Reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner has been the fastest celebrity to have got over 1 million followers on Twitter, breaking President Obama’s record. She’s now lending her support to the first-ever Oscar campaign for the transsexual actress Mya Taylor, who might vie for the Best Supporting Actress trophy at upcoming 88th Academy Awards for her role in comedy-drama film Tangerine.
Caityln, a former Olympic athlete, was known as Bruce Jenner before her transition. She will be hosting a special screening of the film for Academy members on the evening of January 4.
Jenner is no less than The Kadarshians when it comes to breaking the internet, by the way. Here’s why her story is a courageous one.
So who is Caitlyn Jenner and what is the big deal about this Vanity Fair cover girl?
Caitlyn was formerly Bruce Jenner, a track and field athlete who won the gold medal in the decathlon at the Summer Olympics held in Montreal in 1976. The sportsman once again came under the spotlight after marrying Kris Kardashian and making an appearance in the reality show Keeping Up With The Kardashians. In April 2015 following a divorce, Bruce in an an interview with Diane Sawyer revealed that he has the ‘soul of a female’. Jenner shared that he is a trans woman and has been dealing with gender dysphoria since his youth.
Since then Bruce has been going through a transformation. And finally he made his Vanity Fair debut and introduced himself as Caitlyn Jenner.
The cover was greeted with praise, with many on social media rallying around #CallMeCaitlyn.
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Friends, family and fans poured in with their support. Even US President Obama tweeted about Caitlyn’s courageous move.
Tangerine, which has been shot entirely on iPhones, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015. The film was released by Magnolia in July. Directed by Sean Baker, the film came into limelight after 24 year old Taylor, who plays Alexandra, a sex worker whose best friend Sin-Dee (played by Kitana Rodriguez) is released from prison, returns to their block and enlists her help in getting to the bottom of a scandalous rumour on Christmas Eve.
Jenner and Taylor, you go girls!
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