MODEL and Miss SA hopeful Lehlogonolo Machaba is on could nine after finally having her gender affirmation surgery.
“In my case, I was born male and I am transitioning into a female. Now I’ve had surgery where they construct a vagina for me,” said the 25-year-old from Mabopane in Tshwane.
She said the surgery helped transgender people have a physical body that matched their gender.
Lehlogonolo, who was in the Miss SA 2022 Top 30, spoke to Daily Sun about the surgery and what it entailed.
“It is the construction of designed genitalia for a trans person to match with the gender with which they identify,” she said.
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The model said undergoing the surgery was important for her because it helped her become the woman she wanted to be and it made her excited for the future.
“This for me is a matter of affirmation. Knowing fully that I’m becoming the woman I’ve always wanted to be. From now on, I won’t have to explain who I am. I’ll just be myself,” she said.
“This means a lot, not just for now but also for the type of woman I want to be. It affirms that I’m on the right track.”
She said she was happy and grateful that her transition was moving along.
“I’m really excited about the future. Everything is done now,” she said.
Lehlogonolo said the surgery only took a few hours .
“If I desire to have breast augmentation then I can but I am done with the surgery right now. It’s a one-day thing. The surgery was performed in a few hours,” said Lehlogonolo.
She also offered advice to trans people who were considering also taking the plunge.
“Trans people who want the surgery should start by seeing a psychologist.”
She said there were organisations to help trans people who couldn’t afford the surgery.
