Nikkie de Jager. Photo: screenshot of video posted by Nikkie

Nikkie de Jager, a Dutch YouTube star and makeup artist, uploaded a video on social media on Monday revealing that she is transgender and refusing to be labeled, which gained support from most Chinese netizens.

After coming out, Nikkie’s identity as transgender soon became a hot search topic on China’s Twitter-like Sina Weibo and her video revealing the truth got many compliments among Weibo users.

In the video, Nikkie said that she never feels comfortable with labels and that she wanted to be her own person without any rules, labels or restrictions.

Then Nikkie said that when she was younger, she was born in the wrong body, which means that “I am transgender.”

Although she felt terrified speaking out publicly, she also felt liberated and free after coming out in the video, Nikkie added.

Nikkie has considered herself a girl since she was 6 years old, and she began to wear dresses at the age of eight. When she was 14, Nikkie had to take medicine to stop growing.

Nikkie called for everyone to learn to understand, hear and respect others, and to love as well as express themselves.

The 25-year-old beauty vlogger’s story touched lots of Chinese netizens, who respected her courage.

“I have watched her videos for a long time and I cannot believe she is transgender. She is so brave to speak out,” one Sina Weibo user commented.

Many netizens consider that each person has the freedom to choose who they are and who they want to be. “Whether Nikkie is a man or a woman, Nikkie is Nikkie, which cannot ever be changed,” another commented.

Nikkie also mentioned her mother’s support in the video, underlining the importance of families for those who are in minorities such as LGBTQ.

“There is a more tolerant and considerate atmosphere on Chinese social media toward minorities now,” an employee of Sina, surnamed Kong, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Many people such as Nikkie get support and encouragement from Chinese netizens, which “can give them more power,” she added.

A 20-minute film about transgender people was nominated for the Short Film award at the 2019 Oscars.

Nikkie has amassed over 12 million subscribers on her Youtube channel with her makeup tutorials and reviews. This video alone has been viewed over 8 million times.