After playing a match of tennis with her sister, Caitlyn Jenner made an important realization about her life as a woman: “Now I know why girls need a sports bra!” she joked.
The much awaited eight-part television documentary series on Caitlyn Jenner, which premiered Sunday night on E!, follows Jenner as she formally introduces herself as Caitlyn to her family — and to the rest of the world. The show’s first episode was hailed by fans and the online community as an opportunity to learn more about the trans community through the lens of Jenner’s story. The series will also showcase her journey as a trans advocate.
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“The tremendous amount of support that I have gotten has been overwhelming but you also have to realize that it’s not this way for everyone,” she explained within the first five minutes of the show. “I feel a tremendous responsibility here. I have a voice when there are so many trans people out there who do not have a voice.”
The premiere was filled with both emotional and more lighthearted moments. Here are the top four moments from Sunday night:
1. Jenner’s mother and sisters meet Caitlyn for the first time
At this point in the show, most of Jenner’s family has only spoken with Caitlyn on the phone or seen her in photos splashed on magazine tabloids. However, in the premiere, Jenner introduces herself to her mother, Esther, and two sisters, Pam and Lisa — all three of whom greet their former son and brother with smiles and hugs.
“You’re gorgeous,” Pam and Lisa concur.
Esther, who was more apprehensive about the transition, realizes that her daughter still makes her as proud as her son Bruce did.
“I was so proud of Bruce when he stood on that podium receiving that gold medal in Montreal. I had tears and the American flag was going up in the middle and I thought that I could never be more proud of him,” she says. “And you know, I was wrong. Because I am more proud of him for the courage that he has shown. I love him with all my heart and I certainly love her with all my heart.”
2. Kylie meets her dad, Caitlyn
While speaking to her mother and sister about how she chose the name, Caitlyn, Jenner gets a FaceTime call from her daughter, Kylie Jenner. Unaware that she was on FaceTime, Caitlyn fears that she scared her daughter, who hasn’t met Caitlyn.
“I don’t want to scare you,” Caitlyn admits to Kylie.
“You’re not scaring me. You look pretty,” Kylie reassures her father.
Later in the premiere, Kylie meets Caitlyn in person and, within minutes, Caitlyn is trying on the turquoise extensions that her daughter bought for her.
3. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West meet Caitlyn for the first time “Kanye and I have never really been very close but I love his open-mindedness and I love how he has helped Kim come to grips with what is going on,” Jenner said. A supportive West congratulated Jenner on her confidence and resilience. “You couldn’t have been up against more: your daughter is a supermodel, you are a celebrity. Every type of thing and it was still like [bleep] everybody, this is who I am,” West said. Kim proceeded to go into her father’s closet to see her new wardrobe. In a hilarious realization, Kim spotted a dress in Caitlyn’s wardrobe that the Jenner matriarch, Kris Jenner, also has in a different color. 4. Jenner pays a visit to Kyler Prescott’s family Kyler Prescott was a 14-year-old trans boy who committed suicide in May. As a trans advocate, Jenner visits the Prescott family to talk about their recent loss and what should be done to prevent a tragedy like this from repeating itself. “He was a beautiful kid with a beautiful soul,” Kyler’s mother said. “Kyler was truly an amazing, amazing kid. I was so proud of him for working so hard to be his authentic self.” She goes on to say that Kyler had trouble with adults who didn’t understand the trans community and didn’t use the correct pronouns. “We need more tolerance and empathy towards other people,” Jenner emphasized. “It’s so hard for young people because they can’t see the future and because of that, they become extraordinarily desperate and suicide becomes an option. We have to do something about that.” The episode ends with Jenner attending a balloon release organized by students in Kyler’s honor.
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