Bruce Jenner felt shame for years over being transgender, source says

LOS ANGELES, March 22 (UPI) -- Former Olympian-turned-reality TV star Bruce Jenner is relieved to finally be opening up about who he really is after years of feeling shame for being transgender.

Jenner, 65, is a thrice-divorced father of six children. His most recent marriage -- to Kris Jenner -- ended after 23 years in 2014. The pair continue to star on the family's reality show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, however.

"He had enough of trying to fool himself and others," a source told People magazine about Bruce Jenner's decision to transition from man to woman.

"Once he realized he was done taking a backseat in his own life, he knew it was time to be honest with himself," the insider said. "He suffered from feeling a lot of shame about this for a lot of years. Just recently, to see a growing acceptance for transgender people. It lifted a tremendous burden off him in terms of feeling alone."