Ten-year-old Noella McMaher, who’s been hyped in the media as the world’s “youngest transgender model,” was socially transitioned at the young age of four. Noella’s biological mother – who now also identifies as transgender – has a transgender spouse.
Dee McMaher, the mother, claims Noella knew her child was really a girl at age two. So, she treated and dressed Noella like a girl and apparently has plans for surgery when Noella turns 16.
“At 2 years old, she started telling us she wasn’t a boy. At 4.5, she socially transitioned and at 7 she legally transitioned,” Dee told Forbes in February.
Now, the 10-year-old has a modeling career, a social media account with thousands of followers, and a website that solicits donations to “support” Noella’s “dreams.”
The Child’s ‘Transition’
Dee claims her child, whose birth name is not disclosed by the family, knew he was really a girl at age two. She started to transition Noella at four, though she seems to suggest it should have been happened even earlier.
“She would refuse to wear boy clothes and have tantrums because she was so young. She knew what she wanted, but didn’t have the words to say it,” the mother detailed. “I should have known earlier, as she hated anything masculine, so I brought her to a gender clinic.”
At the gender clinic, Noella, then four, supposedly told adults he was really a girl. That’s when Dee socially transitioned Noella, which would likely include using “she/her” pronouns and dressing the child as a girl.
And by age seven, the child’s first name was legally changed to Noella. “She blossomed as soon as we realized and allowed her to finally be herself,” Dee said.
It doesn’t stop there. The child might already be on harmful puberty blockers, which critics say is tantamount to chemical castration. And the family plans on having the child undergo transgender surgeries at age 16.
“Dee is looking forward to watching Ella continue to grow and turn into the person she is and was meant to be,” said a profile on Noella and Dee, published back in 2019. “In the next few years, she will start puberty blockers and hormones, and begin the physical transition process with gender surgeries at 16.”
While it’s unclear what the child will have done, typically male-to-female transitions include so-called “top” and “bottom” surgeries, as well as hormone treatment.
“As a parent of a transgender child, it is my duty to protect her and make sure she is safe,” Dee said. “For ten years old, she is very mature for her age and self-assured. She wants to show other transgender kids that it is ok to socially transition and accept who they are.”
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The Ten-Year-Old’s Career
Along with the legal name-change, Noella was thrust onto the runway at age seven for a modeling career, coupled with transgender activism.
“Noella really doesn’t ever get nervous or scared by anything. She’s a tiny professional!” Dee told Metro U.K. “She was so excited to go down the catwalk, excited to see all the people and the cameras. She knows exactly how to work a crowd.”
Noella has worked for designer Mel Atkinson and the Trans* Clothing Company, according to LGBTQ Nation. The gender-focused clothing company is notably plugged on Noella’s Instagram Link Tree.
“We are so proud of Noella for being the first trans child in New York Fashion Week. We are in awe with her confidence and determination,” Dee gushed. “Noella already has so many transgender people of all ages contact her for advice, support.”
“I don’t think she ever has nerves,” the mother continued. “She loves everything from beginning to end about walking in runway shows. The very first thing she did when she packed was make sure she had her eyelashes that were made for her. She said she is never worried about tripping because when she gets onto the runway, she feels the most confident in herself. As soon as it was over, she said, ‘I am ready to do this again!’”
The child also has an Instagram account with more than 18,000 followers. And on the child’s Instagram Link Tree, donations are solicited to support Noella’s “dreams.”
“Help support my dreams to be able to advocate for all trans youth and their families!” the site says.
The top of the site also links to the child’s Venmo for folks to send money.
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Both Noella’s Parents Are Now Transgender
Notably, Dee identifies as transgender, too, as does her partner.
“My spouse and I are also transgender,” Dee told Forbes in February. “Noella transitioned way before we did. She is the most self-assured person I know. I tell her all the time I want to be like her when I grow up.”
Forbes also noted Dee’s other son, Noella’s brother, had to “draw a line.”
“My son sat us down and told us he is a boy and is staying a boy,” said Dee, who is reportedly a social justice advocate.
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The Biological Father Does Not Approve — And The Child’s Mother Once Tried To Have Him Convicted Of A Hate Crime
Noella’s biological father, an analytical chemist named Timothy McCord, was hesitant of his young child’s transition, according to Dee.
In a one-sided story published in People’s World back in 2019, McCord was smeared as abusive and transphobic for objecting to the transition of his four-year-old son.
McCord allegedly hurt his son’s arm one night while trying to put Noella in “boy pajamas.” Dee had her ex arrested for alleged child abuse and tried to have him convicted of a hate crime, though she was unsuccessful.
In 2018, the father pleaded to a lesser charge and was given probation, People’s World said. At the time, he wasn’t allowed to see his child, but there was a possibility he’d be given visitation rights in the future.
Dee claims the outcome was the result of McCord “continually being awarded privileges by courts due to his money and upper-class status,” the outlet said.