LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Olympic champion turned LGBT icon Caitlyn Jenner has offered to be an adviser on transgender issues for White House hopeful Ted Cruz.

Ms Jenner said Senator Cruz was "one of the worst ones when it comes to trans issues", but revealed that she had met the Texas senator prior to her transition more than a year ago, describing him as "very nice".

"I like Ted Cruz. I think he's very conservative and a great constitutionalist and a very articulate man," the 66-year-old reportedly told LGBT-interest magazine The Advocate in an interview published on Wednesday (March 2).

Ms Jenner, who became a reality TV star on "Keeping Up with the Kardashians", pointed out that she hadn't officially endorsed Sen Cruz, but said it would be "great" if he became president.

"And I have all my girls on a trans issues board to advise him on making decisions when it comes to trans issues. Isn't that a good idea?"

She said she wanted to be Sen Cruz's "trans ambassador" so she could tell him: "Ted, love what you're doing but here's what's going on."

Ms Jenner's publicist Alan Nierob told AFP, however, that the offer was not serious, without elaborating.

Formerly Bruce Jenner, the US decathlon champion of the 1976 Montreal Olympics collected the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPY sports awards gala in Los Angeles last year.

A wrongful death lawsuit filed against Ms Jenner over a fatal California car crash was dropped in January after she settled with the victim's family.

Some fans voiced disappointment or bafflement over Ms Jenner's offer, accusing her of being naive for thinking she could influence the famously conservative Republican candidate.

"I've unfollowed @IAmCait and @Caitlyn-Jenner. As a woman who loves and respects women, I feel duped and disrespected," said General Hospital actress Nancy Lee Grahn.