Miley Cyrus began exploring her own sexuality at an early age, which is part of the reason why she’s long been an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
To coincide with her appearance as a guest judge onRuPaul’s Drag Racelast week, the 26-year-old singer also recorded an interview for theRuPaul: What’s the Tea with Michelle Visagepodcast.
Opening up about growing up well-off, the singer shared that it impressed upon her a willingness to find “what you relate to” and dedicate your time to that, which in her case is the LBGTQ+ community.
“When I was a kid growing up, being from the South, and my first experience, my first kiss was with a girl in middle school. And no one could understand, in Nashville, saying that,” the singer, who still identifies as queer, although she’s in a heterosexual relationship with husband Liam Hemsworth.
“So I had that relationship. And I was one of the only kids on Disney that would come out and say that I supported all my gay friends,” she added of her time on Hannah Montana. “No one would really say that, so that was always really important to me. To find what mattered to me.”
She went on to share that “besides even sexuality,” she believes the LGBTQ+ community is all about “being your f—in’ self.”
“It doesn’t have to attach to who you love, it’s about you loving yourself, I think, more than who you love outside yourself,” she added.