Drag Race’s Laganja Estranja comes out as a trans woman: ‘I’m not going to live in fear’
"Breathe and accept it, because once you do, it’s incredibly empowering," says star in new interview.
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: Instagram/@laganjaestranja
Laganja Estranja has come out as a trans woman in a new interview.
Congratulations, Laganja!
The RuPaul’s Drag Race star – who rose to fame on SE6 in 2014 – shared the news with Entertainment Weekly this week, saying: “I feel so beautiful.”
“Breathe and accept it, because once you do, it’s incredibly empowering”
In the interview, the 32-year-old explains: “If anyone is struggling with this, breathe and accept it, because once you do, it’s incredibly empowering!”
View this post on Instagram
Laganja added: “There are so many other women around me who’ve inspired me to come forward today, and it’s because of their fight and their struggle that I’m able to really do this and say that I’m nervous, but I’m not scared.
“I’m not going to live in fear anymore.”
The star, who has identified as nonbinary in the past, also told the outlet that she doesn’t plan to change her drag name or birth name (Jay Jackson).
She added that she came out as trans to friends last year on her birthday, and family members just over a week ago.
I know, not even that long ago, so many of my TRANS sisters & brothers did not received the love & support I’m receiving today in coming out. I recognize how privileged I am, & I want to say THANK YOU to all of those who came before me and made it so today could be joyous! 🏳️⚧️🙏🏼❤️
— Laganja Estranja (@LaganjaEstranja) June 15, 2021
Taking to Twitter, Laganja said of the response to her news: “I know, not even that long ago, so many of my TRANS sisters & brothers did not [receive] the love & support I’m receiving today in coming out.
“I recognize how privileged I am, & I want to say THANK YOU to all of those who came before me and made it so today could be joyous!”
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