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Bruce Jenner’s Mom Speaks About His Gender Transition: “I’m More Proud of Him Now” Than Olympic Win

Bruce Jenner
Bruce Jenner's mom Esther Jenner spoke about her son's gender transition from male to female, saying she was "more proud of him now" than when he won his 1976 Olympic gold decathlon meal.

Mom is by his side. Bruce Jenner‘s mother Esther Jenner opened up to the Associated Press on Wednesday, Feb. 4, about her son’s talked-about gender transition from male to female, saying she was “more proud of him now” than when he won his 1976 Olympic gold decathlon medal.

Esther, 88, told the AP that she spoke to her son recently about his transition. “It was brief and I said I was proud of him and that I’ll always love him,” she recalled of the conversation. “I never thought I could be more proud of Bruce when he reached his goal in 1976, but I’m more proud of him now. It takes a lot of courage to do what he’s doing.”

Related: PHOTOS: Bruce Jenner through the years

Despite Bruce’s fuller lips, longer tresses, and more visible feminine transformation, Esther said her son remains the same with the exception of his physical appearances.

“He said, ‘Mom, I’m still the same person,'” Esther told the AP. “He said, ‘I’m still going to race cars, I’m still going to fly airplanes and I’m going to get my helicopter license.'”

As for the very first conversation when she first learned of her son’s plans? Esther said she didn’t see it coming. “When I first learned about it, yes, of course it was a surprise,” she mused. “It was a shock. It’s hard to wrap your mind around it.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebs' coming out stories

According to Kendall, Kylie, Brody, and Brandon Jenner’s grandmother, their dad wanted to be completely honest and clear about his journey. “He started by saying, ‘We need to have a long, serious talk,'” Esther told the AP. “He said, ‘I want to be honest about my identity and I know this is coming out in the press.'”

As previously reported by Us Weekly, Jenner will sit down with Diane Sawyer to discuss his transition from male to female. Along with his first sit-down, Jenner’s story will also be chronicled in his very own unscripted E! series, which he is currently filming.

“The world will see his full transformation,” a Jenner source told Us. “It’s a docuseries featuring the Jenner family talking about Bruce ‘coming out.'”

Related: PHOTOS: Kardashian family album

Amidst his transformation, the Kardashian-Jenner family patriarch has the full support of his 10 children and stepchildren, including his famous stepdaughters Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, daughters Kendall and Kylie, and sons Brody and Brandon. “They all have become protective of him and just want him to live the way he wants,” one source told Us.

Like her grandkids, Esther has nothing but support for her son. “I am at peace with what he is and what he’s doing,” she concluded in her latest interview.

Related: PHOTOS: Kardashian family vacation album

1044 cover

For more details on Bruce’s decision, and how Kris Jenner is reacting to his new chapter, pick up the new issue of Us Weekly.

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