Former Hollyoaks star Iz Hesketh has celebrated one year on gender-affirming hormones.
The star, 27, played Kitty Draper in the Channel 4 soap for eight months before departing at the end of August.
Kitty, real name Ivy Shaw, arrived in the village having assumed the identity of her dead friend who she was living in a refuge with to escape her abusive ex-boyfriend Abe Fielding (Tyler Conti).
We later discovered that she’d also fled her transphobic father Declan Hawthorne (Alan Turkington), who was later struck and killed with a book by Beau Ramsey (Jon-Paul Bell).
She previously revealed her reason for her exit, clearing up suspicions that she had been axed as part of cost-cutting measures at the show’s production base in Childwall, Liverpool.
Kitty was a real fan favourite (Picture: Lime Pictures)
‘Earlier this year I made the decision not to stay on at Hollyoaks’ she wrote on Instagram.
‘I need to spend the next year getting surgery, heeling and focusing on the future and sadly that has meant leaving the show and moving on.’
In a further update to fans, she wrote on a Insta Story yesterday: ‘Happy one year on hormones to me. I’m so proud of the woman I am and I’m so excited for the next chapter.’
Last month she hosted Songs for a Trans Girl, an evening of cabaret to raise money for the next stage of her surgery.
The event was billed as ‘A night of entertainment from Musical Theatre stars, stunning burlesque performers and Z-list celebrity Iz Hesketh.’
She’s since revealed that the performances have raised a significant amount, and we couldn’t be happier for her!
‘Thank you so much to everyone who came, performed, donated tickets, walked in off the street and gave me your evening and support’ she wrote, alongside a video of her performing.
‘Our community is pure MAGIC and I have never felt prouder to be queer or more connected to our community.’
In the emotional post, Iz added: ‘After seriously falling out of love with singing two years ago I’ve finally found my love for it again.’
‘This isn’t perfect or even close but to simply sing my favourite song, sat on stage, in a room full of people who love me unconditionally is a moment I will treasure forever.
‘To feel so held is something I don’t take for granted for one second. The love I feel from my friends and family feels like there is a crash mat under my entire life.’
‘We raised over £1.5K which is just mind blowing to me and I want everyone to to know that EVERY penny is appreciated’ she continued.
‘In total I’ve now raised over £10k to put towards surgery and I feel so blessed to be loved and supported enough for this huge percentage surgery costs to be covered by my amazing friends, family and community.
‘With you all I truly feel like I can do anything. Thank you for holding me through everything. I love you so much.’
