Tuft said that she initially questioned her gender identity at a young age, telling host Billy Bush, “When I was 10 … when my parents weren’t home, I would sneak into my mom’s closet and try out her clothes and it just felt right.” The transgender journey can be rife with internal questions about body image and external presentation. My own journey regularly sparks questions from others, given my position as a public — and extremely fit — athlete and fitness influencer. One of the questions I often field is: “Gabbi, how did you lose all the muscle mass?” The answer isn’t as straightforward as people may expect but is informed through 30 years in the fitness industry and my personal transition experience.
With her wife Priscilla by her side, Tuft spoke about the ups and downs of her transition to Bush, 49, including how the couple handles intimacy in their relationship. The former wrestler knows that coming out as transgender and sharing her story so publicly is not only something she needed to do for herself, but something she hopes will also inspire others as well. Every transition journey is unique. If you’ve known one transgender person, then you’ve heard about only one transgender person’s journey. Mine was a study in evolving strength — inside and out.
