A transgender man got the surprise of his life when he came face-to-face with actress Laverne Cox.

The meeting happened on a digital Ellen DeGeneres show called Fearless. Hosted by model Ashley Graham, the show focuses on boosting the confidence of people who do not fit the status quo. The first episode, which focuses on 25-year-old trans man Rickey, was posted in the middle of Transgender Awareness Week.

Rickey grew up in a conservative family in Kansas City, Missouri, and only began his transition a year ago. The 25-year-old wears hoodies to mask his chest because he has not received top surgery.

“The hoodies … it’s to hide my chest because I have to bind, and it makes me flat-chested, and they don’t know,” he said. “Top surgery will make me more confident in myself because I feel trapped right now. But, this is who I am, and I don’t have to hide it anymore.”

Rickey said he's "still working on his confidence" and told Graham, "I used to get up like 5 in the morning to take showers so I wouldn't have to look at myself in the mirror."

After listening to his story, Graham introduced Rickey to Cox so he could connect with someone who went through a similar situation.

“I think you’re so incredibly brave and you faced so many obstacles, but I have a friend who has gone through something like you’re going through that can relate to you in a much deeper way,” Graham said.

When Cox walked out, Rickey was overcome with emotion and burst into tears. His reaction also made Graham and Cox emotional. After Rickey recovered, the Orange Is the New Black star asked him if he had ever met another transgender person.

“Never, you’re the first,” he replied. At the end of the discussion, Cox offered the young man $10,000 toward his surgery. The announcement prompted more tears.

"If you have one person in your life who supports you and loves you for who you are, hold on to that person," Cox told the young man. "We want you to know you are no longer alone."

The actress added, “Everyone should be able to actualize themselves, and our journey is a little bit different than other people’s, but it’s the same journey. We’re just trying to be the best us we can be.”

After the episode was posted, Cox raved about the meeting on her Instagram page:

View this post on Instagram

I'm crying right now trying to write this caption. I am just so overwhelmed reliving getting to meet Rickey and being the first trans person Rickey has ever met in person. Thank you @ashleygraham for introducing me to Rickey on your new show #Fearless for #Ellentube. Thank you Rickey for inspiring me and being a huge part of why I do what I do. Click on the link in my bio to watch the full episode. #transawarenessweek #TransIsBeautiful #ashleygraham #ellendegeneres #ellen

A post shared by laverne cox (@lavernecox) on Nov 14, 2018 at 8:54am PST

"I'm crying right now," she wrote. "I am just overwhelmed reliving getting to meet Rickey."

Like Rickey, Cox has been very open about her past struggles. In October, the 46-year-old told
People Magazine she wanted to kill herself 17 years ago. She wrote a document affirming her identity and stating how she wanted to be treated after her death.

“One day I sat down, and I typed up notes, and the notes said, ‘My name is Laverne Cox, and I should not be referred to by any other name. My preferred pronouns are ‘she’ and ‘her,’ and I shouldn’t be referred to as any other pronouns.’ And I made about five copies and had a copy in each of my pockets and placed them around my apartment because I was planning to commit suicide,” she recalled.

“I was planning to kill myself. I wanted to make sure that I would not be misgendered in my death. I wanted to be sure that I would not be deadnamed in my death. That the disregard for my identity on a daily basis would not happen when I was dead.”

She is thankful she survived that dark period in her life.

“I am so grateful that I decided not to try to take my life. I’m so grateful that I survived,” she said. “I have come to understand that I am here for a divine purpose, and I want every trans person to know that you are here for a divine purpose no matter what anyone says about you.”

Watch the full episode of Fearless below:

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Ashley Graham

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