Earlier this week transman Chaz Bono was announced to be on the next season of Dancing With The Stars in the US. Closer to home, a fascinating and talented transman is making headlines, capturing the attention of Australian TV audiences last night on reality talent TV show X-Factor.

When hunky Paige Elliot Phoenix took to the stage for his X-Factor audition, he clearly already had the attention of the crowd and the judges.

“Music is the thing that means the most to me, and I would love it to be the thing that I do in my life… and I haven’t been ready until now,” Pheonix told judges as he took the stage.

When X-Factor judge Ronan Keating asked why he hadn’t been ready, Phoenix explained how he hadn’t been overcoming both physical and mental barriers associated with his transition from female to male.

“I’ve needed a whole bunch of things to fall into place in my life… and um, probably the most significant thing was a gender transition… I’m a female to male transsexual,” Phoenix said, to much applause.

“My decision to live as a man has been one of the best decisions I’ve made. Living as a female was really hard and really painful… The transition that I went through has enabled me to become the person and the artist that I am now… I couldn’t have auditioned for X-Factor as a woman. It wasn’t me. It wasn’t me.”

Keating commended Phoenix for his bravery sharing his story and auditioning for the show.

Check out Paige Pheonix’s amazing performance below.

Phoenix’s husky soulful rendition of the INXS hit Never Tear Us Apart won massive favour with the crowd, resulting in a standing ovation as well as a triumphant three thumbs up from judges Natalie Bassingthwaite, Ronan Keating and Mel B. He progressed to the next round of the show.