Kellie Maloney has revealed that David Beckham spurred her on to become a woman.
Maloney – formerly known as Frank– said the footballer’s metrosexual style made it more acceptable for her to visit beauty parlours.
The 61-year-old admitted that at first she would buy dresses only to throw them away, having been too embarrassed to wear them. ‘I just kept it locked up,’ she said.
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New life: Kellie Maloney today spoke of how she knew as a child she was in the wrong body but thought the feeling would go away
Worries: The 61-year-old former boxing promoter said she considered suicide as she wrestled with her 'two lives' - but now feels free to live as a woman
Bold: David Beckham steps out in his sarong with wife Victoria in 1998
Release: David Beckham's image as a man who used beauticians to improve his appearance, including waxing of his legs and chest, inspired Kellie Maloney
‘I’d go into a shop, buy something and I’d come out and feel horrified. I’d just throw it straight in the bin. I wouldn’t even put them on, I’d just throw them in the bin – it was just a release.’
However, she said Beckham’s well-documented love of male grooming – and the subsequent mainstream acceptance of facials, massages and waxing for both sexes – encouraged her to take the next step. She explained in an interview on Good Morning Britain: ‘When David Beckham came out, when they started waxing themselves and everything else, I thought “this is good, I can go to the beauty parlour now”, I can do things like that and I can say “well, David Beckham does it, all these footballers do it, what does it matter?”’
Maloney, a former boxing manager who guided Lennox Lewis to the world heavyweight title, revealed at the weekend that she was now living as a woman. She retired from boxing in October – claiming to have fallen out of love with the sport.
In fact, she had walked away to begin preparing for her new life as a woman. Maloney, who has three daughters from two marriages, is now more than a year into the transition period.
Under NHS guidelines, transsexuals have to live as a woman for two years before they are allowed corrective surgery.
So far Maloney has undergone hormone therapy, hours of hair removal electrolysis, voice coaching and counselling.
Fame and fortune: Maloney was one of Britain's great boxing promoters and made huge sums from the success of Lennox Lewis (pictured together after a win in Atlantic City in 2007)
Release: Kellie said when her father died four years ago it lifted the lid and helped her eventually start her journey
‘Living with the burden any longer would have killed me,’ she said. ‘The feeling of wanting to be like and dress like a woman has always been there. I consciously made the decision that I wouldn’t dress like a woman, but it was a constant urge.’
Maloney also admitted she knew from the age of three she was born in the wrong body but kept it hidden for decades fearing being branded 'a pervert'.
'It was probably when I was three or four I knew I was different,'
Treat: Kellie said that the first thing she did was get her ears pierced when the news broke
'I didn't like what I saw of myself in the mirror, but I thought it must just be something in my head.
'I feared being seen as a freak, a pervert. I felt I didn't want to be different. I thought it'd just go but it didn't.'
After 'living in the shadows' the 'lid came off the day my father died four years ago', she said.
'I’d been having counselling for ten years and I used to phone up the counsellor, I’d only do it on the phone because I didn’t want anyone to know who I was and I would say to this counsellor, "tell me I’m not a transsexual", and he said, "well I can’t tell you that but you keep phoning so there must be something there", and it just took, I don’t know, I couldn’t get rid of it.
'I think I would have killed myself if I hadn't come out. I was angry with my children, my wife, it was destroying my relationships. That's what made me do it'.
Maloney said the hardest part was telling second wife Tracey. The pair are now separated, but remain ‘very good friends’.
'We’re separated now, divorced, but she’s very supportive. One of the saddest things, when it was coming out of my mouth, when I was telling her, I wanted to sort of catch it and put it back in, and I realised once I’d said it and we looked at each other, we knew that our marriage was over.
'But we are very good friends and we’re soul mates still, and my children have been first class. My eldest daughter has really been with me. Sophie is with me today, my 19 year old, and my young 13 year old, she’s really good. I’ve got a great team of support around me - TG [transgender] pals, everyone has been really fantastic.'
Maloney, who has three daughters from two marriages, is now more than a year into the transition period, learning to live as a different gender.
Under NHS guidelines, transsexuals have to live as a woman for two years before they are allowed corrective surgery.
So far the process has involved secret hormone therapy, hours of hair removal electrolysis, voice coaching and counselling.
Kellie had hoped to live secretly as a woman for 18 months before releasing a book next year about her journey.
But she was betrayed by someone in her support group.
'I have said it was like living in the shadows. I didn't want to leave the house and for a while I started living as Frank again'.
Fresh start: Kellie, pictured leaving ITV's studios with her dogs, thanked the boxing community and the many other people who have supported her
Family: Kellie Maloney was supported by her 19-year-old daughter Sophie at ITV's studios
She said today she felt happy and liberated by what has happened since.
'On Sunday (when the story came out) it was a great release. I had always wanted to get my ears pierced but thought it would make things too obvious. The first thing I did was get my ears pierced'.
Asked how she felt about any negative comments, she said: 'I received so many of them in my boxing business they'd just be like water off a duck's back now to me. Really, that life has prepared me for this transition.'
Maloney, famous for wearing Union flag suits in the ring, guided Lewis to the undisputed world heavyweight title during a successful 30-year career and her former charge has backed her since she spoke out to the Sunday Mirror.
Lewis said previously: 'I was just as shocked as anyone at the news about my former promoter and my initial thought was that it was a wind-up.
'However, having taken some time to read Kellie's statements, I understand better what she, and others in similar situations, are going through. I think that all people should be allowed to live their lives in a way that brings them harmony and inner peace.
'I respect Kellie's decision and say that if this is what brings about true happiness in her life, than so be it.'
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