Trans man who came out age 22 says people now tell him he looks like Tom Hardy
A man who came out as transgender when he was 22 claims folks often tell him he's the spitting image of hunky British actor Tom Hardy.
Leo Macallan, who transitioned from female to male, first told his loved ones he was gay in 2010 and then realised he was trans in 2014. He started his transition just one month after, with testosterone changing his voice and giving him body hair, and he also changed his name to Leo. After top surgery in 2015, Leo, now 32, has been living his best life.
He's super happy living with his girlfriend Rebekah Bauer, 36, in Savannah, Georgia. Leo, who makes content for a living, shared: "When people say I look like Tom Hardy, it is very validating and very affirming."
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Leo Macallan shows a photograph of himself when he was younger (Leo Macallan / SWNS)
Leo once lived life as a girl (Leo Macallan / SWNS)"It feels like a dream come true. Coming from a place where I didn't even think it would happen to now it is a really beautiful thing." Leo loves the Tom Hardy comparisons, saying: "It happens all day long."
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Leo said his friends and family were "happy and relieved" when they saw him for the first time after his surgery and is clear that he always knew he was different. He tried to act "girly" in high school to fit in, but he always felt out of place. He said: "I remember being on a boat looking at my dad with his top off and thinking 'wow, I should be doing that'."
Leo at six-years-old (Leo Macallan / SWNS)He came out as gay the day before he graduated from high school. Later, in 2014, while undergoing therapy, he revealed that he was trans. Inspired by Leonardo DiCaprio's performance in Titanic, he changed his name to Leo.
Leo recalled: "I was a little kid when Titanic came out. I remember looking at Jack and I had a connection to him. I knew that he was what I associated myself with and I used to go to bed every night and wish I would wake up as him."
He claims he looks just like British actor Tom Hardy, pictured (Getty Images)He added: "I was walking home after watching Titanic one night and realized I should call myself Leo. It was a little gift to my former self to be like 'yes, we finally got here'."
In June 2014, Leo began hormone treatment. A year later, he underwent top surgery, funded by $8000 donated by fans and friends who had heard his story online.
Leo is now a masculine man (Leo Macallan / SWNS)
Leo flexes his muscles (Leo Macallan / SWNS)The first time he saw his body post-operation, Leo said he felt "free", adding: "It was one of the best days of my life". He also shared that most people's reaction was 'finally', and it allowed him to "Predominantly everyone was like 'finally' - it didn't feel like much of a surprise for people. I was just like 'I can finally calm down and start living'. This was when I was able to really start navigating the world myself and breathe.".
Since then, life has picked up for Leo, who shares his journey on social media under the handle "thegravelbro". He said: "Things really started to pick up for me. It was a long working process, I have always known I was going to be a public figure, it was just the path of getting there."
Leo is proud of who he has become (Leo Macallan / SWNS)
Leo likes to work out (Leo Macallan / SWNS)"Things have really changed for me, I feel like I am finally on track. I live happily with my girlfriend - who I met a year ago." He said: "It has taken me a long time to get where I am."
He is "grateful" for his past as Liz, which led him to become Leo. He said: "It does feel like a separate life to the one I am living now but I am very open and not opposed to revisiting her. I am very grateful for her and for what she went through to be me."
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