CAITLYN JENNER EXCLUSIVE: 'I've never been happier'

It’s not like you wake up and go, ‘Oh my God! I’m trans!’

In April 2015 Bruce Jenner made a shocking revelation when he announced that he was transitioning from male to female. Struggling with gender dysphoria since the age of 10, the former Olympic gold decathlete and reality star unveiled her new self as Caitlyn Jenner.

Now, two years on Caitlyn tells all in a new book and spoke to Lorraine in a UK TV exclusive.

Caitlyn wrote of her confusion growing up with poignancy and humour and said that you have to see the funny side, saying: ‘The idea of Bruce Jenner, the athlete, having to deal with that, it's funny."

I’d have to get dressed up and go play Bruce.

Caitlyn spoke about her journey and everything she’s been through the last few years. She said that writing her memoirs has been ‘very therapeutic. There is nothing better than living with no lies'.

Caitlyn told Lorraine how she would try on her mother’s clothes as a child and would dress up for her whole adult life. Speaking of her frustration over many years of hiding her true self, she said: ‘I basically snuck around all my life. No one knew. I’d never get caught."

Throughout the 80s Caitlyn struggled with her feelings. She said of that time: "I never fitted in. I didn’t belong. I didn’t feel worthy."

I wanted to transition before 40. I didn’t want to be an old girl!

Speaking about her ex-wife, Kardashian matriarch Kris, Caitlyn said she was disappointed over some of the quips that she’s heard but joked with a smile that she couldn’t believe they’d ramp up the drama on an entertainment series like The Kardashians and added that she thinks a lot of Kris and makes a point of only saying ‘wonderful things about her'.

I looked in the mirror and thought, ‘Oh my God! It’s me!’

Caitlyn told Lorraine that her now-famous cover shoot for Vanity Fair was a huge turning point for her. It was essentially her ‘coming out’ phase and simply asked the world to ‘call me Cait'. She said that after years of struggle, she finally felt ready to be herself and loved the ‘shock value’ that the reveal had on the world. Her kids had other ideas. Caitlyn said, 'the reaction from my kids, the Jenner side, was, 'oh my god, don't go down that side! It's a little too hot and sexy!' It was kind of a bustier and I get it.'

I’d been hiding for 65 years, this was the woman I was inside.

She joked that coming out as Cait threw a spanner in the works for the press, saying: "It threw Bruce out of the window. Caitlyn is much more interesting!"

As well as being a spokeswoman for LGBT rights in America and fighting for equality, Caitlyn is very politically active and is passionate about raising awareness for the LGBT community.

She still enjoys the same things she always did. In fact, she shared a laugh with Lorraine by saying that her golf has actually improved since she transitioned and that she still enjoys flying planes and recently went speed racing with her son. Caitlyn quipped: "I can still do all that stuff… now I just look really good doing it!"

I love being where I am in life. I’ve never been happier.

Watch the full interview again here on our YouTube channel.

Caitlyn Jenner: The Secrets of My Life is out now