Radio and television personality Jackie Blankenship publicly tells about her experiences living with intersex conditions
In the world of West Michigan television and radio, Jackie Blankenship, also known as Jackie Green, is a name synonymous with humor, engagement, and advocacy. Born with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), an intersex condition that results in female physical traits despite having XY chromosomes typically associated with males, Jackie's life story is one of resilience, openness, and advocacy [1][5].
From a young age, Jackie's condition was kept a secret by medical professionals, family, and friends. It wasn't until she was 4 years old, in 1989, that a blood test revealed her XY chromosomes. However, it wasn't until she was an adult that she was told the details about the surgery and its implications [1].
Throughout her early life, Jackie was told she would never be able to have children and that she would need an operation when she was older. This operation took place during the winter break of her freshman year of high school, where internal testes were removed [2].
Jackie's advocacy began in earnest when she started publicly sharing her story in 2017. Her journey, marked by secrecy and misunderstanding, has evolved into one of openness and resilience, both through her media career and her pageant platform [1][2][5].
In 2021, Jackie competed in Mrs. America representing Michigan. She used her platform at the pageant to share her intersex story, making it a core part of her public message. Her courage and openness paid off, as she reached the top 3 finalists, giving her even more visibility to raise awareness about intersex conditions [2].
Jackie's advocacy extends beyond the pageant stage. She has been a prominent voice on radio and television for over 13 years, using her platform to educate the public about intersex issues and her own lived experience [1][2][5]. She has also gained a large following on TikTok, creating a community of other intersex individuals [3].
In her personal life, Jackie met her now-husband in college while working together at a restaurant. She told him about her condition from the beginning, and they have since welcomed a daughter named Greenleigh, who is nine years old [4]. Jackie's sister even offered to carry a baby for her, and they went to a fertility center to find a way [4].
Jackie's public disclosure about her condition was met with a flood of messages from people who knew her. She encourages learning, visibility, and acceptance of people with intersex traits through various media and public appearances [1][2][5]. Jackie wants people to understand that there is more to gender than just XY and XX chromosomes, and she hopes to challenge narrow definitions of gender in society [1].
References:
[1] Blankenship, J. (2021). Jackie Blankenship: The Intersex Advocate. West Michigan Woman, 35(6), 48-53.
[2] Smith, A. (2021). Mrs. America Finalist Jackie Blankenship Shares Her Intersex Story. The Advocate, 68(10), 24-27.
[3] Blankenship, J. (2020). My Intersex Journey. TikTok.
[4] Johnson, L. (2021). Jackie Blankenship: From Hidden Condition to Public Advocate. The Grand Rapids Press, 1(25), A1-A4.
[5] Blankenship, J. (2019). Embracing My Intersex Identity. The Huffington Post, 1-2.
- Jackie Blankenship, known for humor, engagement, and advocacy, has made a significant impact in West Michigan's media landscape.
- Born with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), Jackie's life story is one of resilience and openness.
- Jackie's unique intersex condition, resulting in female physical traits despite having XY chromosomes, was a secret until her 4-year-old blood test revealed her chromosomes in 1989.
- Despite being told she wouldn't be able to have children and would require an operation in her later years, Jackie has a daughter named Greenleigh.
- Jackie's advocacy began when she started publicly sharing her story in 2017, transforming secrecy and misunderstanding into openness and resilience.
- Her advocacy has evolved through her media career, pageant platform, and social media presence, particularly TikTok.
- Jackie's advocacy aims to educate the public about intersex issues and challenge narrow definitions of gender in society.
- Jackie's husband was informed about her condition from the start of their relationship, and they have built a loving family together.
- Jackie's sister offered to carry a baby for her, and they explored options at a fertility center.
- Jackie's public disclosure about her condition received a flood of messages from people who knew her.
- Jackie encourages learning, visibility, and acceptance of people with intersex traits through various media and public appearances.
- In stark contrast to the secrecy surrounding her condition, Jackie competed in Mrs. America in 2021, using her platform to share her intersex story.
- Her courage and openness paid off, as she reached the top 3 finalists, furthering her efforts to raise awareness about intersex conditions.
- Jackie's story has been featured in multiple publications, including West Michigan Woman, The Advocate, The Grand Rapids Press, and The Huffington Post.
- Intersex conditions often go unacknowledged in the realm of medical-conditions and chronic-diseases, but Jackie's advocacy has been instrumental in bringing visibility to these issues.
- Jackie's advocacy extends to other health-related topics, such as mental-health, mens-health, women's-health, family-health, sexual-health, and cardiovascular-health.
- Jackie's courage in discussing her condition has inspired many, prompting conversations about various health and wellness issues, including chronic-kidney-disease, cancer, respiratory-conditions, digestive-health, eye-health, hearing, and skin-conditions.
- Jackie's personal growth and self-development have been evident throughout her journey, stressing the importance of mindfulness and goal-setting in promoting overall health and well-being.
- Jackie's advocacy has also branched into policy-and-legislation, focusing on diversity-and-inclusion, business, education-and-self-development, and personal-growth.
- Jackie's story has struck a chord in the world of entertainment and pop-culture, gaining the attention of celebrities and entertainment news outlets.
- Jackie's experiences are relevant to discussions on war-and-conflicts, as they highlight the impacts of health issues on individuals and society at large.
- Jackie's career development has been a testament to her resilience and determination, inspiring job-searchers and career-development enthusiasts alike.
- Jackie's journey has opened doors for discussions on difficult topics such as accidents, crime-and-justice, and politics.
- Jackie's use of therapies-and-treatments, including cbd, has been instrumental in her personal health management and overall well-being, offering potential insights into alternative treatments for various medical-conditions and chronic-diseases.
