Strictly star Nicola Adams reflects on coming out as a lesbian after becoming ‘annoyed’ by incorrect bisexual label
Nicola Adams (right) with her partner Ella Baig (left) at the Pride Of Britain Awards 2019 at The Grosvenor House Hotel on October 28, 2019 in London, England. (Jeff Spicer/Getty)
Strictly Come Dancing star and Olympian Nicola Adams has reflected on coming out as a lesbian, saying it was “getting annoying” that people were referring to her as bisexual.
It was recently revealed that boxer Nicola Adams would be the first celebrity to compete on the show with a same-sex partner.
Speaking to The Guardian, the Olympian, 37, said she came out to her mother as bisexual when she was 14, but recently clarified on Twitter that she was a lesbian.
She said: “If I had my way, I wouldn’t be in any ‘box’ at all.” But, she said, she decided to set the record straight because being described as bisexual in the press was “getting annoying”.
Regardless of how others refer to her, however, Adams said that she has long acknowledged her status as an LGBT+ role model.
She added: “I know there will be kids who are struggling. And I’d just like them to know that it doesn’t matter about your sexuality or what colour you are, you really can achieve anything you want to if you work hard.”
Adams has been in a relationship with the beauty blogger Ella Baig for the past two years. The couple made a video together in June, revealing the abuse they receive for being in a same-sex, interracial relationship.
On the video, Adams said: “I’m quite strong-minded, so I can just bat it away.
“But I thought: there are people out there that aren’t as strong mentally as I am, and they get those kinds of comments and it really affects them. So I wanted to show them that I get those comments, too – keep on fighting.”
Nicola Adams said being a part of Strictly’s first same-sex couple was about ‘breaking boundaries’.
On becoming to first celebrity to compete on Strictly Come Dancing with a same-sex partner, Nicola Adams said: “I guess it’s just breaking those boundaries and showing people that it’s OK.
“It’s not such an uncommon thing: professional dancers dance with people of the same sex all the time; you dance in a nightclub with your friends.
“I just wanted to break down the thing of it being a big deal when it’s not really a big deal.”
She said that she intends to wear a suit while dancing, and added: “Dresses aren’t my thing.”
