- Charles Pontiero changed her name to Alessia by deed poll
- The former military sniper left his life in the army to become an actress
- She decided to come to the UK where it is easier to get a sex change
- The 40-year-old has been married three times and has two children
New life: Charles Pontiero is saving up for a sex change and has changed her name by deed poll to Alessia
A former military sniper has quit the U.S. army and moved to Britain where she lives as a woman with her lesbian lover.
Former-squaddie Charles Pontiero, 40, is saving up for sex-change surgery after settling down in Coventry, West Midlands, with girlfriend Maria.
After meeting student Maria, 29, online, Charles changed her name by deed poll to Alessia - and swapped a life in the army for a job as an actress.
The blonde claims that she's finally decided to make the change and live openly as a woman
in the UK because it's easier to change sex in Britain than the U.S.
Alessia, who has married three times and has two teenage children, said: 'I always felt more like a girl than a boy, but I felt like I had to hide my female side when I was in the army.
'I didn't feel like I was really being myself.
'My family have a military background, so it felt like it was always the thing that I was going to do - but it wasn't right for me.
'My family have always known that I feel more woman than man, so there were no surprises when I told them that I wanted to live as a woman.
'They are all very supportive of me - and I'm finally happy now I've changed my name and found
Maria.
'I've always wanted to change my name, but it was only when I moved to Britain that I realised how
easy it is to change your name here - so I just decided to do it.
'That gave me the confidence to live as Alessia openly.
'I'm taking acting lessons now, so I hope to build a career as an actress.'
Alessia, who was born in South Dakota, served for more than 15 years in the US army as a weapons
and explosives specialist in the Balkans, Middle East and Somalia.
The former tough guy admits that since living as a blonde pre-op transsexual, he has been ridiculed and even attacked in the street by people.
But Alessia insists that she has always known she was meant to be a woman - and even claims to
have had too much oestrogen in her body as a child.
She said: 'I have always had a lot of oestrogen in my body, so I've always felt very feminine.
'My hormones are so imbalanced that I don't actually need to take hormone replacement drugs as
part of my gender change, my body just produces them naturally.
'I had to disguise who I was when I was in the army. I was a good soldier though.
'I'm just glad to be finally living the life that I was supposed to.
Scroll down for more photos
Despite being a former sniper for the U.S. army, Alessia said she knows she was always meant to be a woman
Charles Pontiero was married three times and has two children after serving for more than 15 years in the U.S. army as a weapons and explosives specialist
Allesia pictured with his fellow army comrades (left) and in his combat uniform (right)
Finally being herself: The former squaddie always said that she felt more like a girl than a boy
Different lives: Charles Pontiero pictured with his fellow U.S. army comrades in his uniform (left) and posing for the camera as a man (right)
The former army man was even pictured with George W. Bush Senior at his army barracks when she was known as Charles
Ready for battle: The former military sniper pictured here in a U.S. army tank
Alessia, pictured as a baby, says she knew from a young age that she was meant to be a woman
Cute: Charles pictured with his birthday cake on his fourth birthday
School days: According to Alessia, pictured as a child, she has always had a lot of oestrogen in her body
A young Charles bakes cookies in his kitchen as a boy - the youngster always said he felt more feminine
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