Odette Vans shares for the first time her difficult and complex gender journey on social media. After years of silence, the former Survivor participant decides to publicly reveal her transition through an I Always Was Odette documentary, presenting herself as the woman she has always identified as. Odette Vans.
Visibly moved, the Croatian creator explains the fear surrounding this new phase. She speaks about coming out a second time, noting the challenge of changing the name she introduced online years ago and the real dread of rejection. Odette rose to prominence on social platforms over a decade ago, bringing makeup artistry and a fresh perspective to men’s grooming. With charisma and humor, she attracted a large following, approaching 300,000 followers on Instagram.
In the documentary, the influencer revisits painful moments from childhood and other tough periods shaped by drug use and the evangelical community. This is the space where she spent many years and where the decision to live openly took root.
“I’m afraid of opening up again and facing rejection,” she shares through tears, asking fans to start calling her Odette, the name she now uses online.
In the first segment, Vans describes a challenging childhood. Her mother and brother, Billy, join with a psychologist as they discuss internal struggles. She explains the experiences of youth and growing up in an environment that did not accept her. Odette recounts reclaiming the freedom she never had during childhood and adolescence, which led her to become the woman she is today. From sharing content online as a “crazy and unstable person” to discovering a space that belongs to her.
Affected by the teachings of her church, which she later left, the person once known as Oto began to believe she was sick and that this was her life’s purpose as defined by those beliefs. The path was framed as raising a family and being a straight man. Homosexuality was described as the greatest sin, she notes.
Her journey, her story, and her transition have not been easy. Odette not only underwent several cosmetic procedures to achieve her appearance, but she also faced internal battles with self-acceptance and with being accepted by others, leading to periods of depression.
Odette in Survivors
In 2019, Odette joined the Survivor adventure, sharing the island with a diverse cast including Colate, Dakota, Omar Montes, Isabel Pantoja, Chelo García Cortés, and Azúcar Moreno. The experience left a mixed impression, with moments that felt misaligned with her sense of self and belonging.
These reflections surfaced in discussions on a podcast where the program’s guidance sometimes felt controlling. Statements about how participants were treated and what was expected offered a candid, sometimes critical view of the production environment and its pressures. Odette has indicated she would not participate in a survival competition again given those memories.
Today, Odette’s story remains a vivid account of resilience, transformation, and the ongoing process of self-acceptance amid public scrutiny. The narrative highlights the emotional toll of transition and the importance of authentic self-expression in a world quick to judge. It serves as a testament to the complexities of identity, community, and personal growth within a media-driven landscape.
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