Raven Symoné Felt 'Vulnerable' When She First Came Out To The Public: 'It Was An Interesting Wound'

“There were a lot of challenges,” she said, per The Jasmine Brand. “There was the crumbling of the wall that I had put up for so many years. And I felt very vulnerable, it was an interesting wound that was opened up in public.”

Symoné knew she was gay at a young age but was afraid to come out because of her on-screen persona.

“I never thought I would come out because my personal life didn’t matter,” she said in an “It Gets Better” video released in 2016, according to People.

However, those fears were replaced with liberation once she began being herself.

“I felt lighter. I felt like I could go out and not have to put on 17 different hats to be myself,” she said. “I realize that just living my truth of what I am, there’s one less person to fight me in my own head.”

Since coming out, Symoné has gotten married to Miranda Maday and has been making it a priority to showcase representation in her work.

“I want to make sure I’m creating content that reflects the community that we’re a part of,” she said. “Respectfully and with dignity.”