Transgender Model Carmen Carrera Praises Bruce Jenner's Interview: I Feel Like I Know Him Now

Reality star believes Americans will become more familiar with an important community

By Mike Vulpo Apr 27, 2015 8:13 PMTags
Bruce Jenner, Carmen CarreraGregg DeGuire/John Lamparski/WireImage

Like so many Americans, transgender model Carmen Carrera didn't know what to expect when she sat down Friday night to hear Bruce Jenner speak out.

But once the Olympic gold medalist and parent of six shared with Diane Sawyer that he was transitioning from a man to a woman, Carrera couldn't help but applaud his courage.

(At this time, Bruce Jenner has not chosen to publicly identify as a woman and so E! News will continue to refer to him as Bruce and use male pronouns, until he indicates otherwise.)

"I was emotional, too," Carrera shared with E! News Monday morning at the NBC Experience Store. "I was really into it the whole time. I felt like even though I've never met Bruce Jenner in my life, at the end of the interview, I had such an amazing feeling inside."

The former RuPaul's Drag Race contestant continued, "Not only because I'm trans but just as a person. I felt like I knew him a little bit more."

Watch: How Bruce Jenner Inspires the Transgender Community

During the two-hour sit-down, Bruce was open about his sexual orientation, his "female side" and how his family and children reacted to the news.

According to Carrera, his story will help Americans learn more about a community many don't fully understand.

"It gave me a feeling of that for once in the world, people can say that they know a transgender person and that person is Bruce Jenner," Carrera explained. "I feel like everyone knows the Kardashians and everybody knows of Bruce for a long time too."

For now, Bruce is looking forward to what his future holds. And while he knows he's "going to be okay," he hopes people who hear his story won't be so quick to judge.

"Have an open mind and an open heart," he told Sawyer. "I'm not this bad person. I'm just doing what I have to do."

For more on Bruce Jenner's transition, watch E! News tonight at 7 and 11 p.m.

Learn more about what it means to be transgender at https://glaad.org/transgender

If you are transgender and need help or advice, contact the Trevor Project https://t.co/guMjyYIfng

PHOTOS: See Bruce Jenner through the years