Secret Shame: Bruce Jenner 'Suffered In Silence' For Years Over Sexual Identity, Keeping Friends In The Dark

Bruce Jenner is finally ready to reveal his transformation plans to the world, but RadarOnline.com has exclusively learned that it was a long and lonely road to this point. Insiders say the reality show star "suffered in silence" for years, and was never able to confide in his close friends about his true identity.

His own mother, Esther Jenner, told RadarOnline.com that he only recently told her about his process, and close friends say he kept them in the dark as well.

"Bruce never mentioned for all of these years that he wanted to live as a woman," a source close to the 65-year-old athlete told RadarOnline.com. "Everyone would have been supportive if he had said anything, but he really kept it close to his chest. He basically suffered in silence, which is really a shame because he didn't have to at all. And his friends feel guilty now for not trying to help him before."

Now, Jenner is preparing to tell all during a sit-down interview with Diane Sawyer, as RadarOnline.com has reported. But despite the bombshell news, his friends will stick by him.