Bruce Jenner's Debut as 'Caitlyn' on Vanity Fair Takes Social Media by Storm

By Bea Karnes (Patch Staff)

Bruce Jenner unveils Caitlyn. Photo by Annie Leibovitz via Vanity Fair
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Meet Caitlyn Jenner, trending on social media Monday as #CaitlynJenner and #CallMeCaitlyn.

In an article and photos released by Vanity Fair magazine, former Olympic champion and Keeping Up With the Kardashians star Bruce Jenner -- who says she has long suffered from gender confusion -- made her very public debut as very much a woman. The Malibu resident is now Caitlyn Jenner.

“If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, ‘You just blew your entire life,”’ Jenner told Vanity Fair.

Related:

• Bruce Jenner’s Transition to Being a Woman Started in Tarrytown
• Bruce Jenner Sued by Family of Calabasas Woman Killed in Malibu Crash

The article is accompanied by a series of portraits taken by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, including a cover shot of Jenner in white corset.

Jenner, 65, also unveiled the Twitter handle @Caitlyn_Jenner. She reached one million Twitter followers in four hours and three minutes, a new record according to Guinness World Records.

“I’m so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self,” Jenner wrote. “Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can’t wait for your to get to know her/me.”

Robert Garcia, the first openly gay mayor of Long Beach, voiced his support for Jenner on his Twitter page, “Proud of Caitlyn Jenner. She is showing the world that living an authentic life is real happiness.”

Other less famous people weighed sent tweets, such as --

Christine Brecht, ‏@stinestinks: “Tear of joy for @Caitlyn_Jenner, I’m so happy she can finally feel beautiful in her own skin.”

ky, @kfthackerson: “I’m seriously so happy for Caitlyn Jenner. Life is too short to be unhappy. You go girl.”

Several people also noted that Caitlyn is spelled with a “C” as opposed to a “K” like all of the Kardashian women.

Jenner is also trending on Facebook, Instagram and other social media.

Questions about Bruce Jenner’s gender identity since she underwent surgery in December 2013 to remove her adam’s apple, and Jenner finally confirmed her transition to a woman in an April interview with ABC’s Diane Sawyer.

“For all intents and purposes, I’m a woman,” Jenner told Sawyer.

Caitlyn Jenner told Vanity Fair she wasn’t making a splashy public debut to earn accolades.

“This is about your life. Bruce always had to tell a lie. He was always living that lie,” Jenner said. “Every day he always had a secret from morning til night. Caitlyn doesn’t have any secrets.”

The photo shoot for the cover story was done at Jenner’s Malibu home.

The magazine hits newsstands on June 9, but subscribers can see all of the photos immediately.

--Patch and City News Service