The Story of A Sniper Who Chose to Become a Woman
The former army man always said that she felt more like a girl than a boy!
By Sadho Ram — 19 Sep 2013, 08:14 PM — Updated about 11 years ago
Alessia is a former military sniper who has quit the U.S. army and moved to Britain where she lives as a woman with her lesbian lover
Former-squaddie Charles Pontiero, 40, is saving up for sex-change surgery after settling down in Coventry, West Midlands, with girlfriend Maria.
dailymail.co.ukAfter meeting student Maria, 29, online, Charles changed her name by deed poll to Alessia - and swapped a life in the army for a job as an actress.
The blonde claims that she's finally decided to make the change and live openly as a woman in the UK because it's easier to change sex in Britain than the U.S.
capitalbay.comShe has been married 3 times and has 2 teenage children
Alessia, who has married three times and has two teenage children, said: 'I always felt more like a girl than a boy, but I felt like I had to hide my female side when I was in the army.
dailymail.co.uk'I didn't feel like I was really being myself. My family have a military background, so it felt like it was always the thing that I was going to do - but it wasn't right for me.'
'My family have always known that I feel more woman than man, so there were no surprises when I told them that I wanted to live as a woman. They are all very supportive of me - and I'm finally happy now I've changed my name and found Maria.'
She says she always wanted to change her name
'I've always wanted to change my name, but it was only when I moved to Britain that I realised how easy it is to change your name here - so I just decided to do it. That gave me the confidence to live as Alessia openly. I'm taking acting lessons now, so I hope to build a career as an actress.'
dailymail.co.ukAlessia served for more than 15 years in the US army as a weapons and explosives specialist in the Balkans, Middle East and Somalia
Alessia served for more than 15 years in the US army as a weapons and explosives specialist in the Balkans, Middle East and Somalia
Image via dailymail.co.ukShe says, 'I have always had a lot of oestrogen in my body, so I've always felt very feminine'
School days: According to Alessia, pictured as a child, she has always had a lot of oestrogen in her body.
Image via dailymail.co.uk
Alessia, pictured as a baby, says she knew from a young age that she was meant to be a woman.
Image via dailymail.co.ukThe former tough guy admits that since living as a blonde pre-op transsexual, he has been ridiculed and even attacked in the street by people. But Alessia insists that she has always known she was meant to be a woman - and even claims to
have had too much oestrogen in her body as a child.
'My hormones are so imbalanced that I don't actually need to take hormone replacement drugs as
part of my gender change, my body just produces them naturally. I had to disguise who I was when I was in the army. I was a good soldier though. I'm just glad to be finally living the life that I was supposed to.'
bossip.com
The former army man was even pictured with George W. Bush Senior at his army barracks when she was known as Charles
The former army man was even pictured with George W. Bush Senior at his army barracks when she was known as Charles
Image via dailymail.co.uk
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