Connect with us

Best Of

Chaz Bono is a successful transgender actor who overcame obesity

Most people probably know Cher and when I think of Cher and her career, It’s hard to not recall her stormy relationship with Sonny Bono.

The couple had one child together: Chaz Bono was originally born Chastity Bono on March 4, 1969. Due to being a celebrity kid, he became famous immediately and it didn’t take long before the TV audience got to see him.

Bono was named after the movie Chasity, a movie produced by Sonny. Cher played the lead role and portrayed a young, bisexual hippie runaway.

Chastity Bono was conceived during the making of the film.

As a kid, Chaz appeared numerous times in The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. He usually came on at the end of each episode, when Sonny and Cher sang “I Got You Babe“.

In this way, Chaz was a familiar face to the American audience.

Photo of Chastity Bono with dad, Sonny, on the set of The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour / Wikipedia Commons

Came out as a lesbian

But few knew what he was going through at home and at school. Early in his life, Chaz couldn’t relate to other girls and their interests.

”I’d look at other girls my age and feel perplexed by their interest in fashion or which boy was the cutest,” Chaz told Daily Mail in 2011.

At age 18, he came out to both parents as a lesbian.

“…as a child, I always felt there was something different about me. I’d look at other girls my age and feel perplexed by their obvious interest in the latest fashion, which boy in class was the cutest, and who looked the most like cover girl Christie Brinkley. When I was 13, I finally found a name for exactly how I was different. I realized I was gay,” Chaz wrote in his book Family Outing: A Guide to the Coming Out Process for Gays, Lesbians, and Their Families.

Cher was shocked

For Cher, who later would become an icon among the LGBTQ community, it wasn’t “easy” for her to deal with her daughter coming out as a lesvian.

“When I found out Chaz was gay, I didn’t go through it that easily,” Cher said in an interview with PrideSource.

But according to Chaz himself, his mom actually “went ballistic” when he originally came out to her.

At the age of 39, Chaz began her transition to the male gender.

Shutterstock

Once again, his mother was shocked.

“When I found out Chaz was [transitioning]… we talked about it a lot, actually. But then Chaz didn’t mention it anymore, so I kind of forgot. And what I think is, there’s such a fear of losing the child you love, and what will replace that child.”

Cher added: “I think it’s about the fear, mostly. I felt, who will this new person be? Because I know who the person is now, but who will the new person be and how will it work and will I have lost somebody?

Transition into a man

It took until 2010 before Chaz officially became a man, when a California court granted his request for a gender and name change.

In the documentary Becoming Chaz, shown at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival and aired on Oprah Winfrey Network, the viewers got the chance to follow Chaz’s transition into a man.

“My mother went through a kind of mourning period. It was difficult for her, and we didn’t see each other for about the first year of my transition,” Chaz told SBS Australia.

The documentary contains many emotional scenes – including an interview with Cher after she heard her child’s new voice, changed by hormone drugs.

‘I was hysterical when I heard her voice on her answerphone. It was her old voice,’ says Cher.

Shutterstock

‘I remember saying: “Is  there any way I can save it?” But it was gone. I’ll never hear it again.’

After the documentary, Chaz has appeared several times in Hollywood. In 2011, he wrote history as the first transgender man to participate in Dancing with the Stars. It was also the first time a transgender man starred on a major network television show for something unrelated to being transgender, according to Advocate.com.

Five years later, he starred in five episodes of American Horror Story: Roanoke and play Reverend Rydale on The Bold and the Beautiful.

Chaz Bono 85lbs weight loss

For many years, Chaz Bono suffered from obesity and he did not thrive in his body. The turning point towards a healthier lifestyle came when he began his gender transition.

Facebook / Chaz Bono

”I would have never been able to do it before,’ he told Winfrey. ‘I was too disconnected from my body, and to, you know – the dysphoria around, that I had with my body was too much to be able to have cared enough about to do anything like that,” Chaz said when he spoked with Oprah Winfrey some years ago.

When Chaz entered Dancing With The Stars, he weighed 250lb – but the competition and all practice made him lose weight, rapidly. Not so strange, considering how much training and movement that is required to succeed on the dance floor.

But it seems that Chaz continued on his healthy lifestyle even after the TV show. He has continued to lose weight and new pictures of him show that he is far from the unhealthy weight he had 10 years ago.

Unfortunately, the weight loss journey has not been entirely painless for Chaz. When you lose a lot of pounds, it is not always easy for the body to keeps up. Chaz has a lot of sagging excess skin.

Facebook / Chaz Bono

“It’s not fun, but it was worth it, because I look better now. I’ve cut out, you know, 99 percent of grains from my diet, ‘he revealed. ‘I pretty much eat vegetables, meat, fruit, nuts … My birthday is the one day of the year I’ll do cake,’ Chaz told Extra TV.

His mother, Cher, has repeatedly praised her son’s courage and journey towards a healthier lifestyle.

”He did it all by himself. He made up his own mind and he did it. And it was like what — 85, 90 pounds. Wow! … I do not know if I’d have that courage.” Cher said in 2013.

Surely it’s wonderful to see Chaz today? He has been through a lot in his life but seems to have a good attitude and he seems to feel much better today when he has found himself.

I hope his journey can inspire more out there! Feel free to share this article if you agree!

Best Of

A camel bit off its owner’s head after being left tied up in the hot sun all day.

Left tied up in the scorching heat all day, the camel attacked and killed its owner by biting off their head.

An Indian man who left his camel tied up in the heat all day lost his life because of it.

When he tried to untie the camel, it became aggressive, attacking him and biting off his head.

“The camel grabbed him by the neck, threw him to the ground, bit his body, and severed his head,” villager Thakara Ram told The Times of India.

It took around six hours and 25 people to finally control the camel.

Some villagers in Rajasthan said the camel had attacked the man, Urjaram, before.

Camels don’t usually attack people very often.

Camel attacks can be extremely violent and unexpected.

In January last year, a camel at a breeding farm in Texas killed two people by crushing them.

The previous fall, an American man who owned an animal sanctuary in Mexico was killed by a camel. It bit and kicked him, then sat on him until he suffocated.

Rescuers had to tie the camel to a truck to pull it away from the body. Some believe the camel was upset because it didn’t get its daily Coca-Cola that day.

A few months earlier, a similar attack happened in California when a camel attacked an elderly man the same way. However, he survived.

Camels are usually friendly animals that like to sniff and even play with people’s hair.

However, male camels can be aggressive and sometimes fight with females.

Even though they have big teeth, camels raised in captivity are usually bred to avoid biting.

Camels tend to kick in a circular motion, but experts say they rarely kick people.

Continue Reading

Best Of

Why new Justin Bieber photos are worrying fans

Pop icon Justin Bieber, now 30, has captivated millions of fans worldwide for over a decade. But lately, his latest photos have sparked serious concern among his devoted followers.

Once the ultimate teenage heartthrob, Bieber’s recent appearance has left many asking — what’s really going on?Disheveled look

Pop sensation Justin Bieber has always been known for his ever-changing looks, but his latest public appearances have left fans more worried than entertained. The 30-year-old singer has been spotted looking noticeably pale and gaunt, often dressed in oversized, shabby clothing, fueling speculation about his well-being.

What’s most unsettling for his loyal supporters is that this should be a joyful chapter in Bieber’s life — he recently became a father to baby Jack Blues, born in August 2024.

Yet, instead of exuding the glow of new parenthood, Bieber’s disheveled look has sparked concern, marking a stark contrast from his previous public image.

Bieber first shot to fame as a teen heartthrob, rocking his signature side-swept fringe while repeating the word “baby” in a way that made the whole world sing along. As his career skyrocketed, his style evolved — transitioning from skate park casual to something clearly influenced by a professional stylist.

In recent years, his wardrobe choices have often been quirky and unpredictable, at times even bizarre — but mostly in a way that felt harmless, even amusing. Now, however, fans fear those days are long gone.

In recent months, several photos of Justin Bieber have surfaced, sparking concern among fans about his well-being. Many believe he hasn’t looked his best, and his latest public appearances have only fueled speculation.

Wandering the streets of NYC in a bathrobe

Back in January, Justin was seen leaving a New York City studio alone, looking visibly exhausted. While he’s always been a fan of oversized clothing, his fashion choices took an unexpected turn this week when he was spotted wandering the streets of NYC in a bathrobe and stained Ugg boots.

The latest images have left fans genuinely concerned for his well-being.

In response to the photos, one person commented that it appeared he was going through a “difficult time,” while another fan noted that he looked like he was “struggling.” Some even speculated that he might be “suffering,” further fueling worries among his followers.

Justin Bieber is seen on February 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

His latest appearances suggest something deeper may be going on, and the internet is buzzing with speculation. Is it just an experimental fashion phase? Exhaustion from fatherhood? Or is there something more serious behind Bieber’s drastic change?

Since Justin Bieber appeared to be his usual self in January 2024, sharing selfies on Instagram that showcased a healthy appearance, fans have been left puzzled by his recent transformation.

P. Diddy mentored Bieber

As the year progressed, many noticed he appeared noticeably thinner and more downcast. This shift in his demeanor coincided with the mounting struggles surrounding Diddy’s situation, which worsened over time, culminating in his arrest in September 2024. Fans can’t help but wonder if these events may have had an impact on Bieber’s well-being, prompting a wave of concern from his loyal followers.

Music mogul Diddy, readers will surely already know, is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. According to a troublesome claim made by RadarOnline, Bieber is “haunted” by his past.

Recently, fans voiced concerns when Justin Bieber was seen looking fatigued and gaunt during a dinner outing with his wife, Hailey. The sighting sparked worries, and RadarOnline points out that this was around the same time old clips of Bieber and Diddy resurfaced online.

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

In one particularly notable clip, Diddy, who had mentored Bieber in his early years, proudly reminisced about spending “48 hours” with Bieber when he was just 15 years old. The re-emergence of these videos only seemed to intensify the growing concern for the pop star’s well-being.

“He’s having 48 hours with Diddy. What we’re doing, we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream … we’re gonna go full crazy,” he said.

Now sources are suggesting that Bieber’s links to Diddy may be adversely affecting the Baby singer. One individual, said to have worked in Bieber’s team for years, told PageSix: “Do I believe he was involved in some stupid s—? Yeah.

“He was a teenager. He was the biggest pop star in the world. Everyone was worried about him, and we didn’t know if he would survive it.

“People took advantage of everything he did.”

While celebrities like Justin Bieber live their lives in the public eye, it’s easy to forget that they too are human, facing their own challenges behind the glam and flashing cameras.

Paparazzi and constant media attention can often overshadow the fact that, at the end of the day, they deserve the same kindness and understanding as anyone else. As fans, it’s important to remember the pressures that come with fame and offer support where we can — because, like all of us, they need it too.

Continue Reading

Best Of

10 warning signs your kidneys are failing

Your kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste, balancing fluids, and keeping your body healthy.

However, kidney disease often develops silently, with symptoms appearing only in later stages. Recognizing the early warning signs can help you take action before serious complications arise.

1. Fatigue and Low Energy

When your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, toxins build up in your bloodstream, leading to persistent tiredness, weakness, and trouble concentrating. Anemia, which often accompanies kidney disease, can also leave you feeling drained.

2. Trouble Sleeping

A buildup of waste in the blood can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Additionally, people with kidney disease may suffer from sleep apnea, which disrupts breathing throughout the night and leads to poor rest, the National Kidney Foundation says.

3. Dry, Itchy Skin

Healthy kidneys regulate minerals and nutrients in your body. When they struggle to do their job, imbalances can cause dry, itchy skin, signaling underlying bone and mineral disorders related to kidney disease.

4. Frequent Urination

Feeling the urge to urinate more often, especially at night, can be a sign of issues. When the kidney filters are damaged, they can cause increased urine production, which may indicate early kidney disease.

5. Blood in Urine

Healthy kidneys filter waste while keeping essential blood cells in your body. If you notice blood in your urine, it could signal disease, infections, or even kidney stones. Never ignore this symptom.

6. Foamy Urine

Excessive bubbles or foam in your urine, similar to what you see when scrambling eggs, may indicate the presence of protein.

Protein leakage in urine is a sign that your kidneys aren’t filtering properly.

7. Swelling in the Feet and Ankles

When kidneys don’t remove excess sodium efficiently, fluid retention can occur, leading to swelling in your feet, ankles, and even hands. This is a common symptom of kidney disease and should be checked by a doctor.

8. Poor Appetite

A loss of appetite may seem minor, but it can be an early sign of kidney disease due to the buildup of toxins in the body. Nausea and an altered sense of taste often accompany this symptom.

9. Muscle Cramps

Electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle cramps. Low calcium and imbalanced phosphorus levels may contribute to this uncomfortable condition.

10. Puffiness Around the Eyes

Persistent puffiness around the eyes can indicate protein leakage in urine, which suggests your kidneys may not be properly filtering waste. This can be an early sign of damage.

When to See a Doctor

If you experience any of these symptoms, especially more than one at a time, consult a healthcare professional. Early detection of problems can prevent further damage and improve your overall health.

Maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can help protect you in the long run.

Continue Reading

Trending