Already have an account?
Get back to the

Caitlyn Jenner at Women of the Year Awards: I Never in a Million Years Thought I’d Be Here

Caitlyn Jenner thanked her 10 children
Caitlyn Jenner gave a touching speech at Glamour's Women of the Year Awards on Monday, Nov. 9, as she was honored as a Woman of the Year, saying she "never thought she'd be here"

Coming a long way. Caitlyn Jenner gave a heartfelt speech while being honored as the Transgender Champion at Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards on Monday, Nov. 9.

caitlyn jenner and judith light
Judith Light presented Caitlyn Jenner with one of the 2015 Glamour Women of the Year Awards on November 9, 2015

“I never in a million years thought that I would be here,” Jenner, 66, told the audience. “For years and years, I never felt like I fit in anywhere. I always felt as an outsider; I never felt good in the male side, and I wasn’t obviously in the female side. I was kind of stuck in the middle. But all of a sudden, after making these decisions and coming out, it was by far the best thing that I ever did.”

Related: PHOTOS: Caitlyn through the years

Kris Jenner’s ex opened up about what life was like for her before she decided to come out as transgender, and how her life has changed since she went public back in April with Diane Sawyer.

caitlyn jenner with award
Caitlyn Jenner was honored as a woman of the year

“Over these last six months, it has been the most eye-opening experience of my life,” the I Am Cait star said. “Because for so many years, I lost my enthusiasm for life. Literally, sitting in my house for almost six years. Because I never really wanted to come out; just to go to work, that was about it. Now, actually, I like going out. And I like being myself. And in doing that, it’s been amazing the opportunity we have for change, for people to understand this issue because it’s so difficult.

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity LGBT allies

Jenner — who revealed her new identity on the July cover of Vanity Fair — also said that her transition was a long time in the making, and that she first went to her 10 children for support.

caitlyn and kylie at glamour awards
Caitlyn Jenner posed with daughter Kylie Jenner at the backstage inspiration wall at the 2015 Glamour Women of the Year Awards at Carnegie Hall on November 9, 2015

Related: PHOTOS: Kardashian family album

“My transition was very, very long,” she admitted. “I had many, many, many years of isolation from the world, of lying to the world, of not being myself. I sat down with each one of my 10 children, and I said, ‘This is my story. This is who I am. What can I do?’” I had a lot of conversations with God. I came to the conclusion that this is why God put me on this earth — to tell my story. To be authentic to myself, to who I am.”

In addition to her children, the 2015 honoree thanked Janet Mock and Laverne Cox for paving the way and helping her to be true to herself.

“I could not have done this without the people who have gone before me — the Laverne Coxes of the world, the Janet Mocks,” Jenner said. “I like being myself. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

 

In this article

Got a Tip form close button
Got a tip for US?
We're All Ears for Celebrity Buzz!