Chelsea Manning has taken her first steps of freedom as a woman, and commemorated the occasion like any 27-year-old might celebrate a big day: posting a photo on Instagram.

Ms Manning posted a photo of her black Converse soon after being released from military prison where she served seven years of a 35-year sentence for leaking classified information to WikiLeaks.

“First steps of freedom!!” she wrote on Instagram alongside a smiling emoji and the hashtag “chelseaisfree”.

Ms Manning’s sentence was commuted by former President Barack Obama in what was one of his final acts as president earlier this year. Mr Obama’s decision to cut the transgender soldier’s sentence angered his successor, Donald Trump, who called the former intelligence analyst an “ungrateful traitor” and said she “should never have been released from prison.”

First steps of freedom!! 😄 . . #chelseaisfree A post shared by Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea87) on May 17, 2017 at 6:39am PDT

In a statement released by her legal team, Ms Manning expressed joy and optimism for her future.

“After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived,” Ms Manning said of leaving the US military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. “I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past. I’m figuring things out right now–which is exciting, awkward, fun, and all new for me.”

Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Show all 12 1 /12 Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence torbakhopper/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Garry Knight/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence People hold signs calling for the release of imprisoned wikileaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning while marching in a gay pride parade in San Francisco, California June 28, 2015. Manning has appealed to an Army court to overturn her court-martial conviction, a court filing released on Thursday said. Reuters Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Around twenty activists associated with the Chelsea Manning support group rally in front of the White House in Washington DC, Sunday May 11, 2014. Stephen Melkisethian/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Daily Chalkupy/Flickr Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Around twenty activists associated with the Chelsea Manning support group rally in front of the White House in Washington DC, Sunday May 11, 2014. Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Twitter Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Abigail Edward holds up a sign advocating the release of WikiLeaks whistle blower Chelsea Manning along the Gay Pride parade route in San Francisco, California on Sunday, June, 26, 2016. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Demonstration for Chelsea Manning in London, England, United Kingdom. Chelsea Manning (born Bradley Edward Manning) is a United States Army soldier who was convicted by court-martial in July 2013 of violations of the Espionage Act and other offenses, after disclosing to WikiLeaks nearly three-quarters of a million classified or unclassified but sensitive military and diplomatic documents. Manning was sentenced in August 2013 to 35 years imprisonment, with the possibility of parole in the eighth year, and to be dishonorably discharged from the Army. Manning is a trans woman who, in a statement the day after sentencing, said she had felt female since childhood, wanted to be known as Chelsea, and desired to begin hormone replacement therapy. From early life and through much of her Army life, Manning was known as Bradley; she was diagnosed with gender identity disorder while in the Army. Mike Kemp/Getty Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Chelsea M Queer Friends/Twitter Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Instagram Protesters urge Obama to commute Chelsea Manning's sentence Jil Love Revolution/Instagram

Ms Manning was convicted in 2013 of 20 charges, after leaking diplomatic cables and military files she gained access to as an Army intelligence analyst. Those charges included six Espionage Act violations, theft, and computer fraud. She was acquitted of the most serious charge she faced, aiding the enemy.

Those leaks revealed abuses in Iraq and Afghanistan by the US military, the treatment of detainees at Guantanamo Bay, killings by military contractors in Iraq, Afghan civilian deaths and other incidents.

Those astonishing revelations sparked global outrage over what seemed to be a disregard by the US military for the impact of war on civilians. The leaks were also criticised by some who said that exposing the country’s most sensitive secrets endangered information sources. The State Department quickly moved to protect sources in the aftermath.