RuPaul's Drag Race Icon Valentina Comes Out as Trans On Her Birthday: 'I Welcome All the Love'

ConDRAGulations to RuPaul's Drag Race season 9 superstar, All Stars 4 queen and former Drag Race Mexico co-host Valentina who has come out as a trans woman in a new social media post in which she also discussed her name and the reasons why she's making that statement now.

via: EW

The 34-year-old announced Wednesday, which is her birthday, that she is a transgender woman, telling her fans that she weighed the decision to come out after feeling pressure to do so.

"Hello everyone, it’s me Valentina Xunaxi. Today is my bday. I turn 34. For some time now I’ve been in transition, I’ve been doing it privately but today I wanted to open and share with you all," she wrote alongside a portrait of herself on Instagram.

She said that, "along the way I’ve felt pressure to come forward," so she made the decision to come out on her own terms instead.

"I’ve decided and wanted to take today to declare myself as a transgender woman," she continued. "I welcome all the love, support and protection from my dear fans. Thank you so much."

Valentina ended her post with two emojis: one of a pink heart, and the other showing the pink, blue, and white colors on the transgender flag.

The California queen initially competed on season 9 of RuPaul's Drag Race, upon which she captivated fans with her stunning looks. She fronted one of the most iconic moments in the show's history when she attempted to participate in a lip-sync for her spot in the competition while wearing a mask covering her mouth, saying "I'd like to keep it on, please" when prompted by RuPaul to remove it.

Though she was shockingly eliminated despite being an early fan-favorite to win the title, she eventually won season 9's Miss Congeniality contest, though her fellow cast members dubbed the category to be "fan favorite," and the voting conditions were changed to be a cast vote in future seasons.

Valentina eventually returned to compete on All Stars 4 in December 2018, where she placed sixth.

Following her ascension to stardom, Valentina landed a historic role in Fox's live TV production of Rent, in which she played the character of Angel.

"It’s the way life works! I think publicists and people pay a lot of money to make things line up [and] for people’s careers to have an end and a new beginning in this crazy way," Valentina previously told Entertainment Weekly of landing the role. "Life is so weird and it feels like part of my destiny."

In addition to Drag Race, Rent, and cohosting Drag Race Mexico with Lolita Banana, Valentina also landed acting roles in In the Heights, as well as on RuPaul's one-season Netflix comedy AJ and the Queen, and a recurring role on the streamer's drama The House of Flowers.

Other Drag Race alums that have come out as trans in recent years include Laganja Estranja, Adore Delano, Madame LaQueer, Amanda Tori Meating, and Valentina's All Stars 4 and season 9 sister, Farrah Moan.