‘Sneaking around and secrets’: Acts that pushed Caitlyn Jenner over the edge

For 65 years Caitlyn Jenner lived as a man with gender dysphoria. Now 72, the former Olympian hopes her story will help others live their authentic lives.

If you expect Caitlyn Jenner to fade into reality TV obscurity, think again.

On the eve of her star turn on Australia’s Big Brother VIP, the 72-year-old says she has no intention of slowing down.

“I just want to continue to be out there,” Jenner tells Insider. “I want to be visible.

“And it’s not so much what I say or doing a show about these issues, about gender dysphoria, it’s about honestly doing a show like this. Life went on for me. I went through this and life went on and life is good.”

Caitlyn Jenner hopes that by sharing her story it makes life easier for others with gender dysphoria. Picture: Channel 7

Jenner lived the first 65 years of her life as Bruce and was married to Hollywood ‘mumager’ Kris Jenner, head of the Kardashian clan.

In 2015, the year she and Kris divorced, former Olympic gold decathlon medallist Jenner came out as a trans woman and went from Bruce to Caitlyn.

“I am still working. I’m still doing things,” she said. “Life went on. My kids are fine. I think that’s the only thing I worried about was my children, not anybody else. All my kids are great. They are accepting, they are understanding, they are glad that I am happy and that is all you need in life.

“I want that to be an example to the next generation of young people coming up who are dealing with these issues. It’s tough to get through, but once you get through it, you get to the other side, life can be good and that’s what I want to be an example of.”

Jenner and other contestants on Big Brother VIP. Picture: Channel 7

Jenner spoke to The Sunday Telegraph when in Australia earlier this year shooting Big Brother, which premieres on Channel 7 on Monday at 7.30pm.

What was supposed to be a standard 10-minute chat extended to nearly half an hour, which may not sound like a long time but is a lot in the usually heavily controlled celebrity world.

We covered everything from fame to politics and life as a trans woman.

“Overall, 99 per cent of my life today is very positive, very upbeat,” Jenner said, warmer than expected and almost maternal in a way.

“I just wake up in the morning and be myself all day and I move on in life.

“One of the things I really enjoy about doing these types of shows is I get to meet a group of people, spend a lot of time with them, really get to know them, and I always wind up having some great friends that honestly last me a lifetime.

“I like people. I like meeting people. I like hearing their stories. I’m certainly not afraid to tell my story.”

She continued: “I’ve been able to live my life authentically for the last nearly seven years now. It has been the best thing I ever did. Everybody has got their stuff … the quality of your life is going to be determined by how well you deal with your stuff. There is nothing better than being honest, number one with yourself and two, being honest with everyone else. “Sneaking around and secrets and all of that, it’s just not a good life.

“It is so much better just to wake up in the morning and be yourself all day. It is amazing how many people are accepting of that.”

Jenner has six biological children, including Kylie and Kendall Jenner, and is step-parent to Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian.

Jenner (second from right) with his family: Kris Jenner (l to r), Khloe Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, North West and Kylie Jenner. Picture: Getty

“When you finally come out, it feels like you don’t have any more secrets like somebody has lifted 1000 pounds off your shoulders and you start breathing,” she said.

“It’s not easy for people to understand this issue. I use the left hand, right hand analogy. Are you left handed or are you right? I say, ‘why is one person right handed and the other person left handed’, and nobody has an answer. That is just who you are.

“Suffering from gender dysphoria is the same thing, it is who you are and what you have to deal with in life.

“We have a terrible suicide rate in this community, it is nine times higher than the general public.

“I’ve been around quite a long time, the ’50s, ’60s, there wasn’t even a name for this. They didn’t even know anything about it.

“In the ’90s, it really started coming out and there were other people that went before me, making it easier for me. People become more accepting and it just got to the point in my life at the age of 65, I had raised all my children, had done everything I could. It was down to me and I made the decision to do this and maybe I can make a difference as doing this gives me a great platform in a very marginalised community.”

Jenner is greeted by host Sonia Kruger at the front door of the Big Brother house. Picture: Nigel Wright

Jenner flew to Australia to record the show while campaigning to take over as Governor of California (she lost to incumbent Gavin Newsom).

She spent two weeks in mandatory hotel quarantine before production started at a specially built set in Homebush.

“I have lived in that state for 48 years,” she explained. “I love the state and I have also in the last 48 years watched the decline of California and it is a shame, it didn’t have to be that way.

After a long deliberation, I decided if you don’t like something, especially politically, don’t sit there and complain about it, do something about it.”

Jenner is a Republican, and is proud to declare she is more conservative politically. Not socially though.

“Don’t put me in a box. I’m on the Republican side because I have conservative economic values. I believe in less government, less taxes, less regulations, a pro-business environment. But when it comes to social issues, being a Republican, I call myself an inclusive Republican. I’m inclusive to all people.”

Jenner is arguably the big drawcard on this season of Big Brother, alongside the likes of actor Bernard Curry, models Ellie Gonsalves and Imogen Anthony, and former NRL player Matt Cooper. Meghan Markle’s estranged half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr, is also on the show, as is former Donald Trump aide Omarosa Manigault Newman.

Big Brother VIP starts on Monday night. Picture: Channel 7

Other reality shows like I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here on Channel 10 have long had Jenner at the top of the casting wish list. She declined I’m A Celebrity, but agreed to Big Brother because it was a format she hadn’t taken on.

“I’ve done some jungle shows,” she said. “I’ve always been a fan (of Big Brother). I knew it would be primarily Aussies and an interesting group of people.”

Jenner was also excited at the prospect of working and trying something new at a time when the world was shut down due to the global pandemic.

“I’ve always liked doing things. I want to get up in the morning excited about the day,” she said.

“During Covid, everything was locked down, it was so boring. I would wake up in the morning and have nothing to do and it was horrible.

“So as things started changing and opportunities came about, I wanted to work.”