Lori Beynon, 16, from Cardigan said it was the ‘best moment of her life’
By Laura Burnip
19th July 2017, 7:23 pm Updated: 20th July 2017, 2:02 am
A TEENAGER says it was the “best moment of her life” when she was crowned the UK’s first transgender prom queen by her school pals.
Inspirational Lori Beynon, 16, was overwhelmed when classmates at Cardigan Secondary School, West Wales, voted for her to win the coveted title at their end of school dance.
The Year 11 was overwhelmed after being crowned at the school dance
The Year 11 said it was the ‘best moment of her life’
Lori began transitioning two years ago after revealing her true identity to her mum in a text message.
She said: “I was really excited to be going to prom anyway.
“It was the first time I had really worn a proper dress. I felt really nice, I had fake tan on and I was really happy.
“I went with all my friends and I didn’t know, but they voted for me as prom queen.
“That was nice, but I never thought other people would too.
“When they called out my name it was amazing. It was quite scary walking up in front of everyone. It was probably the best moment of my life.
Lori is just about to start hormone treatment after she began transitioning two years ago
“Everyone was standing up and clapping. I didn’t feel like I was a girl – I felt like I was a queen.”
Lori knew she was a girl from the age of three, but it wasn’t until she was 10 she started researching online to put a name to her feelings.
When she turned 13 and started going through male puberty, she told her NHS worker mum Sarah Young, 37.
Too afraid to tell her in real life, Lori revealed her true identity in a text to Sarah.
The 16-year-old said she knew she was a girl from aged three
She said: “Puberty was the worst time in my life. I would wake up and run over to the mirror and it was really hard to deal with.
“I would be there looking at my face and thinking ‘do I have a beard?’
“It’s horrible to feel like that.
“I had to speak to my mum when I was 13. The thought of having to go through male puberty when you are a girl is heartbreaking.
“I told her in a text because I was too scared to tell her to her face.”
But her mum Sarah was completely supportive – and said she “couldn’t be more proud” to see her daughter crowned prom queen.
Lori snaps a selfie with her sash, shoes and jewellery
Sarah said: “I’m not sure there’s been another transgender prom queen so I believe my daughter is the first.”
Lori, who was previously called Luis, said being called him and he “always felt wrong”.
She said: “As a kid I used to wear all my sister’s clothes. I used to put a towel on my head to pretend it was long hair.
“I knew I was a girl. I didn’t think or know I was any different.
“It was only when I got older that I started to realise that the outside didn’t match the inside.”
Lori changed her name two years ago and is about to start hormone treatment.
She said: “I never thought at all that I would get prom queen. It was totally incredible. It felt like I was a celebrity.
“I just want to go as far as I can to feel authentic to myself and who I am. Being prom queen was one step closer.”
Last month leading doctors called for transgender women born male to be given womb transplants on the NHS so they can give birth.
And a school in London is planning to introduce gender neutral uniforms allowing boys or girls to wear skirts.