A teenager who arrived at his school prom in drag has revealed how it made him feel 'empowered' after being ridiculed for "being different". Daniel Allen, 16, was the envy of all his female friends when he arrived at Fernwood School in Wollaton, dressed to the nines in a pink wig. The model, who has appeared on catwalks in Milan and London, sported heels and a custom-made Italian outfit. He has faced prejudice throughout his childhood, even fearing PE lessons because the way the boys would treat him after he came out aged 13, reports Nottingham Post. But despite constant ridicule for "being different", he continued to "be himself" and was confident enough to turn up to his prom in a glamorous dress, which stunned teachers, parents and his classmates. He said: "I felt really empowered as soon as I got out the car. People rushed over, parents, and even a grandma. "No one was expecting me to turn up in drag - 6ft 2ins with a pink wig and a custom made outfit from Milan." He said the school had supported him in "who he wanted to be" even allowing Daniel to swap football and rugby for netball and hockey. "I used to take a lot of PE off because I did not want to get changed with the boys and I'd had arguments with them," he said. "The girls were doing athletics and hockey. I found that more fun. That's when I said 'can I swap?' And they said I could." He has also supported other pupils at the school who might be struggling to come to terms with their sexuality or how they are being treated. Daniel calls himself a gender fluid model, which means he likes to wear both male and female clothes depending on his mood. He has an agent, and believes his look has helped him secure modelling jobs on catwalks in Milan, Manchester, Edinburgh and London. He said: "When I was 13 I decided to wear make up publicly. Sometimes I feel masculine and other days I feel pretty and put make up on and some heels. "I am quite self conscious but when I am in make up it gives me the confidence. "I came out a few months before I started wearing make up and that is when the bullying became a problem. Children would say 'go kill yourself.' "The school have been really supportive." He has just finished his GCSEs and is set to train as a hairdresser. He is also working on a drag show, which he hopes to perform to audiences. His proud mum Amanda Allen, 41, from Aspley, said: "It was apparent at the age of two. He would go to the dress up box for the Disney dresses. "I did try and encourage him to play football and have more male friends but as he got older he got more and more unhappy and came out at 13. He is one of four boys. "He is so confident. Fernwood School have been unbelievable with him. Any concerns I can go straight to them." However, she still believes society has a long way to go for boys like Daniel to be completely accepted. "It is getting ridiculous the amount of hate crime. It has got to stop. It is on the rise," she added. "G
Teen arrives at school prom in drag to show bullies he's proud of who he is
A teenager who arrived at his school prom in drag has revealed how it made him feel 'empowered' after being ridiculed for "being different". Daniel Allen, 16, was the envy of all his female friends when he arrived at Fernwood School in Wollaton, dressed to the nines in a pink wig. The model, who has appeared on catwalks in Milan and London, sported heels and a custom-made Italian outfit. He has faced prejudice throughout his childhood, even fearing PE lessons because the way the boys would treat him after he came out aged 13, reports Nottingham Post. But despite constant ridicule for "being different", he continued to "be himself" and was confident enough to turn up to his prom in a glamorous dress, which stunned teachers, parents and his classmates. He said: "I felt really empowered as soon as I got out the car. People rushed over, parents, and even a grandma. "No one was expecting me to turn up in drag - 6ft 2ins with a pink wig and a custom made outfit from Milan." He said the school had supported him in "who he wanted to be" even allowing Daniel to swap football and rugby for netball and hockey. "I used to take a lot of PE off because I did not want to get changed with the boys and I'd had arguments with them," he said. "The girls were doing athletics and hockey. I found that more fun. That's when I said 'can I swap?' And they said I could." He has also supported other pupils at the school who might be struggling to come to terms with their sexuality or how they are being treated. Daniel calls himself a gender fluid model, which means he likes to wear both male and female clothes depending on his mood. He has an agent, and believes his look has helped him secure modelling jobs on catwalks in Milan, Manchester, Edinburgh and London. He said: "When I was 13 I decided to wear make up publicly. Sometimes I feel masculine and other days I feel pretty and put make up on and some heels. "I am quite self conscious but when I am in make up it gives me the confidence. "I came out a few months before I started wearing make up and that is when the bullying became a problem. Children would say 'go kill yourself.' "The school have been really supportive." He has just finished his GCSEs and is set to train as a hairdresser. He is also working on a drag show, which he hopes to perform to audiences. His proud mum Amanda Allen, 41, from Aspley, said: "It was apparent at the age of two. He would go to the dress up box for the Disney dresses. "I did try and encourage him to play football and have more male friends but as he got older he got more and more unhappy and came out at 13. He is one of four boys. "He is so confident. Fernwood School have been unbelievable with him. Any concerns I can go straight to them." However, she still believes society has a long way to go for boys like Daniel to be completely accepted. "It is getting ridiculous the amount of hate crime. It has got to stop. It is on the rise," she added. "G
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