MANILA, Philippines—A year after admitting she was a lesbian, singer Charice Pempengco celebrated her ‘coming out’ through social media.

In her Instagram account, the singer posted a collage of herself.

“It’s been a year since I came out. (JUNE 2, 2013) This day is not just for me but for all the people all over the world who had the strength to come out and be who they are.

“To others who still feel scared to tell the world, it’s okay. We’ve all been there and one day, you will find the strength to tell everyone. Be strong and always know that YOU, my friend, are not alone,” she wrote with the hashtag #comingoutDAY.

It was on June 2, 2013 when she revealed to Boy Abunda in The Buzz that she was a lesbian, and was in a relationship with Alyssa Quijano, whom she met while judging the Philippine version of The X-Factor.  

The singer rose to fame in 2007 when US TV talk show host Ellen DeGeneres invited her to sing after watching her YouTube videos.  

In 2008, Charice released her self-titled debut album, and she performed a Whitney Houston song on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

In 2010, she appeared as Sunshine Corazon, a Filipino exchange student in Glee. – Rappler.com