After a Whirlwind 2015, Caitlyn Jenner Has Big Plans for the Second Season of I Am Cait

It was a whirlwind 2015 for Caitlyn Jenner, who made a huge splash with her announcement—on the cover of Vanity Fair—that she had transitioned from male to female. But now that the hoopla around her new life is starting to die down, Jenner is continuing her work to raise awareness of transgender issues. That's why she filmed another season of her E! reality show, I Am Cait, which debuts Sunday, March 6. Jenner spoke to reporters at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour about her huge year and what's in store for Season 2. I Am Cait was the No. 1 unscripted cable series launch among adults ages 18 to 49 last year. While ratings cooled later in the season, E! has brought the show back for another season. This year, Jenner will embark on a cross-country trip with her posse of transgender female friends, including Candis Cayne and 19-year-old Ella Giselle. "I really felt like we opened up this conversation that it's okay to talk about trans issues," Jenner said. "But in opening it up, there are so many issues in this community that we really need to deal with and to talk about in the future. And that's what Season 2 is." That theme is echoed in the trailer for I Am Cait's second season, which proclaims, "Last year, she changed her life. This year, she'll live it." In the trailer, Jenner admits, "Sometimes, I feel like I'm throwing old Bruce out the door. Maybe he didn't deserve to be … gone." Later, when asked if she considers herself to be a lesbian now, she said, "I don't see dating women in the future. I've been there, done that." During her high-profile transition last year, Jenner said she made plenty of missteps. "I am not a spokesman for this community," she said. "I am only a spokesman for me and my story. I have so much to learn in this community. I have so much to learn about trans issues. I have so much to learn about womanhood. There's a lot for me to learn. I'm only nine months out." With I Am Cait, Jenner wants to shine a spotlight on transgender issues and help audiences understand "that these are normal people. … This is an issue that is global. It is all over the world." She hopes to add an international element to the show if it continues beyond Season 2. "I would love to take this show global. I want to see what trans issues are all over the world," she said. While I Am Cait executive producer Andrea Metz said Jenner's children and stepchildren would appear more frequently this season, Jenner said she intentionally tries to keep them at bay to distance I Am Cait from Keeping Up with the Kardashians. 'It was a conscious decision that I wanted this show to be about the issues," Jenner said. "I love my kids. I have a great relationship with my children. But this is a different show. This is about a serious issue. I wanted to somewhat keep that distance." However, Jenner said she decided to stay with E! so that she could still spend time with her family during major events. She also recently filmed a scene for Keeping Up with the Kardashians. "It's not easy transitioning in the public eye," Jenner said. "For almost my entire life, I never really liked going out. I never really felt like I fit in. … Now, after transitioning, I actually really enjoy going out." She also handled Ricky Gervais' transphobic jokes about her during Sunday's Golden Globes with grace. "I think what I'm going to do is call the Golden Globes and see if they need a new host for next year—and we'll solve that problem," she said. (Jenner cracked another joke later in the panel: When asked how she stays in such good shape, she quipped, "Eat your Wheaties.") Despite all the attention her transition garnered last year, Jenner said she doesn't seek the spotlight. "The platform is not for me—it is for this community … to be able to tell our story," she said.

Convergent TV

After a Whirlwind 2015, Caitlyn Jenner Has Big Plans for the Second Season of I Am Cait

Reality series returns March 6 on E!

Jason Lynch

About

Subscriptions

Events

Publications

WORK SMARTER - LEARN, GROW AND BE INSPIRED.

Subscribe today!

Jason Lynch