Intersex Beauty Queen Goes Viral After Revealing the Truth About Her Body

Diagnosed with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome at just 4 years old, Jackie Blankenship grew up believing she had to keep her true self hidden. Today, as the 2022 Mrs. America, she proudly celebrates her identity and is reshaping the conversation around what it means to be an intersex woman.

The initial confusion

Jackie Blankenship, an intersex woman from Grandville, Michigan, spent much of her life feeling pressured to hide the truth about herself. Today, she embraces her identity and the unique traits of her body, using her platform to educate, advocate, and inspire others.

Diagnosed at just four years old with Complete Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (CAIS) — a condition that makes the body resistant to testosterone and is among more than 40 known variations of intersex traits — Blankenship didn’t fully grasp what it meant at the time.

Her parents first introduced the topic when she was about eight or nine, offering only “some basic information they thought [she] would be able to process,” she recalled. “But it was still incredibly hard to understand.”

“My mom has relatives with CAIS, so she asked the doctor to test me just in case. The results came back that their little girl had XY chromosomes, which is what we see in males,” Blankenship added.

Growing up, Blankenship was unaware of the differences between her body and that of other girls, but she was aware she could not conceive. “When I was 15, doctors advised my parents to have my testes (that were in my abdomen) removed. That was probably when I started having questions about my body, but I wasn’t emotionally ready to talk about it,” she recalled.

It wasn’t until her mid-twenties, when access to information via the internet became widespread, that Blankenship began to fully understand her body and condition. She remembers doctors’ advice: “Just don’t tell anybody.”

She was crowned Mrs. America

Jackie entered the world of pageants at just 12 years old, but it would take more than 15 years before she could finally compete as her authentic self. That milestone came in 2022, when she was crowned Mrs. America at the age of 36.

During the semi-finals, in the top-six on-stage question round, Blankenship chose to share her truth openly, despite warnings from her trainers. “There were times when the people that I was preparing with were like, ’I don’t know if you should say that. I don’t know if you should put it that way,’” she recalls. “We were in the top six, and I thought, ’I cannot believe I got to this point.’”

Being crowned in Las Vegas was more than a personal triumph — it quickly grew into a milestone for the intersex community as a whole. After her win, Blankenship traveled across Michigan and neighboring states, sharing her message of intersex awareness at universities, women’s conferences, and corporate events.

Jackie uses TikTok as a platform to raise awareness about intersex identity

She also shares her experiences on TikTok (@mrsjackieblanks) and Instagram, with viral videos educating millions about intersex issues. In July, she launched her podcast, The Unedited Body, covering healthcare, medical trauma, and womanhood.

“I feel like I am reclaiming my body by sharing what I thought was so shameful about myself. I turned 40 and felt like I still was a little girl. I’ve had experiences that I know are not uncommon in the intersex community but are never talked about. So, I decided I needed to share my whole self and heal this kiddo still inside me,” Blankenship revealed.

In one viral TikTok, she shared 9 facts about her intersex body

Jackie turned a simple run into a viral lesson on what it means to be intersex. In a video that’s now passed 9 million views, she revealed one fact about her body for every mile she ran.

At mile one, she laid it out, “I have complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, which is an intersex condition. I have XY chromosomes.” A few miles later, she added, “On the outside, we look completely female, even though we have XY chromosomes.”

She didn’t shy away from harder truths either, “My body can’t process testosterone, so it was converted into estrogen, and that’s what made me develop female.” Jackie also explained she has no period, no uterus, and never grows body hair: “I’ve never shaved my underarms a day in my life.”

Her last point was the most powerful: surgeries on intersex children remain common, even when they aren’t medically necessary. “A lot of times... they’re trying to change it and fix it. But what if we’re not broken?”

The response was overwhelming. Thousands reached out to thank Jackie for her honesty and for challenging misconceptions every step of the way.

Many responses were not only encouraging but also sprinkled with humor. “NO body odor, NO body hair, NO period???” one person exclaimed. Another added, “No periods, no body hair? I’m jealous.”

Be sure to check out our other article about a plus-size model who boldly silenced critics claiming she shouldn’t flaunt her body.