Identical Twins: ''We Were Born Girls - But We're Happier As Men'

Jack and Jace Grafe, 23, started life as sisters – now they are hunky brothers. Here, they share their remarkable story with Closer…

- Kristina Beanland & Harriet Rose Gale

Twins Jack and Jace Grafe, 23, were born identical girls – but their similarities went far deeper than appearances.

Growing up, the twins – who have the same DNA – both experienced feelings that they were born in the wrong bodies and were desperate to be male. And in a rare case, the siblings transitioned together. They started hormone treatment last year – just days apart – before having surgery on the same day two months ago to remove their breasts.

Jack, born a girl called Jaclyn, says he relied on his brother, Jace, born as Jennifer, during his transition. Jack, who lives with his fiancée, Maygon, 22, says, “My brother has been my rock. Without his support, I may never have got this far in my transition. We even got a little competitive! We both wanted to be the first to grow facial hair, or get defined muscles. Being trans isn’t easy – people call you names, or refer to you using the wrong pronouns, which is really hurtful. But thanks to Jace, I’m not alone.”

TOMBOYS

Growing up with their religious parents and older sister, Christina, now 29, in Georgia, America, the Grafe twins, who both work in law enforcement, always knew they were different.

Jack explains, “For as long as I can remember, I knew I was meant to be a boy. Jace and I always preferred typically ‘male’ toys – we loved superheroes and were really into football. As we got older, we shopped for clothes in the boys’ section of stores.

“Our parents just thought we were tomboys. They wouldn’t have even considered that we’d be transgender – it just wasn’t acceptable in the Christian world we lived in.”

HEARTBREAK