Popular YouTube make-up artist NikkieTutorials shared her story as a transgender woman this morning with an emotional coming out video.
"Filming this video is scary," says Nikkie. "But it feels so liberating and freeing."
The YouTuber opened up about her gender, journey, and transition to her nearly 13 million subscribers.
"I want to start the year off with the truth. I want to start the year off by finally revealing a part of my life that has made me who I am," says Nikkie in the video.
"When I was younger, I was born in the wrong body," Nikkie's voice cracks. "Which means I am transgender."
Nikkie goes on to dive into her 11-year YouTube career hiding this secret and her relationship with her fiancé Dylan.
In the last few minutes of the video, Nikkie reveals that she was pressured to came out following threats of blackmail. She says that the blackmailers found out about her gender identity and threatened to leak it to the press. Nikkie wanted to get ahead of the threats and come out on her own terms. "This is for you," she says.
But at the end of the day, Nikkie simply hopes her story inspires others to their lives the way they want to.
"I am me. I am still Nikkie. Nothing changes about that."