Meet Chaz Bono’s Fiancee, Jennifer Elia
Chaz Bono's sex change and upcoming "Dancing With the Stars" stint have garnered tons of press over the last few months. Earlier this year, Bono published a memoir, "Transition: The Story Of How I Became A Man," and is committed to raising awareness for transgendered individuals while hitting the floor on ABC's megahit dance competition. He is also committed to his fiancee, Jennifer Elia, who has supported him during public appearances and the torrent of negative criticism from transphobic "DWTS" viewers angered that the show cast a transgender. (Cher, in full-on Mama Bear mode, helpfully shot them down.)
Elia, who's been with Bono since 2006, joined him on the promotional circuit for his "Transition" book last May, appearing alongside the man formerly known as Chastity in an interview for CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight." Elia, a striking brunette with intense hazel eyes, revealed that she's bisexual and prefers Bono as a man. They consider themselves a straight couple. Elia, who's a recovering alcoholic, fell off the wagon following Bono's decision to change genders. She was initially anxious about how everything would turn out -- and how the world would react -- but she soon got sober and has not had a drink in more than a year. Bono started the male-to-female process three years ago.
"Being with a partner who is happy definitely helps a relationship a lot. Him being at his best and feeling like he belongs has made our relationship a lot better," Elia told AfterEllen.com, in an interview about her starring role in the transition-themed documentary "Becoming Chaz," which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year.
Elia, who recently got her Master's in education from UCLA, works as a private tutor and aspires to write a "memoir of short stories" about past relationships. She'll almost certainly continue to support Bono as his public cheerleader while he rumbas his way into America's living rooms on "DWTS."
