Alexandra Shipp Comes Out Publicly: “It's Never Too Late To Be You”

Alexandra Shipp is ready to embrace her truth. In an emotional Instagram post on June 3, the X-Men and Love, Simon star spoke publicly about her sexuality for the first time, coming out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Beginning her post with a rainbow of heart emojis, Shipp opened up about coming out at age 28, and the fears that prevented her from coming out publicly to the rest of the world. “I struggled with not only my sexuality, but my femininity. I was scared it was too late,” wrote the 29-year-old actress. “I was scared I wasn’t going to be able to get work. I was scared no one would ever love me.”

This constant state of fear was “exhausting,” Shipp says, but these days she is experiencing a level of joy that she doesn’t think her younger self “could imagine.”

“I get to be exactly who I want to be EVERY F*CKING DAY and it feels incredible!!” Shipp wrote. “It’s never too late to be you. If I don’t work because of a flawed, racist and homophobic system, then it was never the right thing for me.”

Shipp is embracing Pride Month with open arms — last week, she co-starred in the rom-com-esque music video for singer Hayley Kiyoko’s new song ‘Chance.’ Shipp plays Kiyoko’s love interest, the one who keeps getting away. Kiyoko, who is gay, commented a string of clapping hand emojis under Shipp’s vulnerable post, and a wholehearted, rainbow emoji-adorned “YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS” under Shipp’s post about the music video.

“I’m not denying anything anymore. I’m not scared anymore,” Shipp declared at the end of her post. “I have #pride in who I am and what I’m doing on this planet. I am myself and I love LOVE. Sure, we get a month. But for the past 3 years and for the rest of my life, I’ll be celebrating every day. Because I choose me.”

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Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue