A photo challenge is blowing up social media, and transgender people have posted some amazing pictures for it.
The 10-Year Challenge – or the “Glo Up Challenge” or the “2009 vs. 2019 Challenge” – is an internet fad in which social media users post two pictures of themselves: one from 2009 and one from 2019.
It’s a chance for people to show off how much they’ve aged or changed… and for younger people to show how puberty changed them.
While some trans people posted that they were uncomfortable sharing photos from before their transition, plenty jumped in with gusto.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
A lot of the pictures are being posted with the tag #HowHardDidPubertyHitYou, and one trans man responded, “It hit me twice but the first time was wack.”
#HowHardDidPubertyHitYou ?
It hit me twice but the first time was wack 😅 pic.twitter.com/I561TSquGv— N8 (@vdvnate) January 10, 2019
Related: Transgender youths show hardship, resilience in AP photos
Another joked that after two puberties, “It’s basically cheating.”
2009 to 2019. I think being openly trans makes this aging challenge especially weird because I get two puberties to look different. It’s basically cheating. 😂#howharddidpubertyhityou #transgender #trans #lgbt #lgbtq #timeline pic.twitter.com/ph26yxKQw8
— Chloe. (Not that one, the OTHER one) (@ItsChloeNow) January 13, 2019
Caitlyn Jenner jumped into the challenge too.
And for some transgender people, it was a chance to show off what living authentically has done for them.
No, seriously – it me. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀#10yearchallenge #TransformationTuesday #2009vs2019 #beforeandafter #timeline #transgender #trans #transwoman #mtf #transvisibility #transisbeautiful #thisiswhattranslookslike #girlslikeus #wontbeerased #transpride #pride #lgbt #queer pic.twitter.com/W5gKOaLYLi
— Samantha! (@suddnlysamantha) January 15, 2019
#2009vs2019 #trans pic.twitter.com/ijyFr7GE2q
— Samantha Cinder (@Samylis_Tweets) January 14, 2019
I couldn't find anything that was in 2009, but I found something in 2008, so close enough.
Not much changed for the longest time, but now that I have been on testosterone for a bit over one year, I would say that I do actually see a subtle change…and paler.#2009vs2019 #trans pic.twitter.com/Ny670Dv3TJ
— Razekiel ※ Commissions: Open (@RazumiYazura) January 16, 2019
And one person reminded everyone that while some people have had radical changes in appearance, many people have not and that’s perfectly fine.
I would like to say to other #transpeople, who haven't radically changed the appearance since 2009: you are VALID, you are not any less trans and I am sending you good vibes.#trans #nonbinary #nonbinarytrans #transgender #transition #lqbtqia #2009vs2019 #2009vs2019challenge pic.twitter.com/bUTaVMkIkQ
— lonely.pancake (@lonely_cupcake) January 15, 2019