A former Mrs America pageant winner has opened up about being intersex, including what intimacy is like for her.
Jackie Blankenship is a popular figure on social media, as she is more than happy to answer questions about being intersex.
Intersex is a broad term that describes bodies that fall outside of the male/female binary, according to Planned Parenthood.
There can be many variations of what is considered intersex, with some being born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit the box of 'male' or 'female', and often interventions on children are not medically necessary.
Jackie recently took to TikTok to explain how she discovered she was intersex, and what this meant for her.
How Did Jackie Discover She Was Intersex?
Jackie explained that doctors discovered she was intersex when she was young, as it runs in her family.
Given that many family members had the condition, Jackie's mom took her to see her doctor and explained their family history.
She noted that it had nothing to do with her physically being different, as she "looked like any other little girl".
A blood test revealed that Jackie had XY chromosomes which are seen in males and that she had androgen insensitivity syndrome.
When she was a little older, her parents sat her down and explained to her that she was a "little different" and, although she couldn't conceive children, there were other avenues to explore, such as adoption.
When she was in ninth grade, she underwent an operation to remove her internal testes and was presented with medication such as hormone replacement pills.
What is intimacy like for an intersex person?
Jackie explained that she was hesitant to answer this question, because for all the curious people out there, there were also the "creepy" ones.
She explained that when she was 18, she went through a traumatic experience at the hospital where two student doctors watched her be examined in a very intimate way.
Jackie noted that she was told "if you do this", referring to dilation, that her partner would "never know" that she didn't have a vaginal canal when it came to intimacy - but nobody ever asked what it would feel like for her.
She explained that intersex people can have sexual relations, but to "get there is different".
Jackie's main message when it comes to talking about being intersex and intimacy is that "language matters."
She is now uncomfortable in a doctor's office due to the traumatic experience she had 22 years ago.