Starting to become a young woman in my late teens was a time not only of challenges, but also of great excitement and delights. Looking back, it is difficult to pinpoint every milestone but, like any teenager, I mostly recall the usual rites of passage. First kiss, first drink, driving a car, first trip without parents, and so on. But for girls like me you can add, for example, no longer feeling comfortable using the boys...

As my teen years progressed, my little feminine traits and preferences somehow became more important to me, and felt increasingly natural. I identified as a guy, and I was nowhere near truly understanding my sexuality or the path I would take in life. But the first steps were happening. My friendship group was wide and diverse, but socialising focused mostly with a small group of girlfriends. I was sporty and enjoyed play...

So, the shy boy who started university graduated three years later as a proud (but, to be honest, still slightly shy!) young woman. Elle had been born as I came out, started my hormone therapy, and ultimately changed my Christian name and gender officially. Four years on, and at the time of writing, I’m twenty-five. It sounds a bit clunky to describe me like this, but I’m a transitioned, full-time trans woman. I have not...