Jim Cohen, formerly James and Kara, pictured with wife Eirian and their daughters Electra, 7 (left) and Seren 8 (Picture: Caters)

A father-of-two who transitioned to be a woman after eight years of marriage is transitioning back to being a man after just seven months.

James Cohen, 36, told his wife, Eirian, 36, that he wanted to become a woman after claiming he’d hidden his gender secret since he was a child.

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But James, who is now known as Jim by family and friends after ditching his female name, Kara, has thrown out his blonde wig, dresses and high heels.

Despite the couple’s marriage ending as a result of Jimmy’s first transition, Eirian has stood by him every step of the way and claims the pair are now best friends.




Jim, who now has short brown hair and a beard, has recently moved to Portugal with Eirian and now lives with his two daughters and her new partner.

Jim received abuse when he transitioned to Kara (Picture: Caters)

The pair, from Leeds, who have been subjected to online bullies are now trying to educate those who do not understand gender identity issues.

Eirian said: ‘It was a huge shock when James told me he wanted to be known as Kara.

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‘We’d forked out privately for him to have hormone treatment straight away so it was a shock when seven months later he told me that he no longer wanted to look like a woman.

‘He decided in July last year that he didn’t want to appear female any longer.

‘Jim stopped wearing his blonde wig, dresses and heels and instead grew a beard.

‘But I did my best to support him, after all we had eight happy years of marriage and two daughters, Electra, seven, and Seren, eight, together.

He is moving to Portugal to be with Eirian and now lives with her and her new partner (Picture: Caters)

‘Our girls had accepted that their daddy was turning a woman, we’ve explained everything to them in a way they understand.

‘They don’t mind if he had a beard or wears a dress, kids aren’t born with prejudices, that’s something they learn.

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‘I have done nothing but support Jim from the start and despite being confused myself at first, I have accepted his recent transition and have started calling him Jim.

‘Jim is now the happiest he has ever been, he has no regrets about transitioning into a woman and feels lighter for having explored his feminine side after keeping it repressed for all those years.

‘I’ve had online trolls accusing us of lying about Jim being trans because he know has short hair and a beard but what they don’t realise is that people can be gender fluid, we never let them get to us anyway.

‘We receive so many positive messages and my businesses are doing really well.’

The pair have recently moved back in together at their home in Portugal and are bringing the girls up together.

Eirian, an author, said: ‘Jim had hidden his feminine feelings all his life and despite dressing as a woman last year, he still didn’t feel 100 per cent happy.



‘People were then assuming he shouldn’t do anything that’s not female related and that’s when he felt as though he was being put in another box.

‘Jim is gender fluid and doesn’t particularly relate to either gender at the moment, he is just himself.

‘The girls absolutely love him and since he decided to move in with us at the end of las year, they’ve been happier than ever.

‘Our friendship has grown too and despite not many people understanding our relationship, it’s perfect for us.’

Eirian and her husband James romantically eloped to Jamaica in 2009 and got married.

The mum of two claims that although her and her husband had a loving and fun relationship – she always knew there was something that James then, wasn’t admitting.

She added: ‘James kept saying he didn’t know who she was, then he would change the subject and didn’t want to tell me what she meant.

‘When we got married she seemed to be quite obsessed with my wedding dress, and she wanted to try it on as a laugh.

‘Looking back now we’ve had a crazy year but I wouldn’t change it for the world as it has made us all stronger.

‘We won’t let anything destroy our family, Electra and Seren love their dad regardless of his gender.’

Eirian is currently writing Passion for Freedom which will be released on March 12 this year.

Jim said: ‘I’m glad I made my first transition and I have absolutely no regrets, everyone should do what makes them happy. Eirian and I are still best friends.’