YouTuber Alex Bertie: Vlogging my gender transition was my safe space

Alex Bertie says vlogging his gender transition from female to male helped him find his "safe space".

The 22-year-old began uploading videos nine years ago on YouTube, around the time he realised he was transgender.

Alex named his channel The Quest to Alex's Beard, which is something he's now achieved thanks to hormone therapy.

He came out as trans to hundreds of thousands online before he told his parents because, he says, it gave him a "weird kind of comfort".

Alex uploads behind-the-scenes pictures of his vlog on his Instagram account.

"Trans issues weren't as big as they are now, not many people were brave enough to do it," Alex explains to Newsbeat.

It's one of the reasons Alex turned to YouTube to find out more about the subject, but as there weren't many people vlogging about it, he decided to upload some videos.

"I really like looking back because it's a visual diary," he says.

"I love the three months video when my voice broke for the first time."

You can watch one of Alex's videos here where he reflects on one year since his transition.

Warning: Third-party content, may contain ads

Alex has always been honest in his vlogs, discussing the ups as well as the downs, and he's now written a book about his experience.

"I just don't want to be fake," he explains.

"I want people to understand this is a very difficult journey and not just for the people going through it, but for their families and friends."

When Alex was 15 he told his parents about his gender dysphoria but says they "weren't great".

With the help of his sister, who was "at the forefront of acceptance" at home, and his vlogs, his parents eventually came around.

It's those kind of stories that Alex hears about the most when people reach out to him.

"At first I didn't set out to be an idol, I was just trying to make my own community and show people what I was going through.

"That's why I've shared the bad stuff and now my family are really great. People can see it does get better."

In another of Alex's videos he gives an update on his surgery and testosterone.

Warning: Third-party content, may contain ads

It was after being put on a course of testosterone, a chemical that replicates male puberty, that Alex was able to grow facial and body hair.

"I used to have such an issue with my body," he explains.

"While it's not a magic elixir, the changes it brings is just amazing. It really helped me identify with my body more."

There is more surgery that Alex will have to have in the future, including a hysterectomy.

That's what Alex says is one of the biggest misconceptions, that it's not "an overnight process".

For help and information on gender dysphoria and transgender, visit BBC Advice.

Find us on Instagram at BBCNewsbeat and follow us on Snapchat, search for bbc_newsbeat