EUGENE, OR– A transgender man is creating buzz after he entered the Men’s Health “Ultimate Guy” competition.
Aydian Dowling is a transgender man who was born a female but started hormonal replacement therapy in 2009.
“I was very unhappy and depressed before,” he said. “And pretty much once I got some therapy and help and started taking hormones, my life started to fall into place. My core is the same person, but my confidence has grown tremendously.”
Dowling says he was hesitant to sign up for the competition that picks one winner to appear on the cover of Men’s Health Magazine, but friends urged him along.
Now 27 years old, Dowling says “I never thought this would happen,” the idea that a transgender man could be on the cover of a mainstream men’s magazine is “mind-blowing,” Dowling said.
The Men’s Health contest invites men that are “fit and fearless” and live healthy lifestyles to apply for the competition. The magazine says they will choose a winner based on reader votes along with criteria including physical fitness and healthy living.
The contest will run through June 21st.
