A transgender girl was thrilled to be crowned homecoming queen at Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California Friday.
Cassidy Lynn Campbell, 16, was born male but said she always felt like a female, so she began living like a girl and taking hormone blockers and estrogen injections in high school.
A month ago, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a law to help transgender youth in public schools. According to LA Times, part of the reason Campbell decided to run for homecoming queen was to make a statement and help other transgender youth.
"Honestly, it was just so surreal. I couldn't believe it," said Campbell, Reuters reports. "I prepared myself not to win. When they said my name and I saw those balloons it just overtook me instantly and I dropped to the floor. It was ultimate joy."
Campbell was so overtaken with emotion at her win that she instantly started crying and other students started cheering her name.
Campbell said that some students posted hurtful and disrespectful comments about her win on social media after the ceremony, but she decided not to take it personally.