Jenner debuts post-Bruce look, breaks Twitter

LOS ANGELES - Agence France-Presse

AFP Photo

Caitlyn Jenner, the transgender Olympic champion formerly known as Bruce, unveiled her new name and sexy look on June 1 in a Vanity Fair cover shoot, drawing widespread praise and smashing a Twitter record.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender campaigners and many well-wishers welcomed the high-profile debut, as did the 65-year-old Jenner’s family, which includes the media-savvy celebrity Kardashian clan.

Jenner managed to break President Barack Obama’s record for amassing one million Twitter followers in the shortest time; about four hours.

“I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self,” Jenner wrote in her first tweet after the magazine released the July cover photo by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.

“Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for you to get to know her/me,” added Jenner, who sported a cream-colored strapless bodysuit and long brown hair for Vanity Fair’s July issue.

In a video clip of the photo shoot on the magazine’s website, Jenner said: “Bruce always had to tell a lie. He was always living that lie. Every day, he always had a secret, from morning till night.  

“Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets,” said Jenner, a reality television star, who is also shown in a black evening gown in the video. “As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I am free,” she said.

“Caitlyn Jenner” and the hashtag #CallMeCaitlyn quickly rocketed to the top of the Twitterverse as the top trending topic in the U.S. and worldwide.

Jenner was widely praised for revealing in a television interview broadcast in April that she was transitioning to life as a woman, earning praise for coming out as transgender.