Dannii Minogue fights back tears as she reveals she 'identifies as queer'

Dannii Minogue was left visibly emotional as she revealed that she "identifies as queer" during the launch of the groundbreaking new gay dating show, I Kissed a Girl.

The tearful moment came as the 52-year-old expressed her pride in hosting the BBC3 series, which marks the UK's first reality dating programme for lesbian and bisexual women.

The pop icon, who fronted I Kissed a Boy last year, described the absence of such a show for women as "surreal" and stressed the significance of its debut in 2024.

She emphasised: "This is so important. There hasn't been a show for the girls in the reality gay dating world.

"It's like we need this to happen. I'm hoping that there are parties up and down the country."

In an intriguing twist, the series will kick off with 10 single contestants being paired off by researchers and sharing a kiss beside the pool before they've even exchanged any words.

The pairs will then explore their compatibility, with the option to continue their search for love among the other participants.

To add excitement, five additional women will join them at the stunning Italian Masseria.

At the series launch event, 52 year old Dannii received praise for her adept use of terminology specific to the lesbian community, including terms like "femme", "stem", and "masc".

She confidently stated: "I identify as queer in a weird way."

In the opening episode, Amy from Surrey doesn't hold back her admiration for Dannii, saying she is "just my type" with many of the contestants also indicating their attraction to her.

When quizzed about her feelings towards the women, the Australian celebrity, who has been in a relationship with musician Adrian Newman for over ten years, responded with a laugh: "You girls are hot. You know it. I love it. I'm here for it. Is that an answer?"

The former X Factor star said she would love to see the series win more awards, stating: "I want this to go well, obviously.

"Everybody's put everything on the line. I hope there are more series of this show, and more girls get the opportunity to have this experience."

Overcome with emotion, she continued: "You girls are so brave and amazing and have brought so much to it. I could never do what you have done. I will always be in awe of what has happened and what we've created.

"I feel so proud. You're stepping forward, and you're the first crew of girls representing in this space, and it is big."

The diverse group of contestants, ranging in age from 22 to 28, hail from across the UK and boast a variety of professions including a footballer, a fire-eater, a chef who drums, and a publishing executive experiencing her first same-sex relationship.

Dannii has high hopes for the new 10-episode series, aiming to captivate a diverse audience, including heterosexual viewers.

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She expressed her anticipation: "There's a curiosity, right? Whether you are a lesbian or not.

"Who's going to be in the casting? Who's going to be paired with who? What are they like? Will they represent me?

"Do I see myself? A million questions and guess what? The straights have the same million questions.

"The best thing that can happen to this show is that everyone watches it, and everyone has questions. Everyone learns something. Everyone moves forward."

Despite being the glamorous host of the dating show, Dannii revealed she doesn't get too involved in the matchmaking process.

She explained: "I don't get to do a lot. I think I just drop bombs - and then swan off and try not to trip over my dress."

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