For many young boys, going back to school after the summer holidays means a new hairstyle. But for one 12-year-old boy in Britain, the transformation was a bit more radical: long hair and pigtails and a new girl’s name. The youngster, who cannot be named, is now preparing for sex change surgery. Though he won't be allowed hormone treatment in the UK until passing puberty, he could become the world's youngest transsexual, following in the footsteps of Germany's Kim Petras. Petras first hit the headlines in 2006 at age 13, when she appeared in a documentary claiming that she had been born in the wrong body. Back then, Kim was a boy called Tim who wanted a sex change, despite being so young. Now, at age 16, Petras has completed her gender reassignment and become the world’s youngest known transsexual. But that’s not the only reason she's shot to fame: Petras is also an aspiring pop singer. With over a million hits on her MySpace page, the successful release of her single "Fade Away" last year, and a contract with Joyce Records, she's set to become a star.

Report: Michelle Martin