--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I knew that I was trans when I was three…" description: "\"I knew that I was trans when I was three years old. Well, I didn't know 'trans' because I didn't know there was a word for it, but I just knew that in ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/nicole-maines-12524_girl_i-knew-that-i-was-trans-when-i-was-three_913325.jpg" --- # I knew that I was trans when I was three years old. Well… ![“I knew that I was trans when I was three years old. Well, I didn't know 'trans' because I didn't know there was a word for it, but I just knew that in my head and my heart that I was supposed to be a girl.” quote by Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/nicole-maines-12524_girl_i-knew-that-i-was-trans-when-i-was-three_913325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/nicole-maines-12524_girl_i-knew-that-i-was-trans-when-i-was-three_913325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f61/nicole-maines-12524_girl_i-knew-that-i-was-trans-when-i-was-three_913325.jpg) > “I knew that I was trans when I was three years old. Well, I didn't know 'trans' because I didn't know there was a word for it, but I just knew that in my head and my heart that I was supposed to be a girl.” [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing gender identity early, even without language, shapes self‑understanding and authenticity. **In simple terms:** Early gender identity awareness. Key Takeaway Embrace your true self. Themes identity self‑acceptance authenticity Mood reflective empowering Type personal narrative advocacy When to use this quote - school - family discussions - support groups - personal reflection Key Concepts gender identity self‑knowledge Questions to Reflect On - How did you navigate early misunderstanding? - What support helped you affirm your identity? A Different Perspective Societal expectations may pressure conformity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Girl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) ## Related quotes > [If no one knew that I was trans - let's say that I made it very, very far. Let's say I went to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fallon-fox/if-no-one-knew-that-i-was-trans-let-s-say-that-i-made-it-very-very/) [Fallon Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fallon-fox/) > [Once you know trans people, all you wanna do is protect them. They're not out to hurt anybody. They are trying to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/once-you-know-trans-people-all-you-wanna-do-is-protect-them-they-re/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Cis women want to know what trans women know. And they don't want the dumbed-down version of it - the same way that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/torrey-peters/cis-women-want-to-know-what-trans-women-know-and-they-don-t-want-the/) [Torrey Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/torrey-peters/) > [I knew 'Transparent' and saw a few episodes of 'Orange is the New Black,' so I knew about the trans actor in that cast.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-lelio/i-knew-transparent-and-saw-a-few-episodes-of-orange-is-the-new-black/) [Sebastian Lelio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-lelio/) > [The thing is that I had no fear; no anxiety. I had this peace come over me and I just knew that word from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-boone/the-thing-is-that-i-had-no-fear-no-anxiety-i-had-this-peace-come-over/) Shirley Boone > [I love Lauryn Hill when she first came out with her solo project because it felt like she just knew what she was doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-love-lauryn-hill-when-she-first-came-out-with-her-solo-project/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [I just knew there were stories I wanted to tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-knew-there-were-stories-i-wanted-to-tell/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I just knew if it could be done, it had to be done, and I did it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-ederle/i-just-knew-if-it-could-be-done-it-had-to-be-done-and-i-did-it/) [Gertrude Ederle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-ederle/) > [I just knew I had to play the guitar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/i-just-knew-i-had-to-play-the-guitar/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [“I know my place. I always did. I just never knew how to get there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-taylor/i-know-my-place-i-always-did-i-just-never-knew-how-to-get-there/) Luke Taylor > [Sam and Patrick looked at me. And I looked at them. And I think they knew. Not anything specific really. They just knew. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-chbosky/sam-and-patrick-looked-at-me-and-i-looked-at-them-and-i-think-they/) [Stephen Chbosky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-chbosky/) > [“out. Or maybe I had been; I just knew the consequences if I used. \* \* \*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marni-mann/out-or-maybe-i-had-been-i-just-knew-the-consequences-if-i-used/) [Marni Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marni-mann/) > [I just knew I would be a writer. It just seemed the only sensible thing to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-gardam/i-just-knew-i-would-be-a-writer-it-just-seemed-the-only-sensible/) [Jane Gardam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-gardam/) > [I Never changed, You just never knew me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-never-changed-you-just-never-knew-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Oh, I knew he was gonna do that. I just knew he was gonna do that. He don't need Jannetty. I told you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-heenan/oh-i-knew-he-was-gonna-do-that-i-just-knew-he-was-gonna-do-that-he/) [Bobby Heenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-heenan/) ## More by Nicole Maines > [There are infinite combinations that people can experience, because no two people are alike, and no two people's identities should be expected to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/there-are-infinite-combinations-that-people-can-experience-because-no/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [For a number of years at my public elementary school in rural Maine, I was treated like all the other girls in school. That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/for-a-number-of-years-at-my-public-elementary-school-in-rural-maine-i/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [When I was first trying to explain to my parents that I was really a girl, my father didn't know what to do. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/when-i-was-first-trying-to-explain-to-my-parents-that-i-was-really-a/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I did a guest episode of 'Royal Pains,' and then right after that, 'Supergirl' happened, and I was like, 'How did I get here?'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-did-a-guest-episode-of-royal-pains-and-then-right-after-that/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Historically, we have seen cis men play trans women and vice versa. That casting breaks through the fourth wall, and it gives people the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/historically-we-have-seen-cis-men-play-trans-women-and-vice-versa/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [At some point, I want to create a family and help them on their journey like my family helped me on mine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/at-some-point-i-want-to-create-a-family-and-help-them-on-their/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [It's OK not to understand the whole trans thing. That's alright. My dad didn't understand it. I still don't know everything. What's important is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/it-s-ok-not-to-understand-the-whole-trans-thing-that-s-alright-my-dad/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Family has been really important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/family-has-been-really-important-to-me/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Growing up, I was from kind of Nowhere, Maine. And, so, now having thousands of people reaching out to me via social media and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/growing-up-i-was-from-kind-of-nowhere-maine-and-so-now-having/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Separate but equal does not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/separate-but-equal-does-not-work/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [My family knew that they loved me, and whatever this 'I want to be a girl' business was, it certainly wasn't about to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/my-family-knew-that-they-loved-me-and-whatever-this-i-want-to-be-a/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I hope I can help convince people there that being transgender is not a big deal and that we are just average people trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-hope-i-can-help-convince-people-there-that-being-transgender-is-not/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [I know from first-hand experience that separating transgender students from their peers can cause many to leave school, hide who they are, or even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/i-know-from-first-hand-experience-that-separating-transgender/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [Children are a lot smarter than we give them credit for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/children-are-a-lot-smarter-than-we-give-them-credit-for/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) > [What I'm really excited for is to see the evolution of trans characters and see more diverse stories be told, so that every time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-maines/what-i-m-really-excited-for-is-to-see-the-evolution-of-trans/) [Nicole Maines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) [Explore all 54 Nicole Maines quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-maines/) ## More Girl quotes > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [In 1990, when they asked me to shoot a cover for 'British Vogue' to convey my personal vision of a woman, I explained that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-lindbergh/in-1990-when-they-asked-me-to-shoot-a-cover-for-british-vogue-to/) [Peter Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-lindbergh/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [BOY: what do u want more than anything? GIRL: to stand in the middle of the street in the pouring rain and have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana13/boy-what-do-u-want-more-than-anything-girl-to-stand-in-the-middle-of/) [Ana13](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana13/) > [I'm just a girl trying to find a way in this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-just-a-girl-trying-to-find-a-way-in-this-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the media is sending girls the message that their value lies in their bodies, this can only leave them feeling disempowered and distract…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-siebel-newsom/if-the-media-is-sending-girls-the-message-that-their-value-lies-in/) Jennifer Siebel Newsom > [If I had to speak in front of a Korean audience, I would be hard pressed to sound other than a little girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/an-na/if-i-had-to-speak-in-front-of-a-korean-audience-i-would-be-hard/) [An Na](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/an-na/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [“If attempting to make the world a civilized one, makes you a bad woman in the eyes of the dumb patriarchal society, then, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/if-attempting-to-make-the-world-a-civilized-one-makes-you-a-bad-woman/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I want a man that when I come running up to him with tears running down my face, the first thing he says is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-a-man-that-when-i-come-running-up-to-him-with-tears-running/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [New Girl' is always a top priority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-seager/new-girl-is-always-a-top-priority/) [Corey Seager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-seager/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) [Browse all 19,043 Girl quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/girl/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I knew that I was trans when I was three years old. 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