X Factor star Ottavio Donato Columbro reveals she is transitioning from male to female

X Factor star Ottavio Donato Columbro has revealed she is transitioning from male to female after battling depression.

The singer, who appeared on the ITV show in 2016 as part of duo Bratavio with friend Bradley Hunt, has revealed she has legally changed her name to Miss Octavia Donata Columbro.

Speaking to The Sun, she said: ““I thought to myself, ‘If I can’t be true to my gender identity then I don’t want to be alive’.

“I knew something was different in terms of my gender identity when I was younger I was mimicking the girls dancing in the opening scenes of the Bond films – I’d wrap material around my waist like a dress and walk down the stairs like I was Miss World.

“I watched the first season of Towie and remember thinking,’ I want to be like those glamorous girls and have the boobs and lips’.

“When my mum had my sister I became envious of her cause she had biologically what I wanted.”


Octavia will undergo gender reassignment through the NHS, saying she is facing a 24 to 36 month waiting list.

She told the publication: “This shows just how serious I am. I’ve worked really hard and saved up to fund this. I’m using my own money.

“Hopefully I can spread awareness of transgender and gender identity issues and urge anyone who has feelings of being gender indifferent to go to their GP and ask to be referred to the gender identity clinic for assessment / diagnosis…

“Don’t suffer in silence. Be your own kind of beautiful.”

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