Sam Smith says body dysmorphia helped them realise they are non-binary: ‘I am a shape-shifter’
Sam Smith at Capital’s Jingle Bell Ball 2019 in December. (Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Sam Smith has said that their body dysmorphia helped them realise that they are non-binary, describing themselves as something of a “shape-shifter”.
The British singer told the Sunday Times that learning to love their body played a large part in their journey to coming to terms with their gender identity.
“For me, what triggered everything was the work I was doing with my body issues,” the 28-year-old said.
“I always had body dysmorphia. As I started to address that, I started to address my gender and realised that I was holding myself to these ideals of how a man should look.”
“As I looked into it, I did therapy, I realised there was more to it.
“I have girl’s thighs and I have girl breasts too. It started to awaken this conversation that had always been in the back of my mind.”
Sam Smith says they have ‘always’ been non-binary.
Smith described their body as “fluctuating”, explaining that they lost 50 pounds after seeing a nutritionist.
“I can lose weight, I can put weight on quickly, I am a shape-shifter,” they joked.
More than a year on since they came out publicly as non-binary and clarifying that their pronouns are they/them, Smith admitted even they get their own pronouns wrong from time to time.
“I mess up, my mum messes up – my family messes up,” they explained. Smith said they don’t get offended when people stumble, adding: “When people correct themselves it is a wonderful feeling because people try.”
“Yes, I have always been non-binary,” Smith reflected.
“I have always felt the way I’ve felt, and just hearing other non-binary stories made me suddenly feel seen.
“This is a way that I can live, where if I tell people this is how I feel and this is how I like to be treated, life is easier.”
