A transgender model who was told she would ‘grow out’ of her dreams of becoming a woman now proudly shows off her figure in racy shoots.
Jade Chua-Hoskins, 29, grew up in the Philippines as a boy named Jon, where she was mocked over her feminine nature and love of ‘girly’ toys.
She always knew she was a woman but it wasn’t until her mother’s death in 2011 that she decided to begin her transition by dressing as a woman.
Two years later Jade had 34D breast implants and lip fillers to make her appearance more feminine.
Now she lives in Camden, north London, with husband Dave, 37, and is forging a career as a model and performer.
Causing a stir: Jade, who grew up a boy named Jon, said she ‘always knew she was a girl’
![Racy: Jade had 34D breast implants but otherwise shows off a natural figure in photo shoots](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D41878700000578-5847517-Racy_Jade_had_34D_breast_implants_but_otherwise_shows_off_a_natu-a-31_1529056352122.jpg)
Racy: Jade had 34D breast implants but otherwise shows off a natural figure in photo shoots
![Mocked: The model told how she was a 'laughing stock' as a child because she liked 'girly things'. Pictured, Jon aged 22](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D4187BB00000578-5847517-Mocked_The_model_told_how_she_was_a_laughing_stock_as_a_child_be-a-30_1529056348984.jpg)
Mocked: The model told how she was a ‘laughing stock’ as a child because she liked ‘girly things’. Pictured, Jon aged 22
Jade, who is known by the stage name Lady Phoenix, said: ‘I always knew that I was a girl or woman, I always had feminine features, no body hair, no facial hair, smooth skin and more.
‘I would play with girly things and wore my mom’s outfits, but in the Philippines, transgender was not a thing and has only recently been tolerated.
‘I grew-up a laughing stock with people saying, “He will grow out of it,” and I was told despite feeling like a girl I would become a man.’
![Happily married: Jade with husband David, whom she met through dating app Tinder](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D4188E600000578-5847517-Happily_married_Jade_with_husband_David_whom_she_met_through_dat-a-29_1529056345626.jpg)
Happily married: Jade with husband David, whom she met through dating app Tinder
![Making a statement: Jade, pictured, wants to be a role model for other transgender people](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D41878E00000578-5847517-Making_a_statement_Jade_pictured_wants_to_be_a_role_model_for_ot-a-33_1529056392140.jpg)
Making a statement: Jade, pictured, wants to be a role model for other transgender people
![New home: Jade fell in love with London and its openness towards the LGBTQ community](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D4188DA00000578-5847517-New_home_-a-32_1529056388343.jpg)
New home: Jade fell in love with London and its openness towards the LGBTQ community
From the age of six, Jade became the main family breadwinner selling newspapers on the street to help her mother and sister.
She worked to put herself through university, attaining a master’s degree in business administration and moved away to work in the Kuwait and Dubai.
Jade worked to set up a franchise restaurant in Kuwait and managed a McDonald’s in the Philippines.
But after visiting London, she fell in love with the city’s openness and acceptance of the LGBTQ community.
![Determined: Jon aged 21 when he was a manager of a McDonald's branch in the Philippines](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D4188B600000578-5847517-Determined_Jon_aged_21_when_he_was_a_manager_of_a_McDonald_s_bra-a-34_1529056700916.jpg)
Determined: Jon aged 21 when he was a manager of a McDonald’s branch in the Philippines
![Working hard: Jade, pictured while living as Jon aged 18, has worked from the age of six](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D41876300000578-5847517-Working_hard_Jade_pictured_while_living_as_Jon_aged_18_has_worke-a-35_1529056704736.jpg)
Working hard: Jade, pictured while living as Jon aged 18, has worked from the age of six
The model explained she has always had a naturally feminine figure.
‘I believe I was born with more typically female genetics, I am hairless and never needed to take hormones, the only operation I’ve had is my boobs and lips done,’ she said.
‘I can pass as a woman and female model, at first I didn’t tell the agency I was with that I wasn’t a woman.’
Jade also didn’t feel the need to tell her Tinder matches that she was transgender.
She said: ‘I met for hundreds of breakfasts, lunches and dinners, only telling people “I’m trans” when I was comfortable.
‘My husband didn’t know I was transgender at first, we went for dinner and it was love at first sight.
![Genetically blessed: The model was born naturally hairless and with a feminine figure](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D4188EF00000578-5847517-image-a-25_1529055998882.jpg)
Genetically blessed: The model was born naturally hairless and with a feminine figure
![Career: Jade is an advocate for Models of Diversity, who campaign for fair representation within the media, and was featured in a campaign by US brand Swimsuit for All in a campaign](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D41877300000578-5847517-Career_Jade_is_an_advocate_for_Models_of_Diversity_who_campaign_-a-36_1529056712279.jpg)
Career: Jade is an advocate for Models of Diversity, who campaign for fair representation within the media, and was featured in a campaign by US brand Swimsuit for All in a campaign
‘He’s comfortable and proud of me, within six months I met his mum, and he was unlike any man I’d met before.’
Jade and opera singer Dave, who married in 2016, have applied to Britain’s Got Talent and The X-Factor as a singing duo, with Jade also submitting an entry for The Apprentice UK.
Jade is an advocate for Models of Diversity, who campaign for fair representation within the media, and was featured in a campaign by US brand Swimsuit for All in a campaign.
![TV dreams: Jade and her husband have applied to appear on Britain's Got Talent together](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/06/15/10/4D4188FA00000578-5847517-TV_dreams_Jade_and-a-37_1529056716142.jpg)
TV dreams: Jade and her husband have applied to appear on Britain’s Got Talent together
She added: ‘I want to be an inspiration to people out there and show them that being trans isn’t a hinderance to anything, it’s something you should be proud of and embrace.
‘Some people perceive it as evil, a mental illness or disease, like you’re a predator in the toilets. My dream is to walk the catwalk and show my distinct look in shots.
‘I’m known as lady phoenix here in London. For me, the phoenix for me is my rebirth, rising from the ashes to become myself and embrace who I am, it’s like I’ve been reborn.’