Meet the transgender 9-year-old boy who wants to be a girl and is brave enough to show the world

Joseph Hughes is now happy to venture outside as Ellie-Jo with his family by his side and wants to return to school as a girl in September

Dream: Joseph wants to return to school as Ellie

A nine-year-old boy who has wanted to be a girl since he was a toddler has found the courage to step outside as 'Ellie-Jo' for the first time.

Joseph Hughes is now hoping to return to school as a girl in September after finally walking outside dressed as a girl with his proud family by his side.

Joseph has loved wearing dresses for years and this year asked for a wig for his birthday - but until now has only felt safe to wear female clothing in his own home.

The North Wales Daily Post reports his mum Sam has agreed to show Joseph's story so he can act as an inspiration for others.

The mum-of-six from Rhyl, north Wales said Joseph has wanted to be a girl since the age of two.

Instead of toy soldiers and trains, he asks for princesses and dolls for Christmas and birthdays.

Fashion: Joseph has enjoyed dressing in girls clothes since the age of two

So it came as no surprise when Joseph's latest birthday must-have was a wig to go with his new wardrobe.

She said: "When Joseph puts on dresses, he seems much more content and happy in himself, his attitude changes completely.

"Almost his entire life, he's enjoyed dressing up as a girl - I have five other children who have all played dressing up - but with Joseph, it was different, more natural somehow."

Flicking through photographs over the last seven years, Joseph's love for all things "girlie" is clear.

In some of the earlier images, the youngster can quite easily pass for a girl with an angelic face and pretty long blonde curls.

Locks: As a youngster Joseph would ask to grow his hair long

On his fourth birthday, Joseph wears a Cinderella dress and tiara as he blows out the candles on his pink princess castle cake.

A picture taken at the age of eight shows him painting his toenails.

"I can't remember the exact day when it all started but it was very early on," admitted Sam.

"As Joseph's personality formed, he developed an interest in wearing princess dresses."

Dress: Joseph first started experimenting with his sister's clothes

With plans to grow his hair long, Joseph loves "anything girlie" and is an avid fan of the Barbie films, princesses and ballerinas.

He sometimes sleeps with girls sheets and duvet covers on his bed and prefers to wear knickers instead of underpants.

Sam said: "I thought it was a phase at first. Instead of playing football with his brothers, Joseph would always prefer to be with the girls and play with their toys.

"When he started putting his older sister's clothes on, I didn't think much of it at the time, but it turned into something he never really seemed to grow out of."

Sam took Joseph to see specialists at CAMHS (Child and Adult Mental Health Services) and after a few appointments, he was referred to a children's clinic in Rhuddlan, north Wales.

She said: "The doctor saw him twice and said there was nothing more they can do untilJoseph's 11, when his hormones start to kick in. Since then, we we've just been left to get on with it really."

Princess: Joseph loved wearing a tiara for his birthday

So Sam took to the internet to research gender identity but the forums she came across only related to older children.

She added: "I couldn't really see anything relevant to Joseph at this stage in his life so I've carried on allowing him to do whatever makes him comfortable.

"To me it's clear that he has gender dysphoria but I wanted to give Joseph time to think for himself and do what comes naturally to him."

Joseph is settling in to his new school well but has asked Sam if he can start the new September term as a girl called Ellie-Jo.

"I've been in touch with the school and we are having a meeting to discuss this possibility," she said.

"The headteacher said there is another school in the vicinity that has allowed a child to transition their gender so it's likely that they might allow Joseph to do it too."

Already, Ellie-Jo has taken steps to embrace the transition by venturing out to the supermarket and park with Sam and siblings Victoria, 20,
Francesca, 15, Owen, 11, Guy, 7 and six-year-old, Eric.

Afterwards, his mum bravely took to Facebook to share her pictures, along with a post that read: "As some of you may know, Joseph wants to be a girl."