chelsea manning gave an interview to cosmopolitan from fort leavenworth prison in kansas , serving 35 years for violating the espionage act .
after being convicted in july 2013 as bradley manning , she admitted having gender dysphoria and announced plans to transition into a woman .
she officially changed her name last year and sued for permission to undergo hormone therapy for gender reassignment from within prison .
says it 's ` painful and awkward ' to be forbidden from letting her hair grow .
reveals how being deployed to iraq made her realize life is volatile .