“When I was 11, I was riding in the car with my mother. We were in the middle of a dance workshop, and on the ride home, I said, 'Mom, you know, people are just really beautiful. Just like look at all those beautiful dancers. I think I could like a girl. I could date girls.' She was like, 'Oh, that's cool.'”

American actress and singer

Ariana DeBose is an American actress and singer known for her award-winning work on stage and screen. She has received an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award, and has also been nominated for a Tony Award and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Her recognition spans both film and theater, and in 2022 Time named her among the 100 most influential people in the world. The available facts point to a performer whose career is marked by major industry honors and broad public visibility.