D. Smith Explains Why She Wanted To Share Her Story As A Transgender Woman On ‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta’

D. Smith, a music producer and one of the new stars on VH1’s “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” is opening up about why she wanted to join the reality show. Smith, who previously told VH1 she’s a private person, said in a new interview that she thought it was a great platform to educate people on the transgender community.

“I realized that the more trans people who are in the light will create awareness for trans people,” she told the New York Post in an interview published Wednesday. “We are all trying to live, and it’s great to have this platform, so I’m very happy to be on the show.”

D. Smith, who started her transition from male to female almost two years ago, also touched on controversial comments made by her cast mates Lil Scrappy and Waka Flocka Flame. Before D. Smith was announced as one of the Season 5 newbies on the VH1 show, Lil Scrappy ranted about the transgender community, saying that people should “stick to what you were made to be.”

“I love my d---. I do not want to be a woman,” he said (via a July article in Billboard). “For the world of young kids, for the world of young little boys, stick to what you were made to be. If you got a penis, be a penis.”

Waka Flocka, who’s married to “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” star Tammy Rivera, also came under fire for criticizing Caitlyn Jenner. In September, the rapper said during a radio interview that Jenner was “rebuking God” and transgender people gave in to “the devil playing tricks on” their minds.

“The opinions do not hurt my feelings,” D. Smith told the Post about the comments. “My problem is that there are little elementary schoolgirls who have friends or peers that may hear [the criticism] and go over the edge, commit suicide or get beat up that day … This is one of the reasons I chose to do ‘Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta.’ This is the demographic that people need to see the most. Fifteen years from now, some trans girl is going to have it so much easier than I did because I helped out.”

Last month, D. Smith opened up about her journey posting a side-by-side photo of her before and after her transition. The songwriter explained to fans in the emotional Instagram post that for a long time she had to live “a terrible lie” and “hurt so many” because of it.

“To be honest, I’m ashamed of the person I used to be,” she posted. “To think, I’m not the only one with this story. Hello, I am D. Smith. That sexy, fearless, and --last but not least -- genius woman on the right is me! I am officially one year and 6 months into my transition. With that being said, for the first time in my life I am honest.” You can read the full post below.

“Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta” airs Mondays at 8 p.m. EDT on VH1.