Jesse Schwenker, a 29-year-old fitness buff from Florida who calls himself an “alpha male,” is speaking out about his relationship with 25-year-old transgender woman Cassidy Cauley — a love story that’s challenged stereotypes and pushed back against online hate.
Their connection began in 2022 when Jesse discovered Cassidy’s Instagram page. He was instantly captivated by the content creator and reached out. The two quickly formed a deep bond, and what started as online flirtation soon blossomed into something much more.
”I used to believe in traditional love,” Jesse admitted. ”But Cassidy changed that. Our connection made me realize love is about the person, not the label.”
Cassidy, who knew from a young age that she identified as a woman, began her transition journey at 14 after watching a life-changing YouTube video. Though she’s been subjected to harsh criticism online, she’s remained resilient with the support of her parents.
Before meeting Jesse, Cassidy says she often felt rejected in relationships after opening up about being trans. “People accused me of ‘tricking’ them,” she shares.
But Jesse’s reaction was different — his support and acceptance helped her heal from past wounds.
“When I first told my friends and family about Cassidy, I didn’t get the reaction I hoped for,” Jesse says. “I lost a few friends. But honestly, if they couldn’t be happy for me, they were never really my friends.”
cassidycauley/Instagram
”I’ve never had a real relationship before, and most of the guys I dated were only interested in the fantasy of being with someone like me. But when I met Jesse, his messages caught my attention and he made me feel special and so safe. He put me on a pedestal and told me that no matter what, he sees me as a person with a good heart,” Cassidy says.
Despite being bombarded with hateful comments and even receiving death threats, Jesse refused to back down. He stood proudly beside Cassidy, unfazed by the backlash.
“There is not one word or one sentence that you could possibly put together that would actually hurt me or my girlfriend,” Jesse said. “All of the negative comments are the reason we are such a strong couple today.”
Together, the couple chose to speak publicly about their relationship — not for attention, but to challenge harmful narratives. “We didn’t share our story for likes or views — it was to break barriers and be the voice of men like myself who get looked down upon for dating a trans woman,” Jesse explained.
“I was simply looking for acceptance and someone who would stick by my side through any life changes. Cassidy had such an interesting and inspiring story, and I became intrigued about getting to know more.”
Despite facing online abuse, with trolls calling them names like “scumbags” and “brainwashers,” Cassidy and Jesse have developed what they call a “thick skin.”
Rather than shrinking away, they used their platform to advocate for love without limits.
“Love has no boundaries,” Cassidy says. “We want people to see that it’s okay to love freely and openly.”
Jess’s new partner
In an interview with the Mirror Jesse said he planned to to propose and dreamt of adopting two children. “We just want a life like any other family,” he said “Happy. Normal. Ours.”
But it seems the relationship between Jesse and Cassidy didn’t turn out the way either of them expected.
In July 2024, Jesse — known online as “Jacked Like Jess” — revealed he had broken up with his trans girlfriend after she cheated.
”I feel like I got spit in the face because I truly showed the whole world and told everyone how amazing she is,” Jess shared.
A quick scroll through their social media profiles shows that all photos of them together have been removed.
On the bright side, Jesse has found love again with a new transgender girlfriend named Elena. On Valentine’s Day, he posted a heartfelt message to his new partner, writing: ”You helped me through some of the toughest times in my life. I will always stand ten toes down for you until they toe tag me and drop that casket.”