There's no one way to look straight, or gay, or bi, just as there's no one way to look transgender.
Which is why one trans man took to Instagram to prove that every trans person's experience and transition is unique.
Jaimie Wilson posted before and after photos of his transition on the social media site, showing that there is no "tell" when it comes to identifying someone who's trans, but that doesn't diminish who they are no matter what stage of the transition they're at.
"DONT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. I am posting this picture to show that not everyone has to show 'signs' to be transgender. You don't have to pass a test to prove you're trans...and you sure as hell don't need ANYONES approval but your own," Wilson posted on Instagram.
"When I came out people refused to believe I was a man because of how 'Feminine' I presented for 18 years. So why am I posting this comparison? Because I want people to see it doesn't matter what some LOOKS like...if someone has the guts to tell you 'I'm transgender' 'I'm gay' 'I'm bisexual' anything like that PLEASE BELIEVE them and be there for them because stereotypes need to be broken."
The 21-year-old Florida native, who was assigned female at birth and grew up in a very conservative family, told Cosmopolitan.com he knew from an early age that he felt different.
"I knew from an early age that I felt 'different' but growing up in a religious household I was sheltered — I didn't really know anything about being transgender," he said. "I just remember being as young as five and thinking I was going to grow up to be a guy."
This isn't the first time Wilson has talked about his transition online.
In February, he posted shots of him before and after his transition, pointing out there's no one way to look "masculine" or "feminine."
"At first I was scared to come out as transgender because I didn't give any 'signs' as people say. I looked and presented very feminine...not because I wanted to but because I felt pressured to make the people around me happy.
"When I first came out people tried telling me 'this is not who you are' that's when I realized you are NOT who people think you are...you are who you KNOW you are."
He also loves sharing throwback pics of himself before and after his transition.
Unfortunately, according to Pink News, Wilson's family hasn't been a part of his life since coming out as trans.
"Coming out as transgender was the best and worst day of my life thus far," he wrote on Facebook.
“I miss having my family in my life…I miss my parents being proud of me…but you know what I don’t miss? I don’t miss the nights I laid alone battling with my feelings…I don’t miss waiting for everyone to leave the house so I could put on masculine clothes and tuck my long hair under a hat…I don’t miss hiding."
Looking masculine actually prompted some backlash from the trans community, with some critiquing his appearance as "too masculine."
"People say that I'm trying too hard to be like a cisgendered male," Jaimie told Cosmo. "The first time I came in for an appointment to the doctor, they didn't understand, they thought I was there to transition from male to female!"
His point? That every trans person looks different.
Keep doing your thing, Jaimie!
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