An emotional journey. Caitlyn Jenner broke down as she spoke about the outpouring of love and support she received as she took part in her now famous Vanity Fair cover shoot where she came out as a woman for the first time.
In a new short documentary, posted by the magazine on VF.com on Sunday, July 26, Jenner and a host of people who worked on the cover story, including Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter, spoke out about the crazy steps that were taken to ensure their "Call Me Caitlyn" shoot was a success.
"He was at a stage in his life where he was going to make this seismic change," Carter said in the video, of his decision to feature Caitlyn on the cover. "I thought this cover, if we got it right, with a great image from Annie Leibovitz, you've got this incredible cresting political issue of transgender…" he continued.
While the concept was easy, the reality of keeping Caitlyn underwraps until the magazine hit the shelves, was far from simple.
"I've basically been inside this house for three months. I haven't really left," Caitlyn explained during the photoshoot. "It's difficult because I can't go out and be seen by the paparazzi," she added, explaining she has to wear baggy sweaters whenever she walks outside her home. "It was just hell," she admitted, candidly. "It was really, really tough on me."
And keeping not only Caitlyn, but also the photos and the interview secure was a big production."We brought in the security that we use for the Oscar party, for the Whitehouse Correspondents' Dinner," Carter explained. "We had security at the photoshoot, security at the printer" he added.
But while keeping the scoop of the century away from prying eyes might have seemed a near mission impossible, an emotional Jenner admits she wouldn't have had it any other way.
Tearing up towards the end of the shoot, the 65-year-old admitted the experience had been a landmark moment in her life.
"It's been great, so many good people, and love and support," she said before talking about a moment during the photoshoot that she caught sight of a reflection of herself from behind. "I had this one time where I looked from a distance and I just thought, 'Oh my god!' It was the first time I'd ever really seen an image of me, who I am. Over-the-top better than I ever thought I'd ever be, especially at my age. Seeing that image was powerful to me," she said
Watch the whole interview in the video above.
