After struggling for years with her gender and sexuality, a California teenager has beaten the odds to become the first transgender cheerleader on her high school squad.

18-year-old Anry Fuentes, of Denair school near San Francisco, realised she was transgender while still a junior – and officially began her transition earlier this year.

“When I was first trying out for the cheer squad, I wasn’t like, ’I’m going to be the first transgender girl,'” she told People. “I was just trying out because I wanted to be a cheerleader, and I wanted to dance and cheer.”

When Fuentes initially joined the team back in April, she still identified as male, and was even issued a male cheerleading uniform. “I knew that I didn’t feel like most boys do,” she remembered. “My freshman year I came out as gay. I didn’t even know what gay was. Going into my junior year, I started doing research. I was like, ‘Am I really gay?’ And I was like, ‘No, I’m transgender.’” 

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However, her team have apparently been extremely understanding ever since the revelation, with Fuentes praising their “super-sweet” support. And, in an interview with TODAY.com, cheerleading coach Robin Hilton jumped at the opportunity to praise her student. “Our community has always accepted her from the very beginning,” she shared. “The squad has embraced her and they have been friends forever. Now that she finally feels happy and confident, she wants others to feel that way, too.”

Despite all of the support she's received though, Fuentes has had troubles at home over the issue – with some reports stating that her mother had kicked her out over it. She has since denied these rumours, but admits she did move out to give her family some space. “I don't think (my mother) fully understands what it is,” she explained to TODAY.com. “I feel that maybe she is overwhelmed. She's not very accepting at the moment.”

Fuentes remains optimistic though, and while she's still a little shaky over how the crowds will react at away games, she's hopeful that everyone will come to terms with her new identity eventually. “I get a little scared, but... no one has said anything bad,” she added. “It’s so much harder to hide, than to come out and be yourself.”