Dannii Minogue was visibly emotional as she shared her connection to the queer community.
The 52-year-old star, known for her roles on Australian TV hits like Young Talent Time and Home And Away, opened up about her sexuality in a heartfelt revelation.
Following the footsteps of her famous sister, Kylie Minogue, Dannii carved out her own niche in the music world with chart-toppers such as ‘Love and Kisses’, ‘Baby Love’, and ‘Success’.
Her expertise in the entertainment industry extends to her roles as a judge on renowned shows like The X Factor UK and Australia’s Got Talent, and more recently on I Kissed a Boy.
Dannii’s announcement about her sexuality marks a significant personal share.
Previously engaged to actor Julian McMahon, whom she met on the set of Home And Away, they married in 1994 only to divorce a short 18 months later.
Following her separation, Dannii posed for a daring photoshoot with Playboy’s Australian edition.
She explained: “I had just had a marriage break-up. Most women go to the hairdressers – I did Playboy.
“I chose the photographer, the location, what I did or didn’t want to wear and everything else about the pictures. I found it a really liberating, empowering experience.”
Her engagement to former Formula 1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve in 1999 ended in 2001. Currently, Dannii has been with musician Adrian Newman for a decade.
Apart from her successful stint in acting and music, Dannii has gained recognition for her work on globally popular talent shows.
She has also hosted Dance Boss and Ultimate Beastmaster, and spearheaded I Kissed A Boy, the first British dating show to exclusively feature gay men.
In a discussion with Radio Times, Dannii expressed that it was high time for such a show, citing public demand. “I think so many people have been wanting a gay dating show… And it’s confusing to me why so many people are asking for it but then nobody was making this show […] So I think a lot of people wanted it, but it just wasn’t happening,” she said.
The series won Best Multichannel Programme at The Broadcast Awards, and a lesbian-centric spin-off, I Kissed A Girl, was announced soon after.
I Kissed A Girl follows the same format but features lesbian couples, marking another first in British television.
Talking to The Mirror, Dannii called the absence of such a show ‘surreal’ and stressed the importance of representing lesbian and bisexual women on screen: “This is so important… I’m hoping that there are parties up and down the country.”
At the BBC Three show’s launch, she admitted to learning new LGBTQ+ terminology, like ‘femme’, ‘stem’, and ‘masc’.
During the show’s debut, when a contestant confessed her crush on Dannii, she responded playfully, “You girls are hot. You know it. I love it. I’m here for it. Is that an answer?”
Minogue then declared that she ‘identifies as queer in a weird way’.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Dannii added, “You girls are so brave and amazing and have brought so much to it. I could never do what you have done.
“I will always be in awe of what has happened and what we’ve created. I feel so proud. You’re stepping forward, and you’re the first crew of girls representing in this space, and it is big.”
The pioneering episode of I Kissed A Girl is set to premiere on BBC Three on May 5 at 9pm.