Don’t miss our hottest news! Sign up today for our free newsletter.

Enter Your Email *

Pride Newsletter

Search form

Scroll To Top

#20Questions

#Activism

#Beyoncé

#Bisexual

#BlackLivesMatter

#Celebrities

#ColtonHaynes

#ComingOut

#Dating

#Disney

#FirstPerson

#FrankOcean

#Geek

#GOT

#Interviews

#Kesha

#Lesbian

#LaverneCox

#LadyGaga

#LGBTQ+

#LoveSimon

#Men

#Movies

#Music

#Netflix

#NickJonas

#OITNB

#Pride

#Queer

#Rihanna

#RuPaulsDragRace

#Sex

#StarWars

#Style

#Travel

#TroyeSivan

#TV

#Women

#ZaynMalik

By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

ComingOut

Model Tess Holliday Comes Out As Pansexual

"I've been thinking a lot about my relationship to my own queerness..." began the 33-year-old.

Taylor Henderson

Taylor Henderson is a PRIDE.com contributor. This proud Texas Bama studied Media Production/Studies and Sociology at The University of Texas at Austin, where he developed his passions for pop culture, writing, and videography. He's absolutely obsessed with Beyoncé, mangoes, and cheesy YA novels that allow him to vicariously experience the teen years he spent in the closet. He's also writing one!

Read Full Bio

Taylor Henderson

cornbreadsays

July 03 2019 1:58 PM EST

December 09 2022 9:12 AM EST

Just because Pride Month is over doesn't mean it's really over. Plus-size model Tess Holliday is the latest to open up about her sexuality in this month's issue of Nylon Magazine.

See on Instagram

Holliday shares the story of a conversation she had with a man on a Puerto Vallarta beach that felt like an epiphany.

"Are you bi?" the man asked.

"Thank you so much for asking," Holliday replied. "I've been thinking a lot about my relationship to my own queerness, and I think the word pansexual speaks to me more than bi does."

He grinned, "Thank you for telling me about that, but actually, I said, 'Are you buying?'"

The 33-year-old says the realization has helped her life slide into place. Holliday previously identified as bi.

"I feel like a lot of stuff in my life now makes sense. A lot of the things that I felt when I was younger make sense. A lot of the relationships that I had make sense," she explained. "I definitely have a sense of relief. I can connect with people on a more intimate level than I was before, because I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not."

Holliday is married to a man, but continued to say she would be open to a romantic relationship with a woman. "I might not know, like, what to do," she smiled, "but I feel like I'd figure it out."