Reality TV star comes out as a transgender woman in emotional post
Former Drag Race México co-host Valentina Xunaxi announced her gender affirmation as a transgender woman in honor of her 34th birthday on Wednesday.
'For some time now I've been in transition, I've been doing it privately but today I wanted to open and share with you all,' the drag performer revealed to her 1.7M social media followers.
'Along the way I've felt pressure to come forward so I've decided and wanted to take today to declare myself as a transgender woman. I welcome all the love, support and protection from my dear fans. Thank you so much.'
Valentina (born James Andrew Leyva) quickly received validation from World of Wonder, the production company behind Drag Race, as well as judge Michelle Visage, who's best friends with RuPaul.
'Happy happy happy birthday!' Michelle gushed.
The Cali-born kid of Mexican immigrants got some love from her RuPaul's Drag Race season nine and All Stars 4 sister Farrah Moan, who commented: 'Happy birthday beautiful!'
Former Drag Race México co-host Valentina Xunaxi announced her gender affirmation as a transgender woman in honor of her 34th birthday on Wednesday (pictured March 27)
Valentina's All Stars 4 sister and Pit Stop host Monét X Change gushed in Spanglish: 'Mi hermosa reina! Happy Birthday amor!'
The 5ft8in stunner's season 9 sister Peppermint - who publicly came out as trans in 2016 - commented: 'Happy Birthday lady! I love you so much!'
And RuPaul's Drag Race #6 winner Bianca Del Rio put her sarcastic jabs aside to write: 'Happy birthday! Love, Nana!'
Valentina also received supportive comments from her Drag Race sisters Kylie Sonique Love, Detox, Bosco, Amanda Tori Meating, Jewels Sparkles, DeJa Skye, CoCo Montrese, Tammie Brown, June Jambalaya, Manila Luzon, Naysha Lopez, Shea Couleé, and Jaida Essence Hall.
The brunette beauty previously came out as non-binary in 2019, telling Out Magazine: 'I don't completely feel like a man, I don't completely feel like a woman. I feel like a goddess. I feel like I'm my own gender.'
Valentina had only been doing drag for 10 months in LA nightclubs when she was cast in the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2017 on VH1.
The Mexican-American star made Drag Race her-story when RuPaul stopped her lip sync against Nina Bo'nina Brown early because she initially refused to remove her face mask (years before COVID-19).
And while Valentina ultimately landed in seventh place with only one challenge win under her belt, viewers voted her Miss Congeniality for season nine.
The drag performer revealed to her 1.7M social media followers: 'For some time now I've been in transition, I've been doing it privately but today I wanted to open and share with you all'
'Along the way I've felt pressure to come forward so I've decided and wanted to take today to declare myself as a transgender woman. I welcome all the love, support and protection from my dear fans. Thank you so much'
Valentina (born James Andrew Leyva) quickly received validation from World of Wonder, the production company behind Drag Race, as well as judge Michelle Visage, who's best friends with RuPaul
The Cali-born kid of Mexican immigrants got some love from her RuPaul's Drag Race season nine and All Stars 4 sister Farrah Moan, who commented: 'Happy birthday beautiful!'
Valentina's All Stars 4 sister and Pit Stop host Monét X Change gushed in Spanglish: 'Mi hermosa reina! Happy Birthday amor!'
The 5ft8in stunner's season 9 sister Peppermint - who publicly came out as trans in 2016 - commented: 'Happy Birthday lady! I love you so much!'
And RuPaul's Drag Race #6 winner Bianca Del Rio put her sarcastic jabs aside to write: 'Happy birthday! Love, Nana!'
Valentina previously came out as non-binary in 2019, telling Out Magazine: 'I don't completely feel like a man, I don't completely feel like a woman. I feel like a goddess. I feel like I'm my own gender' (pictured May 2)
The brunette beauty had only been doing drag for 10 months in LA nightclubs when she was cast in the ninth season of RuPaul's Drag Race, which aired in 2017 on VH1
Valentina made Drag Race her-story when RuPaul stopped her lip sync against Nina Bo'nina Brown early because she initially refused to remove her face mask (years before COVID-19)
And while the Mexican-American star (M) ultimately landed in seventh place with only one challenge win under her belt, viewers voted her Miss Congeniality for season nine
History repeated itself when Valentina competed on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2018-2019) since she came in seventh place again with only one challenge win
The Linda Evangelista lookalike went on to portray HIV-positive drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard in Fox's Rent: Live in 2019 alongside Brandon Victor Dixon (L) and Vanessa Hudgens
Valentina made a cameo as a patron of Daniela's salon alongside Orange is the New Black alum Dascha Polanco (L) in Jon M. Chu's 2021 musical, In the Heights
History repeated itself when the Linda Evangelista lookalike competed on the fourth season of RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars (2018-2019) since she came in seventh place again with only one challenge win.
Valentina went on to portray HIV-positive drag queen Angel Dumott Schunard in Fox's Rent: Live in 2019 alongside Brandon Victor Dixon and Vanessa Hudgens.
The Vogue México model made a cameo as a patron of Daniela's (Daphne Rubin-Vega) salon alongside Orange is the New Black alum Dascha Polanco in Jon M. Chu's 2021 musical, In the Heights.
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