Home and Away star adopts daughter's best friend
Former Home and Away heartthrob Mat Stevenson has “adopted” his transgender daughter Grace Hyland’s best friend, Belle Bambi, after she alleges her own father disowned her.
Taking to social media app TikTok, Belle revealed Stevenson had taken her into his family.
Grace shared her own clip too, applauding her father for being so accepting and understanding.
“He’s always supported me, and he wants to support Bambi, too,” Grace said.
Image: TikTok
“We’re sisters now! My BFF’s dad left because she’s trans. So, we did this!”
The adoption may not be legally binding, but it means just as much to Belle who has been a long-time family friend of Stevenson and Hyland.
Grace’s dad has been a supporter of her transition since she decided to transition at the age of 12.
Stevenson rose to fame while playing the Aussie heartthrob Adam Cameron, in Home And Away.
Image: Home and Away archives
He told The Sunday Project earlier this year that the suicide rate among transgender teenagers left him with a strong determination to make sure his daughter didn’t “become one of those statistics”.
“Sadly, in this country, we have a really high adolescent suicide rate and it’s a tragedy. Trans-adolescents are 36 times more likely to self-harm, to commit suicide,” he said.
Image: TikTok
“There’s a distinct correlation between lack of support and self-harm.”
Grace says she has been on her journey since she was 12, and had consulted doctors, psychologists and experts before she underwent any physical changes.
Image: The Sunday Project
“I came out at 12 and then I went through a gradual transition until I was 14, to grow my hair out, to get my name change sorted, to sort out my blockers,” she revealed.
“And then by the time I was 14, I was fully presenting as Grace to the public and at school.”