Kim is bringing bubblegum pop back in style (Picture: Getty Images)

Kim Petras has become an inspirational figure as the world’s youngest known transgender person to have gender reassignment surgery at the age of 16.

But with her pop career taking off, it’s time for Kim, now 26, to be looked at for her music instead.

This weekend, Kim will perform at Manchester Pride following the release of her critically-acclaimed debut album Clarity and new single Icy this summer.

While she’ll be proudly waving the flag for the LGBTQ community, Kim hopes the focus will remain on her musical talents with her transgender identity a ‘footnote’.


‘I’m very proud of being transgender and always a transgender activist. I always care a lot,’ Kim told Metro.co.uk.



‘But at the same time, I want to be taken seriously. And I want to I want to just be like any other artist, to be judged on the quality of my music, and not on my gender.’

The I Don’t Want It All singer admits it’s ‘still a work in progress’ to steer the conversation from gender to music when it comes to dealing with record labels behind-the-scenes.

Kim released her debut album Clarity this summer

Kim explained: ‘I’m still kind of proving that it can be done.

‘When I was going to all the major labels, just every conversation would suddenly be about being transgender instead of the music. And I hated that because I’ve worked on the music for years, and I’m really proud of the songwriter that I am now.

‘And, you know, it’s been a lot of hard work, and hundreds and hundreds of songs that I’ve written and that I’ve improved myself.

Kim, who is managed by Britney Spears’ longtime manager Larry Rudolph, has hit the ground running with her career although she refutes the idea of being an ‘overnight success’ story.

Her bubblegum pop is polished and music videos equally impressive – most notably with Paris Hilton making a brilliant cameo in the I Don’t Want It All visuals.

Recalling the ‘surreal’ process of working with photographer Charlotte Rutherford to get Paris to star in the video, Kim revealed: ‘I saw the full concept without Paris and then [Charlotte] was like, “Well Paris needs to be in this”, and so we did like a Weird Science movie that we took the reference from, and she loved that idea immediately.

‘And that was just our little idea, we barely made it happen with our little tiny measly budget and I had a really s****y dressing room and I was just like, I couldn’t believe that Paris actually showed up.’

Paris agreed to appear in the video by sending Kim a Snapchat video of her dancing to I Don’t Want It All, which is, like, so Paris Hilton.

Kim recalls feeling ‘nervous’ about whether Paris, 38, was going to show up to the shoot but when she did, the popstar was pleasantly surprised.

‘She pulled up and was actually the most humble, cool person on this entire shoot,’ Kim admitted.



‘My stylist pulled a bunch of better things for [Paris to wear] and she was like, “No girl, you can wear that”.’

Ah, Paris has come a long way from My Simple Life.

Kim continued: ‘She was really nice and cool and just a really down to earth person. So that was the coolest way to start my career, to have her in my first video.

‘I really will always be very thankful to her because that definitely gave this video a lot more eyeballs than it would have had without her.

‘So I’m very thankful to her and she really is like one of the coolest people I’ve met.’

Kim Petras performs at Manchester Pride on Saturday alongside the likes of Ariana Grande, Cheryl, Years & Years and Emeli Sande.

Her new single Icy is out now.

Got a showbiz story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page - we'd love to hear from you.

MORE: Ariana Grande answers criticism about headlining Manchester Pride as a straight woman

MORE: Years And Years’ Olly Alexander defends Ariana Grande amid intense Manchester Pride backlash