Sam Smith Opens Up About Gender Identity, His Idols, And Working A Good Heel

In 2014 when his debut album hit shelves, Sam Smith was just a 21 year old shy boy trying to find himself. I'm sure being thrown into the spotlight didn't exactly make it easier for the British singer, either. Over the years he's really come into his own despite the fame. After receiving his first bout of glory, Sam took some time off to reflect on himself and he's really learned to let go and open up. 

With a new album titled 'The Thrill of It All' just around the corner, he's really come full circle since being in the closet when his first album was released. Lucky for us, he's also willing to share his wisdom. In an interview with The Sunday Times, Sam spoke about coming out, finding his inner peace, and there was even some talk about shoes along the way. 

I wrote Pray early this year with the incomparable @Timbaland & @jimmynapes. This song holds a very special place in my heart

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Oct 22, 2017 at 12:33pm PDT

Speaking on what his albums mean to him, Sam said, "I think they show my growth, my confidence. I feel like they show me. They show the gay guy I’ve become." 

We also found out that Sam once owned nothing but dresses and heels. No men's clothing whatsoever. 

"I love a heel," he said. "I’ve got loads of heels at home." There is a drag shop in Sydney that he loves, called House of Priscilla, and when he goes there, he raids it. "Oh my God, I just buy everything — heels, dresses. We have a great time."

He goes on to talk about his fashion (and music) muses from an early age. "People don’t know this, but when I was 17, I remember becoming obsessed with Boy George and Marilyn, and all that. There was one moment in my life where I didn’t own a piece of male clothing, really. I would wear full make-up every day in school, eyelashes, leggings with Dr Martens and huge fur coats, for 2 ½ years."

TWO WEEKS till the birth of my second album x

A post shared by Sam Smith (@samsmithworld) on Oct 20, 2017 at 8:15am PDT

Blurring the gender lines even more, Sam admits that he feels like a mix of man and woman. He doesn't believe he falls under the 'cisgender' title. "I don’t know what the title would be, but I feel just as much woman as I am man," he said in the interview.

It's such a breath of fresh air to see someone of youth know so many things about himself, what he wants, where he's going, what he's doing... People more than twice his age are still trying to figure it out. It seems the best way to move forward - at least from Sam's perspective - is to just let it all go and be yourself. 

Great rules to live by, Sam!