A former beauty queen has revealed why giving up the chance of becoming Miss America helped realise his dreams of becoming a man.

Ashton Colby, 23, from Columbus, Ohio, who was once a blonde bombshell, now lives as a man with his straight girlfriend - and loves working on his muscles. As a teenager, Ashton’s killer figure and stunning looks were the envy of his friends, but the gorgeous then-teenager - who started competing in pageants from the age of 17 - secretly dreamed of life as a man.

Being constantly told he was ‘pretty’, however, made it all the more difficult for Ashton to make the transition. University student, Ashton, who prefers not to reveal his original female name, explains: “When I came out as transgender, people didn’t understand that I wanted to be a man when I was such a pretty girl.’ ’But being this beautiful blonde girl wasn’t really who I was inside. I’m much happier as a man and I don’ miss the dresses and make up - I love having stubble and biceps! This is my true self.”

After starting on testosterone in 2012, Ashton, underwent an $8,000 (£5,500) double mastectomy in 2013, paid for by his father, and is currently deciding whether to have sexual re-assignment surgery.

Ashton first started feeling unhappy with his gender as a toddler, but says being complimented for being ‘a pretty girl’ made it difficult to come out. He further says: “My mum wanted me to do ballet and wear dresses, but I was a tomboy and into baseball. Deep down inside from an early age, I knew that I would be happier if I was a man. But everyone kept telling what a pretty girl I was, so I ignored my feeling and tried to fit in.”

When Ashton came out as a lesbian at the age of 13, she felt the pressure to be feminine even more. Ashton, explains: “I was attracted to girls, but I still didn’t feel I was being myself.” I tried to be a girly lesbian and put a lot of effort into trying to convince people that I was happy.

Over the next two years, Ashton took part in over six pageants - winning multiple trophies and becoming the runner-up in Miss Teen Columbus.

“But when I was competing for Miss Ohio, I felt so uncomfortable and anxious on stage. I hated it. I couldn’t keep up the act, messed up and broke down in tears after the show. After Miss Ohio, I started watching YouTube videos about trans men who were the same age as me. The videos gave me the confidence I needed to realize who I was and accept myself.”

In February 2012, Ashton came out as transgender and began living as a man. His friends and family were stunned by his confession and didn’t understand why he would want to give up life as a gorgeous woman. Ashton started taking testosterone injections in June 2012 when he was 20. In May 2013, Ashton underwent a double mastectomy.

“I'm confident enough now to explore who I really am. I don't care what other people think anymore.”