I never knew my hunky boyfriend was born a girl but now we plan to start a family

Madly in love and convinced she had found the perfect man, one woman was shocked to learn her boyfriend's deepest secret - he was born a GIRL.

And it is not difficult to see how Charlotte Urie, 20, had no clue that her handsome new beau, Kieran Moloney was born a female called Ciara.

With his chiselled jawline and bulging biceps Kieran would not look out of place on a Hollywood red carpet.

For years the 23-year-old kept his sex-swap a secret, until he met Charlotte in 2012.

Despite the shocking revelation, the couple are stronger than ever, and are now hoping to get married and start a family -using Kieran's best friend as a sperm donor.

Charlotte, a barista from Camden, London, says: "I would never have guessed Kieran's secret, but as soon as he told me he'd been born a girl it didn't matter to me. I was surprised, but I love him for who he is and see him as a man.

"He's very masculine and has a great body, but he's also my best friend. I never had any concerns about dating someone transgender. Biology doesn't matter."

Kieran, originally from New Zealand, but now living in London, says: "When I first met Charlotte I was blown away by her beauty, but I was terrified of how she'd react if she found out I used to be a girl. I needed to know I could trust her, before I revealed my secret.

Kieran Moloney, left - as a girl, right - as he is today.

"Other girlfriends have been ashamed of who I am, but when I told Charlotte, she was so accepting. She's amazing."

Describing being told Kieran's news, Charlotte said: "Kieran sat me down and said he had something to tell me. He blurted out he~d been born a girl called Ciara. I was so surprised. He was so manly. I never had any suspicions.

"Kieran was really nervous and told me he'd understand if I just wanted to be friends. We talked it through for hours. I knew I still loved him and wanted to be with him. It didn't matter he'd been born a girl."

Kieran added: "So many girlfriends before had been embarrassed by me and I didn't want any more rejection. I felt such a connection to Charlotte I didn't want her to end the relationship. So when she reacted like it was nothing, I felt so relieved. Finally I met someone who liked me for me."

A few weeks later the couple became intimate for the first time.

Kieran Moloney as a girl aged 10 before his transformation

Charlotte explained that Kieran was not shy about showing off his body - and great six pack - and she made sure he was at ease.

Two months later they moved in together and now the couple are planning to tie the knot and have children together.

Kieran has been living as a man for seven years and after having a double mastectomy at 20, finally feels comfortable in his own skin.

He was unhappy with his gender aged four, and had no interest in girlie things - bursting into tears if his Mum put him in a dress.

When Kieran started primary school, he became a target for bullies.

And when puberty hit, the teenager's confusing feelings escalated.

He said: "I hated seeing my breasts develop and I was jealous of the boys at school when their voices dropped and they started shaving. I hated being a girl."

At 14, Kieran lost his virginity to a boy, but says it felt wrong.

He cut his hair into a short spiky bob and wore sports bras and baggy tops to hide his feminine figure.

After seeing a counsellor aged 16, Kieran was finally diagnosed as transgender.

He says: "I started taking hormone tablets which lowered my voice and gave me more body hair. I loved the changes."

Kieran's family supported him and his mum Bronagh Moloney, 49, a nurse, began calling him her son.

By 17, fine hairs started to grow on Kieran's face and with a rigorous gym workout, Kieran's body was transforming into a man's.

He began binding his breasts with sports tape, spending £20 a week in a quest to hide any hint of being a female.

Gradually his cup size dropped from a B to an A.

In November 2009, aged 18, Kieran started monthly testosterone injections and, two years later, had a £5k double mastectomy, paid for by his mum.

He remembers: "When I saw the results I felt euphoric. I finally had a man's upper body, something I'd only dreamed about."

In August 2012, Kieran changed his name by deed poll and met girlfriend, Charlotte.

Kieran is yet to have full gender reassignment surgery, but the couple say Kieran's physical gender doesn't get in the way of them enjoying a healthy sex life.

He says: "We've reached the stage where we feel comfortable enough with each other to do whatever feels good - that's what sex is."

Charlotte says: "We both loved the same music and were into keeping fit. He's a man's man and loves football and going to the pub."

The couple started dating and a month later Kieran confessed how he had been born a girl and was transgender.

Smitten Charlotte said: "Kieran's my soulmate and we'd be the best parents. We'll explain his background to our kids when they're old enough they'll have two loving parents, that's the most important thing." ...Mirror