Bradley Manning: 'I am a female'

Bradley Manning emailed his therapist this photo of him in a wig and wearing lipstick, with a letter titled "My problem," in which he described his issues with gender identity and his hope a military career would get rid of it. The American soldier was given a 35-year prison term for sending classified information to WikiLeaks (U.S. Army/Associated Press)

Bradley Manning says he plans to live as a woman and begin hormone therapy, a day after the American soldier was sentenced to 35 years in prison for sending classified information to WikiLeaks.

In statement provided to NBC's Today show on Thursday morning, Manning wrote he planned to live as a woman named Chelsea.

Manning wrote that while transitioning into the next phase of his life, he wanted everyone to know who he really is.

"I am Chelsea Manning. I am a female," wrote Manning.

A military judge announced the sentence in Manning's court-martial on Wednesday.

Manning's struggle with gender identity disorder — his sense that he was a woman trapped in a man's body — was a key part of his defence.

Attorneys had presented evidence of Manning's struggle with gender identity, including a photo of the soldier in a blond wig and lipstick that he sent to a therapist.

His lawyer, David Coombs, also told NBC said he expects Manning to get pardoned.