Trans ex-football star Dani Laidley proves how beautiful it is to live as your true, authentic self

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Dani Laidley, an ex-footballer who recently transitioned, has been showered with compliments after walking a red carpet as her true, authentic self. 

All eyes were on Laidley as she she rocked a glamorous white Bardot dress at the Australian Football League (AFL) Brownlow Medal awards in Melbourne on 18 September. 

The former AFL coach and premiership player walked the red carpet with her partner Donna Leckie, saying: “[I’ve attended] perhaps eight or nine Brownlows [before]. Now to be here celebrating as myself, I’m so very grateful,” Ladbible reported. 

Laidley told Channel Seven it was a “beautiful moment” and added: “I don’t think we’ve ever been so spoiled and felt so really beautiful.”

Dani Laidley (left) attended the 2022 Brownlow Medal with her partner Donna Leckie. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

She said: “It’s been wonderful… it’s just been phenomenal.

“I just said when we came down the stairs ‘we are so grateful and overwhelmed for what you’ve done for us to get here tonight and go enjoy the night of nights’, which we haven’t had for quite a few years.”

The football community took to Twitter to support Laidley, with Fox Footy posting that it was great to see her. 

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“Eight or nine Brownlows, now to be here celebrating as myself… I’m so very grateful.”

Great to see you, Dani Laidley ❤️