I'm having a sex change to look like Harry Styles: Transgender girl models new image on One Direction star

PUBLISHED: 19:02 EST, 19 November 2012 | UPDATED: 19:02 EST, 19 November 2012

Like many young girls, Catrina Best thinks Harry Styles is the perfect man. But unlike his many teenage fans, Catrina doesn't want to be with the One Direction star - she wants to look like him.

The 20-year-old, who has been diagnosed as transgender, has modelled her hair and spent thousands on clothing so she can look just like the pop singer.

'Dressing as Harry made me feel confident, so I copied his hair too,' Catrina told this week's Closer magazine. 'I spend 30 minutes every day perfecting the "Harry look."'

Gotta be you: Transgender Catrina Best, left, has modelled her look on One Direction's Harry Styles, right

Catrina told the magazine she thinks Harry, 18, is the 'perfect boy' and having him as a role model has made it easier as she has struggled with her sexuality.

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The law student, who was born in Northern Ireland, said she has felt different since the age of five when she hated looking at all feminine by having long hair or wearing dresses.

When she was 11 she moved to Lisbon, Portugal, with her parents and found she continued to struggle with her identity as a teenager. She often felt depressed and confused because she didn't fancy boys and was bullied because she made herself look different by binding her breasts and having short hair.

Catrina in her youth: She was born a girl but now wants to be a boy using the One Direction star as her role model

'I later realised I wanted to be with girls – but as the male in a straight relationship,' she said of her confusion over her sexual preference.

Catrina said it was a 'huge relief' to finally be diagnosed as transgender earlier this year.

She is now saving up to have an operation and plans to take hormones which will give her facial hair and deepen her voice.

In the meantime, she is modelling her look on Harry having been a fan of One Direction since they appeared on The X Factor.

Pop idol: Catrina said Harry, pictured far right with his bandmates, has helped her battle with her sexuality

As well as copying his clothes and hair, she's also learning to play the guitar. Her new image is so uncanny she has often been mistaken for the singer.

She said: 'People say my bone structure, eyes and lips are almost identical to Harry's, and I’ve been asked for autographs. I haven't started dating yet, but girls flirt with me and I even get chatted up by older women, like Harry does!'

Read Catrina's full story in Closer magazine, on sale today, or visit www.closeronline.co.uk

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Why would anyone want hair like that?

- sly , west midlandfs, United Kingdom, 20/11/2012 11:12

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i feel sorry for harry

- Barry , London, United Kingdom, 20/11/2012 10:47

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Hey if she wants to become a man then that's her business but at least become a man and not a boy. I don't know what everyone sees in this guy, he's probably the least attractive out of the entire group.

- Lee , Maidstone, 20/11/2012 10:47

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Well thats embarrassing!

- marywoohoo , co. laois, 20/11/2012 10:33

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Who is paying for it? - Josephine, Miltin Keynes, United Kingdom, 20/11/2012 09:22 She said she's saving up. And it's MILTON Keynes.

- Female , Milton Keynes, 20/11/2012 10:28

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'She is now saving up to have an operation...' That is the only interesting part of this report: at least the taxpayers won't be picking up the bill for this transformation.

- moz , Leeds, 20/11/2012 10:28

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What has happened to the world?

- lintz12 , manchester, 20/11/2012 10:19

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Sad to see so many disapproving comments on here. Live and Let Live. If no one here can put themselves in Catrina's shoes, stay out of it and shame on you. I am not transgender myself but I atleast have the empathy and understanding to not see this as "weird" or a bad thing. Every one of us is unique, what a boring world it would be if we were all the same. The UK still has a long way to go before it becomes a truely accepting and tolerant nation on things like this, that truly aren't hurtung anyone. Comments like "whose paying for this?", who do you think pays for many womens boob jobs? So it's okay if a women doesn't like her wonky breats to have them to her liking, but when someone feels trapped in the entirly wrong body, they don't deserve the medical chance to be happy? We only live once, let people do the same and make their own choices.

- Kay , Kent, 20/11/2012 10:17

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saddens my heart

- Garrick Bassey , Lagos, Nigeria, 20/11/2012 10:11

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This idiotic lunacy wouldn't be so bad if the public weren't expected to pick up the tab for what amounts to a confused and silly teenager. - Mike , Belfast, 20/11/2012 08:57 did we read the same article? She's been depressed and confused her whole life since being a small child knowing she wasnt a girl, and has finally worked out why. How did you make the transition from that to a 'silly teenager'?. Staggering to read the comments. Especially when it's clear most of you read the title, skimmed the pictures and jumped to the comments section to share inane thoughts on something you lack any respect or understanding for.

- Jo123 , Manchester, United Kingdom, 20/11/2012 10:07

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