SI LifeStyle

Olivia Ponton Asks Fans Not to ‘Invalidate’ Her Sexuality

The model and TikTok influencer has been candid about how she identifies.

Ananya Panchal

Olivia Ponton.

Olivia Ponton.

SI Swimsuit model and TikTok star Olivia Ponton has quickly become an inspiration for the young LGBTQ+ community. She has been open about her sexuality and discovering who she is: Ponton came out as bisexual in an interview with Teen Vogue in 2021 and now identifies as pansexual. 

On Jan. 10, she sent out a message to her eight million TikTok followers, specifically to those who aren’t supportive.

“Please don’t invalidate my sexuality, please,” the 20-year-old said. “I think sexuality is a very fluid thing, I’ve always said that, and I mean I love kissing all types of people so all I’m here [to do] is literally to spread love and love a lot of people.”

During Miami Swim Week last summer, the Florida native spoke candidly about how far she’s come in terms of individuality and expressing herself. When she was younger, she thought there was a particular way you had to dress in order to be a part of the LGBTQ+ community. She always presented herself in a feminine way and neglected popular stereotypes associated with gay women.

“It means a lot to me because I am very hyper femme presenting, and I think for the younger girls that are 7 to 15, they’re kind of going through the same thing right now that I was going through, but I didn’t necessarily have anyone to talk to about it,” she said. “I’m very out there with being super girly and femme and that is something that makes me very happy.” 

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.

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