Former Big Brother contestant Rebekah Shelton has opened up about her transition after completing gender confirmation surgery.
The 28-year-old – who finished 5th on Big Brother 10 in 2009 as Rodrigo Lopes – has lived as Rebekah since 2012, before undergoing confirmation surgery in September last year.
Speaking to OK! about the changes to her life since completed the process last week, Rebekah said: “In my mind I needed to be a boy, I needed to be like everybody else, but I wasn’t happy with myself. It was the hardest decision ever [to go through with the surgery]. I’ve had to fight for acceptance. I was not born wanting to be a transsexual, or a boy, or a straight boy, or a girl.
“I’m getting older and the years are passing by and I’m losing the opportunity to be happy. I achieved the goal of going to England and appearing on Big Brother in 2009, which was the most significant thing in my life.”
She added: “I used to be a guy during the day and go out as a girl at night with my friends.”
Explaining exactly what she had undergone during surgery, the Brazilian said: “Female facial feminisation is the most important step for anyone going through the transition. It’s not worth you having a vagina and a female body but a face with male characteristics.
“Despite all my documents saying I’m female, there were still masculine features in my face. Many people would shout out in the street, ‘You’re a transvestite’.”
“I went to the clinic thinking I wouldn’t be able to change my face, but then I found the female facial feminisation doctors.”
Asked if she had any regrets about the surgery, she replied: “No. I can now look people straight in the eye and look and feel feminine. Before, without make-up, it was more noticeable that I was a man, but now I can look people in the face and not worry if they can see my bones or my male features. It’s given me 100 per cent confidence to be seen as a woman.”
Speaking about her life as Rodrigo, she said: “Every time I think about Rodrigo I cry because he used to be a lovely guy. But I don’t see myself as him – I see him as my past, another person. I said goodbye to Rodrigo on July 30 when I had the sex change surgery.
“During the facial feminisation surgery, Rodrigo was so brave and I get my boldness from him. I miss him and I think I should have loved him more.”
She added: “I shouldn’t care about the bullying I suffered my whole life. So many people were bad to him, but he could have had a good life.”
Shelton went on to explain that she wants her story to be a source of inspiration for other transgender people, saying: “Now I want to write a book about my journey to help other people in the same situation. I want them to know they must be happy. I believe that if you feel like a woman, then why can’t you be a woman?”
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