Elliot Page flaunts ripped abs in joyful photo: 'Trans bb’s first swim trunks'

Editor's note: This article was originally published on May 25, 2021. It has since been updated.

Elliot Page celebrated his body as he posted a shirtless photo on Instagram. It was a significant milestone for the actor who came out as transgender in December 2020. Page underwent "life-changing" top surgery earlier in 2021. The Oscar-nominated actor captioned the image: “Trans bb’s first swim trunks,” reported Huffington Post. Page used the hashtags #transjoy and #transisbeautiful to the post. Miley Cyrus commented "Hot" on the post, while Page's The Umbrella Academy co-star Justin Cornwell wrote, “Dude I see why you crushed me on that workout!” Nina Dobrev commented, “You look amazing. And most of all happy ♥️."

The actor discussed his surgery in an interview with Oprah Winfrey and stated how crucial it was to his health. "The most significant difference is that I’m really able to just exist. I would imagine you’ll understand where I’m coming from — just exist by myself, like being able to sit with myself. I feel a significant difference in my ability to just exist—and not even just day to day, but moment to moment," he said, reported Vanity Fair.

Page revealed that just looking at himself in the mirror gave him so much joy and comfort. “Getting out of the shower and the towel’s around your waist and you’re looking at yourself in the mirror and you’re just like, ‘There I am.’ And I’m not having the moment where I’m panicked,” said Page, reported MSN. “It’s being able to touch my chest and feel comfortable in my body for the — probably the first time.” Prior to transitioning, Page said he never recognized himself and couldn't bear to even look at a photo of himself.” 

As we reported, the Inception and Juno star said the response to him coming out as a transman was mixed. "What I was anticipating was a lot of support and love and a massive amount of hatred and transphobia," said Page. "That's essentially what happened." He added that he knew he was a boy since he was a toddler. "I was writing fake love letters and signing them 'Jason.' Every little aspect of my life, that is who I was, who I am, and who I knew myself to be," he said. 

The efforts to strip transgender people of their healthcare rights in various states have been a cause of worry for the actor. "I feel emerging joy and excitement one moment, and then in the next, profound sadness reading about people wanting to take gender-affirming health care away from children," said the actor before adding that he was aware of the privilege he enjoys as a movie star. "I feel so grateful to be at this place in my life, and I want to use the strength I have to help in all the ways that I can. The reason you and I have the privileges we have is because people have sacrificed so much for so, so, so long and put everything on the line."

The actor is keen to use his position as a celebrity to help make the lives of trans people better. "I think it's about: How can I feel grateful for my joy, and embrace my joy, and allow myself to have that joy — but then put that joy and that love into action? How do I figure out a way to integrate those two feelings, in terms of being a public person?" said Page, in a post while coming out as transgender.