Charice has been on The Oprah Show four times in the past, but on last night’s Oprah: Where Are They Now, she returned to talk with Miss Winfrey as her true self. The 22-year-old pop singer shared that she decided to come on the show to “share the story to all the people out there who are having situations like mine,” which she clarifies as her struggles with coming out.
When Oprah asks how young she was when she knew she was gay, Charice said she was five, after having a crush on a girl in grade school. At 10, she heard the word “gay” and knew that’s how she identified. Then Oprah asks if she “struggled with transgender,” but Charice clarifies that while her “soul is male,” she is “not going to go through that stage where I change everything. Not change my body. I would change like cut my hair and wear boy clothes and everything but that’s all.”
Charice says she was ready to “lose her career and fans” by coming out but trusted her family would come to understand her eventually. The good news is they have. Her mom, she says, is now like her best friend and supports her relationship with girlfriend Alyssa Quijano. And even though there have been rumors Charice attempted suicide, she clarifies that while she considered it, she never actually tried like tabloids have detailed.
Despite the things she’s had to go through in such a short amount of time (including seeing domestic abuse in her home and the murder of her father), Charice seems well-adjusted, self-assured and strong in her convictions. She’s the kind of pop star that is also worthy of being a role model. She’s only one year older than Miley Cyrus and two years older than Justin Bieber. Considering her talent, which is undeniable, and the sincerity that comes through when she’s sharing her story, Charice should be back on top of the world, and hopefully this Oprah special will be a reminder to those who might have forgotten her.
Follow Charice on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to keep up with her career.
