Musician Teddy Geiger opens up about wanting to transition in first interview

Teddy Geiger is opening up for the first time about her transition since revealing she was transgender in October last year.

"I can remember back to being 5 and looking in the mirror, feeling like a girl and wanting that," the 29-year-old told the New York Times. "But growing up in Rochester, [New York], there were limited resources. I'd never met a trans person before."

The 'For You I Will (Confidence)' singer was 16 years old when she was discovered during VH1's reality competition, In Search of the Patridge.

"I was going through adolescence and having sex for the first time, but it was in this really weird context," Geiger said. "I didn't have a real support group."

Geiger has since had a successful career shift, and now writes songs for artists including Shawn Mendes, One Direction and James Blunt.

Last year, Geiger struggled with obsessive-compulsive tendencies and anxiety. She said she had a compulsion to keep her nails perfectly polished.

"It was the only femininity that I was expressing, so I wanted it to be so perfect," Geiger said. "It was the only thing I could control."

In September 2017, Geiger began seeking treatment for her anxiety. A month later, she came out as trans to her loved ones and began making important life changes.

"I threw away all my boys clothes and started wearing makeup," she said.

She then came out in mid-October, and revealed in November that she had begun hormone replacement therapy. She has since explained that she intends to keep the name Teddy, and that she prefers female pronouns.

And in May, Geiger made her public debut at the 2018 BMI Pop Awards, where she was honoured for co-writing Shawn Mendes' hits 'Mercy' and 'There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back.'

If you, or someone you know, needs to talk to someone you can contact: Lifeline on 13 11 14, 1800Respect on 1800 737 732, or The Gender Centre at gendercentre.org.au.