I AM Jazz star Jazz Jennings showed off her scars from undergoing gender confirmation surgery in an emotional post on Instagram.
The 20-year-old, posing in a one-piece red bathing suit, insisted she's "proud" of her body after undergoing the medical procedure.
She wrote as a caption: "These are my scars on full display in #2019. I'm proud of my scars and love my body just the way it is.
"I call them my battle wounds because they signify the strength and perseverance it took to finally complete my transition."
Jazz underwent gender confirmation surgery on June 26, 2018 after expressing for years how much she wanted to go through with it.
#2018 was a rough year in my life. I experienced a major complication with my gender confirmation surgery and wound up back in the OR one week after the initial procedure. It was a tough journey, but experiences like that one only make us stronger in the end. Though it can be hard at times, a positive mindset and the support of those around you can help you conquer any challenge. Thank you to all my fans who have supported me throughout the years! Love you all, this video is for you!?#decadechallenge
A post shared byJazz Jennings (@jazzjennings_) on
In another post, she opened up about how she suffered complications from her bottom surgery.
She explained in a video post: "2018 was a rough year in my life. I experienced a major complication with my gender confirmation surgery and wound up back in the OR one week after the initial procedure.
"It was a tough journey, but experiences like that one only make us stronger in the end.
"Though it can be hard at times, a positive mindset and the support of those around you can help you conquer any challenge.
"Thank you to all my fans who have supported me throughout the years! Love you all, this video is for you!"
Before the surgery, Jazz was surrounded by her family and boyfriend at the time, Ahmir Steward.
The two met over the internet and had a long-distance relationship before breaking up earlier this year.
Going into the surgery, Jazz had talked about how doctors were worried there wouldn't be enough tissue to reconstruct her genitalia because she had a puberty blocker inserted in her arm before puberty.
The puberty blocker prevented her from growing facial hair and having a deeper voice.
She attributed her more feminine looks to the implant.
She said in a video posted on her YouTube channel: "I didn't have growth in that region and because there was a lack of tissue, they didn't have enough material to construct the vagina.
"So they're using a special procedure where they extract my peritoneum lining through my belly button and they use that and they harvest it and they use it to create a vaginal canal."
Jazz had previously opened up about her battle with depression and anxiety.
She was meant to attend Harvard this past fall, but deferred due to her declining mental health.
She said in an interview with Thrive Global: "It’s also a place where I can feel that anxiety and depression to an even greater degree than I do now, because there’s so much going on all the time.
"You want to be involved in everything, but school’s stressful in and of itself. I’ll be studying for tests and exams and trying to be the best I can be.
"In high school, I always got straight As, because I put that pressure on myself."
Jazz has talked about how she has identified as transgender since she was 3 years old when a therapist held up two dolls and asked her if she wanted to be a girl.
She first came into the spotlight after getting her own show with TLC, where fans could see how she lived as she transitioned from male to female.
The sixth season of I Am Jazz premieres on January 28.
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