Top Female Supermodel Comes Out As Intersex, Hanne Gaby Odiele Shares Her Story

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Jan 24, 2017 06:23 PM EST

Top supermodel Hanne Gaby Odiele just made a stunning and brave revelation that inspired millions around the globe. Odiele shared through a series of Instagram posts that she is an intersex. The move was in cooperation with InterACT, an intersex advocate.

Intersex is a medical condition wherein a child is born with both male and female sexual characteristics. Some intersex were reported to have experienced a change or appearance of the other sexual characteristics in their teen years. According to the United Nations, about 1.7% of the current world's population is affected by the medical condition.

According to USA Today, the 29 year old supermodel revealed that she was born with a condition known as undescended testicles. According to Odiele, she was operated on to remove the testicles at age 10 when doctors claimed that the condition may lead to cancer.

According to reports, Odiele already pondered on the idea that she will not be able to bear any kids. She narrated that she knew something was wrong with her as she was not having her menstruation. At age 18, Odiele reportedly underwent a surgery to reconstruct her vagina.

Odiele claims that being an intersex is not a big deal. She even stated that it should already be normal, in this day and age, to talk about the issue of being intersex.

Hanne Gaby Odiele is a super model from Kotrijk, Belgium and has graced the runway for top fashion icons like Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang. She is currently married to model John Swiatek who only had praised for her wife after she decided to come out.

Odiele is the first high profile celebrity to come out with the condition. Top fashion magazine, Vogue, commends Odiele for coming out and for her being the voice of the intersex community. Vogue also described her act as "an act of enormous courage."

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