Caitlyn Marie Jenner, born William Bruce Jenner, is taking a second look at one of the biggest moments from her public transition and admitting it no longer sits right with her. More than a decade after being honored by Glamour, Jenner now says accepting the recognition feels like a mistake. Speaking candidly in a recent interview, she reflected on her evolving views. These views especially around transgender issues in sports, have forced her to rethink what that award really meant at the time.
Caitlyn Jenner’s “Woman of the Year” Award Now Feels Different in Hindsight
Back in 2015, Jenner was named one of Glamour’s Women of the Year, just months after she publicly came out as transgender. At the time, the moment was widely seen as symbolic. It represented visibility and a shift in how gender identity was discussed in mainstream culture.
But today, the 76-year-old sees it differently.
During her recent interview with Tomi Lahren on Outkick, she admitted, “Here I am fighting the battle to keep biological men out of women’s sports because it’s not right. And I want to protect women.” That stance, she explained, made her question whether accepting the honor aligned with what she now believes.
The media personality didn’t hold back when describing how she feels looking back. “I’m a biological man, and they gave me Glamour’s Woman of the Year award,” Jenner said, adding that the realization made her feel like a “hypocrite.”
That internal conflict eventually led her to take a step she hadn’t publicly addressed before. In 2024, Jenner revealed she returned the award, saying she no longer believed it was something she should have accepted.
At the heart of her reflection is a distinction she continues to make between identity and biology. Jenner shared, “Genetically, I’m still XY. There’s nothing I can do about that. And I’m fine with it. I’m just glad that I can wake up in the morning and just be myself.”
Her comments highlight how her personal understanding of gender has remained complex, even as her public stance has become more defined.
Balancing Personal Identity with Shifting Political Views
The Olympian’s evolving perspective transcends that one moment. It ties into a broader shift in how she talks about transgender issues, especially as politics and policy debates have intensified in recent years.
Jenner has been outspoken about restricting transgender participation in women’s sports. She also acknowledged that some policies targeting transgender people have gone too far. Reflecting on current developments, she said, “Now we’re going too far to the right, you know, with gender markers.” This points to growing concerns about how identity is being handled in official systems.
That issue hits close to home. According to IBT, after renewing her passport, the parent-of-six says she got it back marked male. This has complicated her ability to travel. “What do I do? I can’t travel internationally anymore,” she said, describing the real-life impact of those decisions.
At the same time, the star has also spoken out against strict bathroom restrictions. She suggests they create safety concerns. “Trying to force these people into the men’s room. And it’s just not right. And it’s not safe,” according to her.
Looking back, Jenner also questioned whether her highly public transition helped move the conversation forward in the way she intended. “Unfortunately, I don’t think I helped it at all,” she admitted. “The left kind of took my issue.”
Her comments reveal a sense of frustration with how the conversation around transgender identity has evolved. What started as a personal journey has turned into a broader cultural and political battleground, one that continues to shape her public life.
Now, Jenner finds herself navigating both sides of that divide, standing by some of her long-held beliefs while pushing back on others. And in revisiting the Woman of the Year moment, she’s offering a rare look at how her thinking has changed over time.
What once felt like recognition now feels complicated. And for Jenner, that shift says just as much about the present as it does about the past.
