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"Since coming out and having this platform that I have, I definitely feel like I can make a change. I definitely feel like I have made a change."
And just like that, Pride season is officially off and going.
On Tuesday, EW released the covers of their now-annual Pride Issue. This year, the publication chose four names to front its magazine: Mj Rodriguez, Lena Waithe, Bowen Yang, and Lil Nas X. All were shot by photographer Texas Isaiah Horatio-Valenzuela, who became the first trans photographer to photograph a cover of any Vogue edition in 2020. But in his cover story, Nas X discussed the recent change in his output.
Anyone who has been paying attention has seen a shift in what the Georgia-based musician has been doing. While his first hit "Old Town Road" was admittedly about "lean and adultery," he didn't mind targeting it towards children putting out inoffensive imagery alongside it. But since, he's definitively gotten into more adult fare, namely with his "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" visuals.
"At first I was really afraid of alienating any of my straight fans," Nas X told Ira Madison III of the switch. "But then it was kind of like, if they feel offended, they were never really here for me. They were here for whatever version of myself they made up in their head." It's a realization that mirrors one JoJo Siwa also had this year after coming out. Nas X went on to say that his idols similarly weren't looking to please others, only striving to be themselves which is something he hopes to emulate. In a video fom set he also named artists that inspire him that include Kehlani, Kevin Abstract, and Frank Ocean.
"Once you show the world more of yourself," he said, "they can relate more."
RELATED | Lil Nas X Is Bringing His Gay Agenda to 'SNL,' Will Debut New Song
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
Mikelle is the former editorial director of digital for PrideMedia, guiding digital editorial and social across Out, The Advocate, Pride.com, Out Traveler, and Plus. After starting as a freelancer for Out in 2013, he joined the staff as Senior Editor working across print and digital in 2018. In early 2021 he became Out's digital director, marking a pivot to content that centered queer and trans stories and figures, exclusively. In September 2021, he was promoted to editorial director of PrideMedia. He has written cover stories on Ricky Martin, Miss Fame, Nyle DiMarco, Jeremy O. Harris, Law Roach, and Symone.
