TRANSGENDER PRINCESS DIE IN HER SLEEP AGED JUST 21

Grieving family mourns transgender 'princess' who died in her sleep aged just 21

Proud: The family gathered together to remember Nicole Lax

She fought off bullying, name calling and beatings to become the beautiful woman she always knew she was.
But, after her courageous battle for acceptance, Nicole Lax, 21-year-old died in her sleep when her heart stopped following a night out.

Today her proud family paid tribute to their “princess” as they told of Nicole’s determination to live an authentic life.
“We are extremely proud of what Nicole stood for and what she went through,” said heartbroken mum Nicola, 46, of South Moor, Stanley, County Durham, told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

Princess: Grieving Nicola Lax mourns her courageous daughter Nicole

“She was born a boy and was called Nicky but from an early age we knew she was different from the other children her sex and age.
“She would play with her sister’s dolls, dress in her sister’s shoes and wrapped towels around her head to make it look as though she had long hair.
“By the time she was 13 she was living her life as a young woman. She was being supported and she was diagnosed gender dysphoria. Basically a girl in a boy’s body.”

Nicole, of Durham, had her name changed by deed poll. Although she did not go through gender reassignment surgery, she took hormone replacement from being 16.
She sported a size-six body and her high heels, false eyelashes and gorgeous false nails were her trademark.
She dreamed of one day marrying and having children.

Transformation: Nicole was born Nicky but she always knew she was a girl

Nicola added: “She was the best dresser and had the best legs in County Durham. I always said she had long legs, legs up the M1, legs to be continued.
“Her plan was to eventually live her life with a husband and kids. She wanted a straight guy, she had had some good looking blokes and told all of her boyfriends she was transgender.
“She knew who she wanted to be, and she did it for her. She went though ridicule, was beaten up and, before she grew her hair long, had her wigs pulled off - but there was no stopping her.”
Sister Cally, 26, made sure Nicole lay in her coffin looking pretty. She said: “She went in her high heels, a dress and I did her hair and make-up.
“She looked like a porcelain doll lying her white coffin. It was the hardest thing I have ever done but I know she would have wanted me to do her make up for her.”

Glamourous: Her mother boasted she had the longest legs in County Durham

Step sister Sarah Mills, 25, of South Moor, said: “I accepted her straight away. I loved her and I would make her stay in so we could have pamper nights together.”
Aunt Dawn Dorward, 48, of Chester-le-Street, said: “Nicole and I would be ladies who lunch and on Friday we are doing it one last time in memory of her. We are going to the Shanghai Chinese buffet in Durham, it was Nicole’s favourite place.”
Nicole’s funeral took place on August 4 at Montsett Crematorium. Her ashes will be made into pendants and marble for a memory stone, while the rest will be buried in the meadow in the Isle of Wight with her grandad Jack.
A coroner is carrying out an investigation into her death and the family are now waiting for the findings of toxicology reports.
Nicola added: “Nicole was beautiful. She was our princess and she had a princess send off, I was so proud of her.”

Mirror Uk.