Super Sireyna Queen Sabel Gonzales now living as a man

Super Sireyna Queen of Flowers 2014 Sabel Gonzales has resumed his male identity, Mark Estephen.

A report on 24 Oras on Saturday said that Estephen made the transformation after discovering true happiness through God.

In a series of Facebook posts, Estephen said that only God can change him and that he has found "real freedom, love, equality, respect, and acceptance."

"It’s 2018, and I found my true happiness in life from Our Lord Jesus Christ. Only God can [bring] change to you and to me... so accept and follow Jesus now as our savior and repent from our sins. He is the only way, the truth and the life to be with the Father and to be in heaven," he said.

"I am free and I found my real FREEDOM, LOVE, EQUALITY, RESPECT , and ACCEPTANCE for being who I am and what I am because of JESUS!!" he added in a separate post.

Estephen used the stage name "Julia Barretto" when he joined Eat Bulaga's pageant Super Sireyna in 2014. He took home the crown and was hailed as the Super Sireyna Queen of Flowers.

He also represented the Philippines in the Miss International Queen 2017 pageant in Thailand. —Jessica Bartolome/ALG, GMA News