from Nathan to Morgan and began to take female hormones

Two years ago she made the decision to make the

With her blonde hair and enviable figure, Morgan Naomi Clarke is hoping to win a beauty pageant - even though she spent the first 22 years of her life as a man.

Morgan, 23, from Manchester, who says she was 'born in the wrong body' is hoping to take home the crown at Miss Transgender UK.

Born Nathan O'Brien, Morgan said she has spent her life feeling pressured to 'butch up' by her two older sporty brothers.

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Morgan Naomi Clarke was born male but after making the decision to transition two years ago she now hopes to be crowned the winner of the first ever Miss Transgender UK

As a teenage boy, she was branded 'gay' by her family and friends who refused to believe she was born in the wrong body.

However, Morgan knew in her heart that her true identity was female and at the age of 21 she made the life-changing decision to become a woman.

And now she has landed regular work as a model and has now set her sights on becoming a beauty queen.

Morgan says that since making the transition from Nathan to Morgan she has felt far happier within her own skin.

'I've always thought of myself as a girl since before I can remember, but I always tried to 'butch' myself up as I believed it was wrong to feel this way.

'It wasn't until my late teens that I had the opportunity to dress as a girl as often as possible.

From a young age Morgan was aware of her gender confusion but says that her family just passed her off as gay with her two older brothers encouraging her to 'butch up'

Morgan says that her family were not accepting when she revealed she was born in the wrong body and their lack of support caused her to become depressed and drop out of university

'When I did this I felt more confident and happy, I felt like the person I always wanted to be.

'It wasn't until I was 21 that I realised I could live fulfilled this way and gained the bravery to change my body and my life.'

Although Morgan identifies as a woman she does not want a full sex change. However she is saving up to pay for a breast augmentation, chin reshaping surgery and a hair transplant to feminise her appearance.

Morgan has been working as a webcam girl and models for fashion brands including Edith Retro and Dress Fancy in a bid to raise the funds for her surgery.

Morgan recalls that she was aware of her gender confusion from a very early age.

But after years of being told she was homosexual by her family, she decided to tell her loved ones about her desire to be a woman.

Morgan made the decision to make the transition at the age of 21 and began to take female hormones

Morgan doesn't want a full sex change but has been working as a model to save funds for breast augmentation

Morgan, who has been taking hormones for the past two years, says that unusually it was her family who had trouble accepting her identity rather than school friends.

'I was never bullied at school, everyone was very accepting of me, but that's not what the problem was.

'It was my parents that weren't happy, they didn't believe me when I told them I wanted to be a woman, they thought it was just shock factor or a cry for attention.

'My older brothers just saw me as their little gay brother, which pressured me to butch up.'

Morgan added that the pressure to conform to something she wasn't began to affect her self-esteem.

'I was always shy as a child and teenager, even scared in social situations to the point I'd have anxiety attacks.

Morgan was never a victim of bullying and says that her classmates were very accepting of her

'I just thought I was extremely sheepish. I began to resent myself and being labelled 'gay' as I knew I wasn't living the life I actually wanted.

'It's only recently I've had the confidence to live as a woman.'

After her parents obvious discomfort with her decision, Morgan became depressed by her gender confusion, causing her to drop out of university.

She said: 'I studied fashion design a few years back, but dropped out of university due to the depressive state of my life.

I just thought I was extremely sheepish. I began to resent myself and being labelled 'gay' as I knew I wasn't living the life I actually wanted

'I'd like to return to university when I've transitioned enough to feel comfortable devoting myself to studies.'

At 22, a year after she began taking her hormone treatment, Morgan began dressing in women's clothing and calling herself Morgan Naomi Clarke.

Basing her style on idols Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Gisele Bunchen, whose careers she hopes to emulate, Morgan is now pursuing a modelling career.

And this year, she is set to compete in the first Miss Transgender UK, in which she hopes to be crowned champion.

She said that she is delighted that she is finally able to imitate the models that she has always admired.

'My obvious idols would be Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss, both iconic supermodels and both British and proud.

'But I'd say Gisele became my biggest inspiration, I'm stunned by her beauty and sex appeal.

Morgan is now set to to take part in the first ever Miss Transgender UK pageant

Morgan says that win or loose it will be a huge step for her and hopefully the transgender community

'I looked up to her when I lived as male and I felt robbed as I believed I wouldn't be able to live as a woman, never mind as a model.

'But now I've made the change it's like my wildest dreams are coming true.'

Morgan says that win or lose, entering Miss Transgender UK will be an incredible honour and a big step forward not just for her but other transitioning people.

'I've never even thought about entering a beauty pageant before.

'I sometimes get nervous I won't have a clue what to do in the pageant when Miss Transgender UK draws nearer.

'I'm incredibly grateful for the experience and to represent the transsexuals of 2015, no matter the result.'



