Former British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalist Chris Makena has admitted that she is a lesbian.
Makena made the announcement while speaking as a guest on the TEDx Talks channel on Wednesday, May 19.
The popular TV producer also revealed that she has been suffering from bouts of depression, which she said rose from her sexual orientation.
“For three months, I was down and had bouts of depression. But once again, I reminded myself that I had to choose to be bold. This whole experience made some of my family members and friends become strangers,” Makena said.
She was referring to an incident in July 2019 when she was a viral topic of discourse on social media after her partner went mad following a disagreement and vandalized her car.
“I remember that cold morning of July in 2019 when I woke up and looked at my phone. I’d over 1,000 messages, and 500 missed calls. My blood went cold. I knew something was wrong,” Makena recalled.
The actress went ahead and recollected the moments of introspection she had before she finally accepted who she was.
“I remember for the first time in my life after very many years, I looked in a mirror and said to myself, ‘I am gay, I am unique, and this is my truth,” she said.
Makena also confirmed that she is a member of the Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender (LGBTIQ) community adding that she was finally free.
“This was a victory for me, but what I didn’t know was just this was the beginning of my journey to boldness,” Makena said.
A film and TV producer, Makena said that she has been ridiculed for picking up jobs meant for men yet she is a woman.