Transgender teen voted prom queen at Washington high school
RENTON, Wash. — A few years ago, Brooklynn Buenaventura went to prom in a tux. This year, the transgender teen was voted prom queen of Renton High School in western Washington.
For Buenaventura it was about dressing up as her "true self."
"I'm not hiding anything, anymore," Buenaventura said.
Buenaventura was born in a male body "my birth name is actually Bruce, like Bruce Jenner" Buenaventura said. Just like Jenner, Brooklynn is in the process of transitioning.
"I'm still scared but it's about being brave, I want to tell other transgenders that it's ok to be out, we're not different," she said.
Just a few years ago, she was part of the homecoming court and went to the dance in a tux.
"I really wanted to get out of that, I felt like I was hiding" she said.
Friends like Coco Allen say it was nice to see her head to the prom feeling happy and confident.
"I'm extremely proud of her, I watched her bloom into the flower she is."
Her parents have also been supportive. Her mother Rebecca Jimenez helped her get ready for prom.
"I'm just proud of her and I hope she will be successful and do whatever she wants to do," she said.