A WEST Fife-based garden designer said she is now the “person she was meant to be” after making the decision to transition to become a woman during lockdown.

Stephanie Ogg, 48, said she has known she was in the wrong body since the age of eight and is hoping that sharing her story will help others in a similar situation.

Having been married and had two children, she had attempted to get on with life as a man however suffered a constant internal battle with her masculine and feminine side.

After a decline in her mental health, Stephanie, who owns Garden Design Fife, decided to take the step of transitioning.

“Since I made the decision, it has been a massive weight off my shoulders,” she said.

“I am a lot more happy. I am more chilled out. I seldom get angry. I am definitely a lot more emotional but I would say I am definitely the person I should have been when I was born.

“I want to say it is ok to be you. I knew I was different when I was eight. I would go into my mum’s bedroom and wanted to put lipstick on and you start to question yourself. There was no internet, it is not like this was on tv.

“I thought I am the only person who is like this. Then I go through life saying I want to be a normal guy and it is this inner feeling. Something is not right.

"You bottle that. It is a constant battle between the masculine side and feminine side and it is exhausting because it does consume you every single day of your life.

"It can be very, very hard. It is not a fulfilling life being in denial of being transgender.”

With suicide rates rising, Stephanie wants to help others who are struggling.

“The statistics in transgender people is 40 per cent suicide rate. That is big. You are not only battling with your inner gender but also battling with the fear of ridicule and even rejection. Once you get past that and you become brave you can enjoy your life. If someone is not happy with it, then that is their issue,” she said.

“I was suicidal. I had planned my death. I sat and sat and sat and was then like 'What if I spoke to someone and reached out? What if my life could be ok?'

"I reached out to my brother. He said 'Come and live with us'. I lived with him for pretty much a year.”

Having gone to a private gender clinic in Edinburgh because of lengthy NHS waiting lists, Stephanie has been pleased with the reaction from those around her.

“Everyone has been kind to me,” she said. “It can be tough for everybody but when it comes down to it, it is about the person who will be going through it to be happy inside.

“I would say if you are going to transition, do it gracefully, have compassion for others. Don’t think it is all about you. It is dialogue and talking things through.”

Stephanie is aware that some will not understand her journey.

“You have to be thick skinned and definitely brave but that comes from experience – there is no rule book,” she said. “You have to think 'How do I want to be?' You kind of evolve. I started doing hormones and testosterone blockers.

“It is quite a wonderful thing but it can be crazy as well. You are pumping all these hormones into your body and that can affect your moods. It is like going through the menopause.

"I already went through puberty then going through it again at 48! Then you are a parent as well. It can be overwhelming.

“People say you are never going to be a woman – I will never be a biological woman. I will be a transgender woman. I am not trying to be a biological woman but I can certainly be myself and be a transgender woman.

“I get asked advice by people and if I could maybe inspire someone, someone who is going through something, that it is ok to be you.”