Entertainment
Towie’s Demi Sims shares ‘pros and cons’ of being bisexual woman in the spotlight-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
Towie star Demi Sims has opened up on the ‘pros and cons’ of being a bisexual woman in the spotlight (Picture:: @demsims / Getty)
Reality star Demi Sims has reflected on coming out as bisexual as a teenager and the responsibility she feels as an LGBTQ+ woman with a large platform.
The Towie star, 25, has been a staple on British reality TV for years, along with her sisters Frankie and Chloe Sims.
Having had several high-profile same-sex relationships, including with Love Island icon Megan Barton-Hanson, Demi’s sexuality has been firmly in the spotlight.
And despite having been ‘super super nervous’ when she initially came out at 19, Demi is now proud to provide visibility for other LGBTQ+ young people – particularly those who might not be ready to come out just yet.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Demi explained that she’s gained ‘a lot of fans through my sexuality and being on TV… who like to watch and obviously look up to me.’
Appearing on the likes of Celebs Go Dating early in her TV career was ‘massive’ because she was ‘dating girls on that show’ and it helped her garner fans who were themselves in the LGBTQ+ community.
Demi feels a responsibility to LGBTQ+ fans who may still be in the closet (Picture: @demsims /Instagram)
But being looked up to in this way has, Demi admits, its ‘pros and cons.’
‘When I’m in a relationship and I’m posting about it, there are a lot of fans who like to see it, a lot of people like to follow your relationship,’ she said.
‘People who are maybe still in the closet, they like to see how you’re acting… they sort of look up to you like “one day that’s gonna be [me]”.’
Demi insisted that she’s ‘definitely happy to have my relationship in the spotlight for those people who are in the closet, who hope one day they’ll have enough confidence, like I do, just to walk around freely with my girlfriend.’
Demi, who previously dated Francesca Farago, says she hopes fans who are in the closet are inspired by seeing her confidently post about her relationships with girlfriends (Picture: Demi Sims/Instagram)
But she admitted: ‘Obviously it has its cons.
‘When you break up your fans feel like it’s their breakup. I feel sad for them because they’ve been so excited watching your journey.
‘But I think the pros override the cons massively.’
It’s been six years since Demi publicly came out as bisexual, and already she has noticed huge differences in how society responds to LGBTQ+ people.
‘I feel like nowadays… everyone is way more accepting than back when I was 19,’ she said.
‘Everyone was accepting around me thankfully – I had good friends, I had good family around me.
‘But back then I was super, super nervous to come out. I didn’t really know anyone my age at the time who was bisexual like me.
Demi admitted she felt ‘super nervous’ to come out as bisexual (Picture: SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)
‘And I feel like nowadays… there’s a lot more teenagers coming out and it’s a lot more accepting. I feel people feel a lot more free nowadays.’
It took Demi ‘a fair few years’ to feel ready to come out, revealing: ‘I thought I would never, ever be confident enough to tell anyone.
‘And then a few years later down the line it sort of just blurts out of you. There comes a point where you can’t hold it in any longer.’
But for those who still don’t feel ready to come out, for whatever reason, Demi has some advice: ‘There’s no pressure.’
The star reassured young LGBTQ+ people there’s ‘no pressure’ to come out until they’re ready (Picture: Getty)
‘I always say you’ve got your whole life to come out and you’ll always, one day, get that courage to do it.
‘Even though right now you think you will never, ever have the courage to come out, one day you always will.’
Elsewhere in the same interview with Metro.co.uk, Demi reflected on the TV shows that helped her build confidence as a young bisexual person.
While her generation didn’t have the wholesome, inclusive series that is Netflix’s Heartstopper, there was still LGBTQ+ representation elsewhere, and for Demi, it was Glee.
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She spoke about how much the coupling up of Santana and Brittany meant to her, saying their relationship ‘made me feel accepted.’
‘I feel like it’s important for teenagers to watch shows where love is love no matter what gender, and I feel like that was a really good show [for that].
‘Especially all those years ago.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Towie’s Demi Sims: Glee’s Santana and Brittany were my Heartstopper: ‘It made me feel more accepted’
MORE : Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney calls out Boris Johnson in powerful speech to crowd of thousands at London Trans+ Pride: ‘I know you know we exist’
Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Pride
This year marks 50 years of Pride, so it seems only fitting that Metro.co.uk goes above and beyond in our ongoing LGBTQ+ support, through a wealth of content that not only celebrates all things Pride, but also share stories, take time to reflect and raises awareness for the community this Pride Month.
And we’ve got some great names on board to help us, too. From a list of famous guest editors taking over the site for a week that includes Rob Rinder, Nicola Adams, Peter Tatchell, Kimberly Hart-Simpson, John Whaite, Anna Richardson and Dr Ranj, as well as the likes of Sir Ian McKellen and Drag Race stars The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Tia Kofi offering their insights.
During Pride Month, which runs from 1 – 30 June, Metro.co.uk will also be supporting Kyiv Pride, a Ukrainian charity forced to work harder than ever to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community during times of conflict, and youth homelessness charity AKT. To find out more about their work, and what you can do to support them, click here.
For Metro.co.uk’s latest Pride coverage, click here.
Reality star Demi Sims has reflected on coming out as bisexual as a teenager and the responsibility she feels as an LGBTQ+ woman with a large platform.
The Towie star, 25, has been a staple on British reality TV for years, along with her sisters Frankie and Chloe Sims.
Having had several high-profile same-sex relationships, including with Love Island icon Megan Barton-Hanson, Demi’s sexuality has been firmly in the spotlight.
And despite having been ‘super super nervous’ when she initially came out at 19, Demi is now proud to provide visibility for other LGBTQ+ young people – particularly those who might not be ready to come out just yet.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk, Demi explained that she’s gained ‘a lot of fans through my sexuality and being on TV… who like to watch and obviously look up to me.’
Appearing on the likes of Celebs Go Dating early in her TV career was ‘massive’ because she was ‘dating girls on that show’ and it helped her garner fans who were themselves in the LGBTQ+ community.
Demi feels a responsibility to LGBTQ+ fans who may still be in the closet (Picture: @demsims /Instagram)But being looked up to in this way has, Demi admits, its ‘pros and cons.’
‘When I’m in a relationship and I’m posting about it, there are a lot of fans who like to see it, a lot of people like to follow your relationship,’ she said.
‘People who are maybe still in the closet, they like to see how you’re acting… they sort of look up to you like “one day that’s gonna be [me]”.’
Demi insisted that she’s ‘definitely happy to have my relationship in the spotlight for those people who are in the closet, who hope one day they’ll have enough confidence, like I do, just to walk around freely with my girlfriend.’
Demi, who previously dated Francesca Farago, says she hopes fans who are in the closet are inspired by seeing her confidently post about her relationships with girlfriends (Picture: Demi Sims/Instagram)But she admitted: ‘Obviously it has its cons.
‘When you break up your fans feel like it’s their breakup. I feel sad for them because they’ve been so excited watching your journey.
‘But I think the pros override the cons massively.’
It’s been six years since Demi publicly came out as bisexual, and already she has noticed huge differences in how society responds to LGBTQ+ people.
‘I feel like nowadays… everyone is way more accepting than back when I was 19,’ she said.
‘Everyone was accepting around me thankfully – I had good friends, I had good family around me.
‘But back then I was super, super nervous to come out. I didn’t really know anyone my age at the time who was bisexual like me.
Demi admitted she felt ‘super nervous’ to come out as bisexual (Picture: SOPA Images/REX/Shutterstock)‘And I feel like nowadays… there’s a lot more teenagers coming out and it’s a lot more accepting. I feel people feel a lot more free nowadays.’
It took Demi ‘a fair few years’ to feel ready to come out, revealing: ‘I thought I would never, ever be confident enough to tell anyone.
‘And then a few years later down the line it sort of just blurts out of you. There comes a point where you can’t hold it in any longer.’
But for those who still don’t feel ready to come out, for whatever reason, Demi has some advice: ‘There’s no pressure.’
The star reassured young LGBTQ+ people there’s ‘no pressure’ to come out until they’re ready (Picture: Getty)‘I always say you’ve got your whole life to come out and you’ll always, one day, get that courage to do it.
‘Even though right now you think you will never, ever have the courage to come out, one day you always will.’
Elsewhere in the same interview with Metro.co.uk, Demi reflected on the TV shows that helped her build confidence as a young bisexual person.
While her generation didn’t have the wholesome, inclusive series that is Netflix’s Heartstopper, there was still LGBTQ+ representation elsewhere, and for Demi, it was Glee.
More: Trending
She spoke about how much the coupling up of Santana and Brittany meant to her, saying their relationship ‘made me feel accepted.’
‘I feel like it’s important for teenagers to watch shows where love is love no matter what gender, and I feel like that was a really good show [for that].
‘Especially all those years ago.’
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE : Towie’s Demi Sims: Glee’s Santana and Brittany were my Heartstopper: ‘It made me feel more accepted’
Metro.co.uk celebrates 50 years of Pride
This year marks 50 years of Pride, so it seems only fitting that Metro.co.uk goes above and beyond in our ongoing LGBTQ+ support, through a wealth of content that not only celebrates all things Pride, but also share stories, take time to reflect and raises awareness for the community this Pride Month.
And we’ve got some great names on board to help us, too. From a list of famous guest editors taking over the site for a week that includes Rob Rinder, Nicola Adams, Peter Tatchell, Kimberly Hart-Simpson, John Whaite, Anna Richardson and Dr Ranj, as well as the likes of Sir Ian McKellen and Drag Race stars The Vivienne, Lawrence Chaney and Tia Kofi offering their insights.
During Pride Month, which runs from 1 – 30 June, Metro.co.uk will also be supporting Kyiv Pride, a Ukrainian charity forced to work harder than ever to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community during times of conflict, and youth homelessness charity AKT. To find out more about their work, and what you can do to support them, click here.
For Metro.co.uk‘s latest Pride coverage, click here.
