A 16-year-old was inspired to come out as a transgender girl after seeing a Channel 4 documentary at the age of 10.

Danielle Lloyd, born Laine Gratton, was in year five at primary school when watching the programme My Transsexual Summer, which aired in 2011, made her realise she was actually a girl.

The teen, from Uxbridge, north London, then confessed the truth to her mother three years later, when she was 13.

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Danielle Lloyd, born Laine Gratton, was in year five at primary school when watching the programme My Transsexual Summer made her realise she was actually a girl

But to her surprise her mother Priscilla, now 46, already knew and was just waiting for her then-son to realise it himself.

Her dad, Paul, 49, also showed his unwavering support by taking his young daughter shopping for makeup as she adapted to her new identity.

Danielle said: 'I was blown away by the support of my parents.

'I was so afraid to tell them but knowing they're happy with who I really am has made my transition easier.'

Danielle (pictured in primary school and then May 2016) was surprised when her mother said she had known all along

Danielle, who dropped out of school in 2015 after being bullied, said: 'We were watching TV and I said I had something I needed to tell my mum.

'I said I didn't feel right, and she said "Because you want to be a girl?".

'She said she had always known, she was just waiting for me to figure it out.'

Danielle said that as a young child she never understood the difference between boys and girls.

She played with both Barbie dolls and cars, and paid no thought to her sex.

But when she was aged 10 and in year five, the boys and girls were split up for PE for the first time.

Danielle said that as a young child she never understood the difference between boys and girls

As most of her friends were girls and she hated playing football or with Pokemon cards like the boys, she felt isolated.

She said: 'That was the first time I realised I was different.

'A few weeks after that a TV show aired on Channel 4 called My Transsexual Summer - and watching that really hit home for me.

'The people on the show were experiencing the same feelings of confusion and loneliness I was.

'I was only 10 but it was so clear to me that I was transgender.

She played with both Barbie dolls and cars, and paid no thought to her sex. The first time she did was when boys and girls were split up for PE lessons in year five

As most of her friends were girls and she hated playing football or with Pokemon cards like the boys, she felt isolated

'I wasn't a girly boy and it wasn't just a phase. I felt trapped in my own body.

'Afterward I sat crying on my bed because I was so happy I had found the answer for my feelings.

'The next step was telling everyone.'

I realised I didn't need to fit into a boy mould – I just needed to be myself to be happy

Terrified she would be rejected from her family, Danielle kept her feelings a secret for three years.

She vowed she would transition only when she turned eighteen and had left home.

Her torment worsened when she was moved to an all-boys school for secondary school.

'It was the worst decision because I got bullied a lot,' she said. 'I would wear mascara and classmates would make fun of me.

'But it was the best decision because I realised I didn't need to fit into a boy mould – I just needed to be myself to be happy.'

Moving to a mixed school a year later allowed Danielle to flourish and grow in confidence.

Danielle's torment worsened when she was moved to an all-boys school for secondary school

She even started to wear more makeup – which was bought for by her parents.

And one tearful evening she confessed her closely-guarded secret to her mum.

She said: 'It was like a weight off my shoulders.

'I let mum tell my dad, Paul because I was afraid he would react badly.

'But the next morning I asked if he still loved me and he said he did.

'He said he'd support me no matter what. It was such a relief.'

Almost instantly she changed her name and started her transition at the Gender Identity Clinic at the Tavistock and Portman.

But moving to a mixed school a year later allowed Danielle to flourish and grow in confidence

She has since perfected her makeup technique and has ambitions to be the next Zoella, a YouTube star

She swapped her wardrobe of dowdy gender-neutral clothes for colourful dresses and skirts.

And Danielle has perfected her makeup technique and has ambitions to be the next Zoella, a YouTube star.

But despite her happy home life, she has come up against cruel bullies at school.

She said: 'Some of my friends turned against me.

'They'd say I'd never be a real girl. Once they cornered me and threw a glass of water over me. It was so humiliating.

'It knocked my confidence so badly.'

Now, Danielle has put the past behind her and couldn't be happier with her new life.

She said: 'My life is the best it's ever been.