Sam Smith shared a throwback picture celebrating their “non-binary gloriousness” as they reflected on the last 10 years.
The non-binary singer, who uses the pronouns they/them, started their New Year’s Eve celebrations by posting a long message on Instagram urging fans to “celebrate your sexy selves”.
Alongside a picture of Smith at 17, they wrote: “So tomorrow is 2020. Wow.
“I find Times like these are this crazy mix of happy and sad, where we look back at the last 10 years and think of all we’ve been through in our lives.
“Seeing you all post throwback photos and moments made me message my friend from school and ask if she had any photos from 10 years ago when I was 17.
“And I found this ICONIC picture above Hahahaha.
“This picture made me emotional because the confidence and freedom I’ve felt the last year is EVERYTHING I had those 10 years ago.
“This to me is a beautiful and important reminder that as we get older, life can get tough.”
The singer, 27, continued: “As growing adults we get launched into this sometimes cruel and heartless world.
“And through that we sometimes feel like we lose ourselves and that spark we once had.
“But the truth is, if we fight on, do the work, keep singing, dancing and loving… we will be ok.”
Smith went on: “The kid in this picture went to school everyday in their non binary gloriousness and ignored every stare or verbal taunt that was thrown their way.
“That kid never left.
“They just had some hardcore feelings to feel. So to all you beautiful humans on the last day of 2019, my only advice after my very short time on this earth is… FEEL IT ALL!!!!
“And celebrate your sexy selves.”
“I’m raising a spliff and a glass of wine to the sky for you all p.s. that’s a fake Louis V #cozimtherealthing,” they added.
Smith came out as non-binary earlier this year and in September asked fans to use the pronouns they/them.
The chart-topping singer-songwriter said they had come to the decision after spending “a lifetime of being at war” with their gender.
A person who identifies as non-binary does not define themselves exclusively as masculine or feminine and generally prefers they/them pronouns, rather than he/she.