Caitlyn Jenner Takes Full Legal Control Over Her Name and Gender

The 1976 Olympic gold medalist and reality star has been approved by a California judge to legally change her name and gender.

AP reports that the 65-year-old I Am Cait television personality's request to legally have her name changed from William Bruce Jenner to Caitlyn Marie Jenner has been approved by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg. Her request to be legally registered as a woman has also been granted.

Judge Rosenberg signed off on the petition during a brief hearing attended by two of Jenner's lawyers on Friday, although she did not attend.

This is just one of the many groundbreaking moments for the Kardashian clan, who made her transition as a transgender woman earlier this year a highly documented affair.

Her Vanity Fair cover story, spinoff reality television series (which recently ended its first season), and a recent stop at the Ellen DeGeneres show have facilitated the world's reconciling with her new identity.

For Jenner, the legal change was simply a means "to better match my identity," according to court filings she submitted earlier this month. In order to do so, Caitlyn had to file a sealed medical declaration. The new legal bindings will allow Caitlyn to have a new driver's license and social security card that better match her modern identity and true self.

Although Caitlyn has received an outpouring of love, she has also been met with serious criticism since coming out.

Certain specific details that accompanied her petition to change her name and gender were kept hidden due to Jenner's own concerns with the threats she says she has received all throughout her transition, stating:

"Although public support for my transition has been overwhelmingly supportive, I am also receiving unwelcome negative attention from private citizens, including threats of bodily harm."

Caitlyn's two daughters Kendal and Kylie Jenner, from her marriage to Kris Jenner, have continuously been supportive with their father's decision. Her children from her previous marriages have also shown their acceptance.