Originally published: 30 October 2012
Though Gavin has no desire to be a woman full-time, he’s been wearing female clothes since he was seven. Luckily, Sue not only loves him dressing up, but admits she finds her boyfriend sexier as his alter-ego, Leah – and says she’s flattered he’s copied her style.
'Sue's my ideal woman- so of course I want to look like her'
Gavin, 47, says: “Sue’s my ideal woman. She’s got a fab figure, she’s sexy and pretty, with big eyes and high cheekbones – so of course I want to look like her. We’re a similar size so we share clothes and shoes.”
Sue, his partner of 12 years, adds: “I don’t have a problem with Gavin modelling Leah on me – I find it flattering.”
Gavin – who explains he is straight and would never want a sex-change op – started cross-dressing as a child, but never told anyone until he began going to alternative clubs as an adult. “I’d pinch my mum’s tights off the radiator. I thought it was wrong, but couldn’t help myself,” recalls Gavin, who designs power tools for a living. “I progressed to full-on dressing up as a teen, but I felt ashamed, so I always kept it from previous girlfriends.”
'I'd pinch my mum's tights off the radiator. I thought it was wrong, but I couldn't help myself'
That changed when Gavin met Sue in 2000.
He recalls: “We were at a transgender club – Sue was with friends for a laugh, while I was there dressed as my alter-ego Leah. It was only the third time I’d done it. I wasn’t very convincing as a woman. I didn’t have the cleavage, the right shape, my make-up wasn’t subtle and my wig was black. I’d styled myself on a Playboy-model type.
“Sue was the sexiest woman there, she was glam but not over the top – I remember thinking I wanted to be as beautiful as her. I was jealous of her lovely hair and natural sex appeal. From then on, I had someone to emulate.”
Sue, 54, a nurse, adds: “Gavin’s cross-dressing was never an issue. I like supporting Gavin and hope other women would do the same. I’m not a lesbian, but I appreciate female beauty. When he started copying my look I didn’t find it weird, I was happy to help. He looked at my cleavage in tops and began to use tape and padding to mould his chest into the same shape – and he loved my bum, so he padded his until it looked the same as mine. He adored my hair and I didn’t mind him buying long blonde wigs – I even suggested he cut a fringe. I do look at Leah and think she looks strikingly similar to me – but I don’t really mind, I think she looks really sexy!”
Gavin’s look has cost £100,000, including £47,000 on cosmetic surgery – having bone shaved from his jawline to make him look more feminine, facelifts and a nose job – over £12,000 on wigs, £5,000 on beauty treatments, £9,000 on hair removal and £27,000 on clothes. But, despite an impressive bust, Gavin hasn’t had breast surgery.
'I do look at Leah and think she looks strikingly siilar to me- but I don't really mind, I think she looks really sexy'
Gavin – who divides his time between home in Newcastle and Sue’s house in London – says: “I like being a man.
I just enjoy dressing as a woman twice a week. When I go shopping, I have Sue in mind and buy clothes she’d wear.
And we share eyeshadows and foundation. The one problem is staying the same weight as Sue – it’s getting harder, so I only eat one meal a day!”
Gavin – who puts on a soft voice as Leah and alters his walk to be more ladylike – reveals he and Sue often dress up together for a night out, and swap clothes.
The pair insist their family and friends find the similarity between them funny – and admit they’re regularly mistaken for sisters. Sue says: “It’s a compliment because Gavin looks so good – sometimes I worry he looks better than me!”