How I went from bearded biker Dave to blonde bombshell Denise...

"THERE was a reason I was born a man. I was meant to learn something from the experience - and I am glad that I have lived as both a man and a woman," said Denise Michelle.

The transformation the 38-year-old former soldier has undertaken in the last two years has been truly remarkable. She has gone from Dave - an infantry man, martial arts expert and one time bouncer - to Denise - a 6ft 1in blonde bombshell with legs to die for.

Ever since Denise was a child she felt like a girl but only recently did she have the courage to leave her life as a man behind to become the woman she always knew she was.

"I haven't done anything illegal or immoral - I am not trying to be a woman, I am a woman.

"The truth is that when I was in the Army I was trying to be the man everyone said I should be - but I knew I was living a lie.

"Trying to suppress Denise was making me ill and very unhappy," she said.

In a year or so, Denise hopes to go for the operation that will mark her final transition to a woman as she loses her manhood.

In the meantime, Denise takes hormones to soften her skin and feminise her shape, has laser treatment to remove facial hair and visits a voice coach to perfect her dulcet tones.

"I wouldn't do all this on a whim or if I just wanted to wear women's clothing.

"It's deeper than that.

"I believe my very soul is female - not just my heart and mind," she said.

Denise was born in Germany, the eldest son of a family of three children.

Christened Dave, there followed a challenging childhood that saw the little boy become something of a loner.

"I can remember being about three or four years old and going round telling people I was a little girl.

"I didn't understand the anatomical differences - I seriously thought I was a girl, it was just something I knew and felt," she said.

As Dave, she had difficulty at school and was bullied by fellow pupils.

"I was very withdrawn and spent a lot of time on my own. I was bullied at school because I was so girly," she said.

Fighting to come to terms with who she was, Denise wanted to escape her humdrum life. She decided to join the Army but secretly hoped the medical would reveal what she had known all along.

"I hoped the doctors would say I couldn't possibly join up because I was a woman.

"Of course, they didn't and I passed with flying colours.

"I joined an infantry regiment and I spent nearly a year in Northern Ireland," she said.

It was during this time that Dave started to experiment with wearing women's clothing - and lived in fear that his guilty secret would be discovered.

"They were forever having checks where you had to open up your locker but I always missed out having to open mine up because I was working or on leave.

"They were looking for drugs but I think I would have died if they had ever found the women's underwear I kept in mine," she said.

After four years, Denise bought herself out of the Army and sought medical help for the turmoil she was experiencing.

"I was referred to the specialists at Charing Cross Hospital and they diagnosed me as gender dysphoric,

"That was nearly 15 years ago but I just couldn't make the change at that time.

"I was scared of what people would think so I swung myself back into the macho role.

"I got heavily into martial arts and weight lifting. I ended up as 14 stone of pure muscle and five to six years ago I was working on the door as a bouncer," she said.

As much as she tried to make her life work as Dave, the real Denise kept coming to the fore.

"I was living as a man but I would wear women's clothes to the pub occasionally," she said.

"I knew I wasn't a transvestite and about three years ago I realised I had to do something more.

"That was when I decided to dress as a woman full-time."

For the past 12 years, Denise has worked for the same firm as an engineer mending office printers. Her employers watched the transition from Dave to Denise and have stood by her as she has created a new life.

"I just want to have a happy and fulfilled life.

"I still ride my motorbike but I don't bother with my wig as the helmet plays havoc with it.

"I would like to be able to help other people who are going through the same as me - but really I just want to get on with my life.

"My family has come to terms with it and my mum refers to me always as Denise.

"I am proud of who I am and not embarrassed or ashamed," she said.