Ashley James on sexuality journey: ‘I used Bebo to chat with girls’

Ashley James has reflected on how far LGBTQ+ visibility has come as she admits she had no one to talk to when she questioned her own sexuality.

The DJ and presenter recently performed at Metro’s 50 Years of Pride Party in Soho and describes it as both “so fun” and “so important.”

utilities, in conversation with Metro.co.ukthe former reality star has reflected on how things have changed since she was a teenager – both good and bad.

“It’s important to me to support Pride, especially at this point with what we’re seeing, the constant assault and vitriol targeting the trans community,” she said.

“I wish there had been a little more discussion and visibility and pride when I was a teenager.”

She explained: ‘I grew up in the Lake District. When I questioned my sexuality, I knew nothing or no one.

“I’ve used Bebo to talk to other girls! So it is [the Metro Pride party] was so much fun and inspiring.’

She continued: ‘I thought’ [Metro.co.uk’s Executive Editor, Richard Hartley-Parkinson, who candidly talked about his own experiences during our Pride event] spoke so well and with such emotion about his own journey.

“I just love to see how much joy it brings, but also how important it still is.”

Years later, with a strong career in TV and music and having a one-year-old son, Ashley is still an avid social media user.

While Bebo may be a long time ago, Ashley now uses her platform as a “safe space” for people to discuss everything from feminism and motherhood to LGBTQ+ issues.

The star is unashamedly open on her platforms, inviting followers to ask questions about anything, but she doesn’t see this as making herself vulnerable.

“Being open can often be seen as vulnerable, but for me it gives me a lot of strength,” she said.

“I think in my teens and twenties I spent so much time trying to be what I thought people wanted me to be, and that was very different [to who I was].

“I come from a working-class family in the north, I won a boarding school scholarship and I always felt like I didn’t fit into any space.”

She explained, “Trying to navigate like a big-breasted young girl and all the kind of hypersexualization and judgment that that involved, that shame.

“So I think I can now speak with confidence about things that concern me, or try to understand things that don’t affect or affect me.”

“I feel like being honest and open is actually a superpower and it makes other people feel like they can be honest around you,” she continued.

‘I used to think, not too long ago, that I had to be strong and come across as happy and positive. And it probably affected my ability to form really good relationships and friendships and any kind of relationship because I always felt like I had to be strong.

‘But actually I think there’s a lot more power now in being honest and open and then you let a community of people like you find you.

“And your viewers also trust that they have a safe space to talk about things – I find a lot of strength in being open.”

Elsewhere in the same interview with Metro.co.uk, Ashley spoke of her ‘devastation’ after the United States Supreme Court destroyed Roe v Wadethe landmark ruling that enshrined a woman’s right to abortion.

The overthrow means many states will start banning abortion, with Ashley admitting she’s worried it “doesn’t feel far off” in the UK.

“I find it very frightening, and it’s also frightening how close it is to home,” she admitted.

“Hopefully we can learn lessons from what happened in America and use our votes to protect British citizens from something similar happening here.”

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