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Caitlyn Jenner: I Wore a Bra and Pantyhose Under My Suit When Giving Motivational Speeches as Bruce

Coming clean as her most authentic self! Caitlyn Jenner sat down with Ellen DeGeneres for her first talk show appearance since her Diane Sawyer interview and the ESPYS. The two sat down for a segment airing Tuesday, Sept. 8 — and the former Olympian was open to talking about all aspects of her life, past and present.

At one point during the interview, DeGeneres pointed out that the 65-year-old reality star made many public appearances as Bruce Jenner back in the day — but with a big secret hidden in plain view.

Related: PHOTOS: Caitlyn through the years

“So here’s something that I read that I think is really fascinating and this is really gutsy of you,” the talk show host began. “You were doing these motivational speeches, you were traveling around the country and being a motivational speaker as an athlete and as an Olympian, and under your suit you were wearing a bra and pantyhose to feel like yourself.”

“Yeah, I did do that a lot,” Jenner admitted with a smile.

Caitlyn Jenner on Ellen

“Weren’t you nervous that if someone patted you on the back or something that they would feel a bra?” DeGeneres asked.

“I was always wearing a suit,” Jenner said matter-of-factly. “So they couldn’t really feel anything under. I was very stealthy. I was good at this stuff. I would literally go back to the hotel room, cross dress, walk out around the hotel, and they never knew.”

Related: PHOTOS: Celebrity LGBT allies

Jenner explained that because nobody expected Bruce to be dressed as a woman, she “never had a problem” with anyone recognizing her.

When DeGeneres asked the former Olympian whether she had ever thought about coming out earlier in life, Jenner said that the timing was never right. 

“Back in the ‘80s, I went through a really difficult time,” she said. “I lived by myself for maybe six years up in the mountains, up in Malibu. I never really left the house besides just to go to work. I was on hormones, [and] I thought for sure I would transition before I was 40 years of age, and I got to 39 and just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t go any farther.”

It wasn’t until more recently that she felt comfortable going forward with transitioning, she explained, adding that her experience with her reality show, I Am Cait, has helped her to recognize what a difference she can make in the lives of others. 

Related: PHOTOS: Caitlyn's best style moments

“There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning and getting to be your authentic self,” she said.

Tune into The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Tuesday, Sept. 8, to see what else Jenner had to say about her experience coming out so publicly.

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