Couple ties knot as wives after fiancé comes out as trans

By Katie Pearson via SWNS

A woman stuck by her fiancé after she came out as trans and the pair tied the knot – as wives.

Trans woman Jackie Wilbt, 32, met partner Anya, 31, when they began taking the same Japanese classes as teenagers.

Anya had a “massive crush” on Jackie, and after dating for three years, they mutually agreed to get engaged at 20.

But Jackie had always felt “uncomfortable” in her body and began exploring different styles – wearing skirts and make-up.

She dropped “small hints” to Anya about transitioning, until confessing she wanted to begin hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) in 2010, aged 19.

But the bombshell news didn’t change Anya’s feelings and actually “strengthened” their relationship – she even helped Jackie find her new style.

Ten years into her transition and after a nine-year engagement, Jackie and Anya tied the knot on October 10, 2020, with 50 guests.

Jackie, tattooist and content creator, from Copenhagen, Denmark, said: "I feel so lucky I've had Anya's support from the beginning.

“I let go of pretending to be someone I wasn’t, and I could finally breathe.”

Partner Anya, author and content creator, added: “If anything, it's been better for our relationship.

“Jackie used to be very withholding but after coming out as trans, she became much more open and positive.

“I knew I would love her no matter what.”

The couple first met in their teens while studying at the same language school together aged 16.

But from a young age, Jackie had always felt as though there was something "different" about her.

She said: “When I was 12 years old, I remember thinking I wasn’t happy with direction my body was heading in.

“But the word ‘trans’ wasn’t around.

"There were no positive role models, and I didn’t know how to put into words what I felt."

For the first few years of their relationship, Jackie began talking about transitioning.

The pair were part of goth subculture, so Jackie began wearing make-up and wearing skirts.

She said: "There wasn't really a 'coming out' moment.

"But around 2010, I started asking Anya things like, 'how would feel if I wasn't a guy?'

"It wasn't really unusual for me to wear a skirt or make-up as a goth.

" But was anxious, so I struggled to put it all out there."

Jackie found the courage to tell Anya she wanted to start HRT, and they mutually
agreed to get engaged in October 2011.

Anya said: "That's when it really dawned on me.

"At first, I was concerned that she wouldn't be the same person anymore.

"But as soon as I realized Jackie was the same, but just happier, that was the game changer for us.

“All I knew was I loved this person and that was all that matters."

The couple lived with Anya's parents' house, in Copenhagen, during their late teens and received a lot of support from friends and family.

However, it took a little longer for Jackie’s parent to understand her transition.

"It was a bit of trial and error, and I had conflict with them in my teens," Jackie said.
"They didn't quite get it and didn't want to see my get hurt.

"But we've come a long way and are in a good place now."

The couple went from strength to strength, as Jackie began hormonal treatment in 2010.

Jackie said going through the "puberty stage" was awkward and finding her style was "daunting".

Luckily, she had Anya by her side.

Jackie said: “When you’re assigned female at birth, you’re bombarded with fashion in magazines.

“But I didn’t have that so it was all new to me.

"I didn't know what my style would be how’d I do my hair or make-up.

"I was grateful to have Anya there to help me navigate it all."

The couple were engaged for nine years, and they wanted to ensure Jackie’s gender identity was recognized in her legal documents before getting married.

Once everything was in place, they tied the knot in a ceremony with 50 guests, followed by an intimate dinner with 12 close friends for the reception.

Anya added: “It was really important to us that we got married as two women.
"Even if that meant holding out for a few years.

"The turned out perfectly."

The couple started sharing their relationship and Jackie's transition journey on their YouTube page called Wives Vs. World.

They gathered nearly 10k followers, and hope to help and inspire others.

Jackie said: "We want to spread joy and be the representation we never had growing up.

"We get a bit of negativity from some people calling our relationship a 'sin'.

"But it's mostly kind, dedicated people.

"Our love is a beautiful thing that is worth celebrating."