MANILA – The coming out of businessman and car enthusiast Ian King as transwoman Angelina Mead King may have come as a surprise to some people.

While others lauded King for her bravery to reveal her true self, there were also those who are curious about her story.

In an exclusive interview with host-events organizer Tim Yap, whose article came out on the Philippine Star on Wednesday, King recalled when Angelina “was born within her.”

“There was always that interest ever since I was a kid. Like I would sneak into the maids’ room — sadly —and I’d borrow stuff. And then weirdly enough, my dad didn’t always have a partner in the house because my mom and dad were separated. So there were not much women’s clothes at home so the maid’s was like the first and then as it progressed, wherever I could borrow,” she said, saying she was seven or eight years old then.

Fast forward to when she met wife, model Joey Mead, King said she did not hide anything as she knew about it early on in their relationship.

A photo posted by Ian King (@hailtothe_king) on Jul 5, 2016 at 7:14pm PDT

“[I opened up to Joey about it] a few months into our relationship. I told her I like to wear women’s underwear and it escalated from there,” she said.

But her admission came with a lot of struggles as they worked out their relationship.

“Joey has had her struggles, we had struggles, but we never separated over it. We have been working through it. I have a counselor, she has a counselor, we talk to a lot of friends, family,” King said.

It’s a good thing that King also had the full support not just of Joey but also of her whole family.

“My dad had a hard time, definitely, but even though he had a hard time in the beginning, he was full support in the end. My stepmom was my supporter, my real mom was a supporter, too. My brother was little weirded out with it but came on board and then… I just told my cousins a few months before this. But now, there is no need to tell anyone, I don’t need to explain myself anymore,” she said.

While she was certain early on that she identifies herself with women, King said it took her a long time to make this public because she was scared.

A photo posted by joeymeadking (@joeymeadking) on Jul 5, 2016 at 1:26am PDT

“[Joey and I] had really serious arguments about everything, the biggest fear was being badgered by society. We were scared that the trolls of society would attack. They probably still will, but there’s so much love and support and that’s the cool part,” she said.

“I was thinking people might say I’m doing it for marketing. Dude, you don’t just wake up one day and say, ‘I want be a woman.’ It’s something you thought of for a long time,” she added.

Now that she is out, King clarified she is not gay.

“Sexual expression and sexual preference are two different things. There is no clear description in the Filipino native language, there is no Tagalog version of LGBT…and however how many letters there are — that’s where the blurred lines come from,” she explained.

Meanwhile, King revealed she is currently taking medications with the end goal of “a second puberty where your body is reborn into a different gender because you are alternating it with hormones.”

A photo posted by Angelina Mead King (@hailtothe_queen_) on Jul 3, 2016 at 11:07pm PDT

“I’m taking medication through an endocrinologist, he’s a licensed doctor and he monitors my blood levels every two months and adjusts the hormones. First, it takes testosterone blockers and then you supplement it with estrogen,” she said.

“In two to three years, it would be finished and will transfer my body with a distribution of body fat and breasts, that is already starting. I measured when I started. My chest has grown a little — from 36 to 37 — and my waist has gotten smaller,” she added.

Despite this, King said she is not interested in having her privates changed.

“That’s a weird part, I’m happy with my privates and that should remain private. It’s no one’s business. Why does it matter? I have a partner, we are faithful and loyal. We have been living with each other for more than 10 years,” she said.

To end the interview, King said she is still in a state of dreaming. “I can’t believe it is happening like this,” she said.