Courtney Stodden has changed their pronouns to they/them

Posting on Instagram, they wrote: “They/them/theirs. I don’t Identify as she or her. I’ve never felt like I ever fit in anywhere. I was bullied horribly in school because I was different. The other girls never understood me. It got so bad that my mom pulled me out of school. And still, i don’t fit in. I never really connected with anyone my age. My spirit is fluid with a kaleidoscope of color. #bekind #beopen #loveyourself (sic)”

Courtney did not reveal what their gender identity is, and although it is common for they/them pronouns to be used by non-binary people, that is not always the case.

The news comes just over a year after Courtney was dec lared legally single following their divorce from ex-husband Doug Hutchinson, whom they married in 2011 when they were just 16.

Courtney and Doug split in 2017 and filed for divorce 14 months later.

And after their divorce was finalised, Courtney took to social media to claim Doug had “taken advantage” of them.

They wrote alongside a photograph of them and Doug: "It's March 3rd, 2020 - today I am officially divorced from actor Doug Hutchison. It's an emotional day for me. God only knows how he's feeling, but I can tell you that it's for the better.

"I look back at this picture and feel absolutely taken advantage of. I've been scared to even speak up about feeling groomed or being verbally abused during the almost 10 year marriage because I was a child and he was 50 when we married but I'm a woman now and it's time for me to put my big girl pants on and speak on this matter.

"I've felt completely trapped, manipulated and at times abandoned by adults // growing up in such an environment -- it became a lonely and dark place. Stay tuned for my book. (sic)”

Doug later hit back to claim Courtney's post was made in "retaliation" for his accusation they faked a pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage, and Courtney then took another swipe at their ex-spouse, alleging he “manipulated” them into staying with him.

They said: “I was scared to live without a man who convinced me that I couldn’t live without him nor would I ever find love again. Doug threatened to kill himself multiple times in a manipulation tactic to get me to stay. He now isn’t legally allowed to own a firearm due to police detaining him.”