Nikkie de Jager, best-known by her YouTube channel name NikkieTutorials, has revealed that she is a transgender woman in a video she posted on Monday.
In the 17-minute video clip, the Dutch makeup artist and beauty vlogger said, “I hope that me standing up and being free, it inspires you to do the same. To truly live your life like you want it and the way you deserve it.”
The 25-year-old started posting on videos on YouTube in 2008. Since then, she has worked as an adviser to Marc Jacobs Beauty and teamed up with Maybelline. The beauty YouTuber influenced many people to think about beauty and promoted a variety of beauty products and trends.
Nikkie said she had to come out at this moment because she was getting blackmailed by someone who threatened to leak something to the press.
She explained in her video that she started wearing girls’ clothes at the age of 7 or 8. She underwent hormone therapy at the age of 14 and got fully transitioned at the age of 19.
She did not disclose where the threats began or who made them. She also did not give any specific details about the situation. However, she decided to reveal her identity this new year.
Nikkie said, “At first, it was frightening to know that there are people out there that are so evil that they can’t respect someone’s true identity. It is vile and it gross … they said they wanted to leak it because I’m lying or that I don’t want to tell my truth or that I’m too scared to tell people who I truly am.”
“I can’t believe I’m saying this today… I am transgender,” she continued. “At the end of the day, my story is beautiful. All I know is that I haven’t changed.” Responding to Nikkie’s revelation, Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) tweeted, “Nikkie, we support you and we know that your visibility help trans youth and adults alike feel a little less alone.”
