In recent years Hayley Kiyoko has been open about the fact she is attracted to women and identifies as bisexual.
Her anthemic pop tracks like Girls Like Girls from This Side Of Paradise and Pretty Girl on CITRINE have allowed the 26-year-old actress-and-singer to creatively open up about her sexuality and encourage her fans to be their truest selves.
But Kiyoko says wishes she had the confidence to be honest earlier in her life.
Speaking to Billboard, she said:
I think the only thing regret is not being more confident with my sexuality at an earlier age. I love being open and sharing my stories because it inspires other kids to hopefully be more comfortable with themselves at a younger age. School, growing up and life is hard. If all of us can be brave and stand up, hopefully fewer people will have struggles and have better lives.”
Earlier this year, Kiyoko – who was previously in pop group Allie Goninowith before embarking on a solo career in 2013 – again used her platform as an artist for the greater good with the release of an L.A. noir visual companion to her track One Bad Night, which explored themes of trans-violence and the human connection.
I always try to use my art to cover topics that people don’t really do or are scared of covering. I also loved the challenge of listening to One Bad Night and trying to take a 360-spin on the lyrics and what it could tell and create. I think it’s important to not be afraid to talk about real life — trans violence is a real thing that happens all the time. The main focus that I loved about One Bad Night is that it’s about human compassion for each other. Especially in times like now in the world we’re living in, it’s important to show human compassion. If you see something, it’s important to stand up for your neighbor even if they’re a stranger and not walk away. We’re all neighbors within one another. And it’s about finding hope in one another. At the end [the two characters] smile at each other and doughnuts — it’s about enjoying the simple things in life and those simple moments. I really wanted to come across those simple acts of kindness in the video.
In the interview, Kiyoko has also opened up on the terrorist attack which took place after Ariana Grande’s concert at the Manchester Arena in May and the effect the horrific event has had on her.
Seeing what happened was horrible, and I think all of us are heartbroken over it because it’s terrible. But, I do think we can’t live in fear, and we have to continue on with our lives. We need to continue to do things that make us happy, feel good and escape because if we don’t, then they win. I would just tell everyone to continue to live your life to the fullest and do what you love. That’s all you can do because you can’t control what happens. That’s the really shitty part of this situation.”
But Hayley has urged her fans to not let the bombing, which claimed the lives of 22 people, stop them from enjoying their lives and going to concerts.
