MANILA – BB Gandanghari officially said goodbye to her old self as Rustom Padilla after a Los Angeles court granted her petition to change name and gender.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, she celebrated the court’s decision and went on to welcome the “birth” of BB Gandanghari.

A photo posted by gandangharibb (@gandangharibb) on Nov 18, 2016 at 12:58am PST

“On November 16, 2016, the superior court of Orange County has decreed, set in stone if I may say so, that BINIBINI GANDANGHARI, a resident of the United States of America is LEGALLY and OFFICIALLY Female. Praise be to my GOD whose guidance I have sought and still seeking as I go thru my transition,” she wrote.

“GOODBYE RUSTOM, my former self and my soulmate. You may rest now. And HELLO BB. Welcome to the world! May my GOD bless this soul... life! Cheers!!!” she added.

Padilla first came out of the closet during the celebrity edition of the ABS-CBN reality show "Pinoy Big Brother" in 2006.

In one of the most memorable moments of the popular reality TV show, Padilla admitted to fellow housemate Keanna Reeves that he is gay.

Padilla eventually decided to take the name BB Gandanghari and in an interview with "Tapatan ni Tunying" in July 2014, clarified that she is a transgender and not gay.