The singer, raised by a Japanese Canadian mother and Scottish father, touched on the importance of embracing her Asian side and Asian-American representation in the entertainment industry.
Kiyoko revealed that growing up, it was difficult for her to connect with her ethnicity because she could not identify with any communities (Asian, Caucasian, Gay). She shared that she spent her youth trying to fit in with societal norms, which made her neglect her Asian roots.
It wasn't until later that she had the opportunity to connect with her culture.
I just didn’t really have the space to do so when I was younger because I was just extremely gay and didn’t have an outlet or felt like I had a community that I belonged to, so that really took over most of my youth.
As part of her partnership with Hennessy X.O, Kiyoko was involved in the brand's digital series titled 'Original Odyssey,' which allowed her to sit down with her mother, Sarah Kawahara, and tap into her Japanese heritage.
She also expressed her excitement at seeing more Asian American artists like Olivia Rodrigo and Saweetie because, as a child, she did not see any people she could look up to or connect with.
