A Shayne Ward superfan said he became a man after being inspired by seeing the star perform.
Shay Robertson, 51, underwent five years of gruelling gender reassignment surgery to transition from his former female identity of Sally, and has even had his looks based on the former Coronation Street and X Factor star.
Shay’s transformation was complete in time for his wedding to fiancée Julie McLean, which took place 11 years after they first met as work colleagues.
Back then, they were both married to men and had two children each, and they eventually drifted apart.
But two years later, Shay sent Julie a message on Facebook, and they immediately struck up a romance.
“I immediately replied, ‘It’s about time!’ On April 11, 2011, we became a couple. I couldn’t have been happier,” Julie told OK!
Shortly after they began a relationship, they were sat watching Shayne on TV, and an off-the-cuff remark sent Shay into a tailspin.
“Shayne Ward was on TV and I said how much I admired his look, especially his stubble,” he explained.
“Julie turned to me and said, ‘You want to be a man, don’t you?’ I couldn’t speak for at least a minute. My mind was whirling because I didn’t want to admit it in case I scared her off,” Shay added.
He said he had “always felt like a man”, and believed he was “in the wrong body”.
“So I took a deep breath and admitted that yes, I did want to be a man,” Shay said.
To his relief, Julie was supportive of his news, and said it “doesn’t matter who you are or what you are, I love you for you”.
After researching gender reassignment, he began a five-year process - which involved five surgeries - and in 2012, he changed his name in Shay, as a nod towards Shayne, who inspired him to transition.
The singer even sent Shay a letter of encouragement after he reached out to the star, and told him he was basing his new look on him.
“I’d love to meet him one day to thank him properly,” Shay said.
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