Trans Woman Bruce Jenner Debuts Caitlyn In Vanity Fair

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com/AP) — Bruce Jenner's transition is complete.

"Call me Caitlyn," declares a headline on the July cover of Vanity Fair, with a photo of a long-haired Jenner in a strapless corset, legs crossed, sitting on a stool.

The image was shot by famed celeb photographer Annie Leibovitz. Inside, more images show Caitlyn in gold lame, a black bustier and a cleavage-baring, off-the-shoulder gown.

According to Vanity Fair, which took to Twitter with the cover Monday, Jenner spoke emotionally to the magazine about the gender journey: "If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, 'You just blew your entire life.'"

"I'm not doing this to be interesting. I'm doing this to live." #CallMeCaitlyn

Jenner introduced herself to the public on Twitter shortly after the image circulated online.

Within hours of creating a Facebook and Twitter account, @Caitlyn_Jenner had more than 1 million followers and was trending.

The first tweet read: "I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me."

The cover comes after Jenner's two-hour interview with Diane Sawyer in which Bruce Jenner confirmed the transition. The much-anticipated "20/20" interview on April 24 was watched by more than 17.1 million viewers.

Prior to the unveiling of Caitlyn, Jenner had said he preferred the pronoun "he," but Vanity Fair contributing editor Buzz Bissinger, who wrote the story, refers to "she."

The Olympian who married and divorced reality show "momager" Kris Jenner has appeared for years on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Jenner's own still-untitled docu-series chronicling her transition is scheduled to begin July 26.

Drian Juarez, who is a member of the Los Angeles LGBT member, said the Vanity Fair cover and reaction to it is a mark of change. She compares it to her coming out back in college.

"I experienced horrendous bullying in school. I was physically assault at school. I was called names," Juarez said. "To see Caitlyn come out at 64, it's never too late to be yourself."

Among big names to reach out on Twitter in support of Jenner's reveal were some of his children, LGBT advocates and Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Barack Obama.

"Nice to meet you, @Caitlyn_Jenner," Jarrett tweeted (and was re-tweeted by the White House). "The brave choice to live as your authentic self is a powerful example to so many."

During the "Entourage" premiere Monday night, Brody Jenner, Caitlyn's son, walked the red carpet, but would not answer questions. Former Olympian and champion diver Greg Louganis, who made headlines after coming out as gay and HIV-positive, knows all too well what Jenner went through and what Caitlyn is going through.

"I think it's wonderful. I think that Caitlyn has a wonderful opportunity to teach the world much more about that," Louganis said.

Clinical psychologist Judy Rosenberg hasn't treated Caitlyn, but has many transgender patients and agrees that this is a great opportunity.

But, she says, the struggle for Caitlyn isn't over.

"Now she's living in the body of a woman. She is a woman. She was very courageous to come to the point of authenticity and now she's going to experience what life is like as a woman," she said.

The magazine will be out June 9.

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In:
• Vanity Fair
• Caitlyn Jenner
• Kim Kardashian
• Kendall Jenner