Well-Known News Chopper Pilot Joins 'Inside Edition' As Country's 1st Transgender TV Reporter

VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — As a woman, Zoey Tur says she finally feels comfortable in her own skin.

Formerly known as Chopper Bob, who covered the Los Angeles riots and O.J. Simpson's police pursuit, Tur will continue her work on-air for "Inside Edition."

Tur is the first transgender reporter in the country and will cover both hard news and entertainment.

"For the first time in my life, I'm really happy and hopeful," Tur told KCAL9's Andrea Fujii.

Now divorced, Tur has two kids.

She says her decision to become a woman was tough on her family.

"It's my job just to be understanding and wait. People come around," Tur said.

In 2013, she started hormone-replacement therapy. Last June, she had sexual-reassignment surgery.

Tur says she hopes her story and on-air work will inspire others.

"I think it's really important for people that are either transgender or part of the LGBT community to see people they can relate to," she said.