Speaking her truth. Nikkie de Jager, who is widely known as NikkiTutorials, came out as transgender in a powerful new YouTube video she posted on Monday, January 13. The makeup artist said she was ready to take back her own power by sharing her story with the world after someone tried to take that opportunity away from her.

“I never felt comfortable with labels,” the 25-year-old began. “I wanted to be my own person. My own identity. My own human being without any rules, without any labels, without any restrictions. It is a brand new year. It is 2020.”

The star continued to open up about a previous chapter of her life that helped create the person she is today. “It is time to let go and be truly free. When I was younger I was born in the wrong body, which means that I am transgender,” the beauty vlogger shared. “So surreal saying this. Filming this video is scary, but it feels so liberating and freeing. I’ve been wanting to share this side of myself with you for so long, but I could never figure out the timing.”

“I am sharing this with you because I feel free enough now for you to truly follow my journey,” the social media star added. “Not the power of makeup, but the power of me. With this message, I want to inspire little Nikkies around the world who feel insecure, who feel out of place, who feel misunderstood.”

Nikkie de Jager Comes Out as Transgender
Hauter Katrin/Action Press/Shutterstock

The Netherlands native also opened up about her childhood. When her mother was pregnant, she was convinced that she was having a daughter. “Out came me,” the YouTuber said. Nikkie held back tears while talking about her mom’s support along the way, revealing it was everything she could have dreamed of.

By the age of 6, the glam guru grew her hair out. “I think by the age of 7 or 8, I fully wore girls clothes only and it felt amazing,” she added.

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Nikkie said she started taking hormones and growth stoppers at 14. “By the time I was 19, I fully transitioned,” she shared, noting how the process happened while she was making a name for herself on YouTube.

These days, Nikkie has a massive following of over 12 million people on the platform. While many of her fans shared messages of support in the comments section, the star revealed that she has been blackmailed by people who wanted to leak her story to the press. “This one is for you,” the influencer said, calling out those individuals directly.

“Glow babies, today is the day I am free and I get to be me finally,” Nikkie told her fans, friends and loved ones.