutorials, has officially come out as transgender.
On Monday, de Jager posted a video on YouTube titled "I'm Coming Out" that, in less than an hour after being posted, garnered the attention of more than 345,000 people.
"When I was younger, I was born in the wrong body, which means that I am transgender," de Jager said.
"Filming this video is scary, but it feels so liberating and freeing," de Jager continued. "I've been wanting to share this side of myself to all of you for so long, but I could never figure out the timing, and there always was going to be the day where I would tell you. I did not expect that day to be today, but here we are."
De Jager goes on to mention that she feels free enough now for everyone to truly follow her journey.
She also reminisces about when her mother was pregnant, she was convinced she was having a girl. "Little did she know that she was actually having a girl," de Jager said.
On Twitter as well, de Jager's announcement has been met with many reactions.
"I'm so proud of you sister, said beauty vlogger James Charles in a tweet.
YouTube star Manny Gutierrez also chimed in saying, "So proud of you @NikkieTutorials Congrats my love!!!!!!!!! You're amazing a gorgeous brave woman!"
Aside from being one of YouTube's most popular beauty vloggers, de Jager is also a Global Artistry Adviser for Marc Jacobs Beauty and has been working with the prestigious company since last year.
De Jager revealed in her coming out video that she was being blackmailed by others who were threatening to "leak" the news that she is transgender.
"Apparently, we live in a world where people hate on people that are truly themselves," she said, before raising her middle finger to those who were allegedly going to release her news.
"Glow babies, today is the day, I am free, and I get to be me finally" de Jager adds. "Please know that this doesn't change anything about me."
De Jager concludes the video by thanking everyone from her manager to her boyfriend Dylan for their support.
Check out the video below to see de Jager share her truth.
