They also talked Pride, dance moves, and the need for ‘casual’ queer representation with TikTok dancer Conrad Rocha.
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| Ceci Balagot in Monster High: The Movie | Nickelodeon. |
It's official, Monster High fans: Frankie Stein is nonbinary! Ceci Balagot (he/they), who is starring in Monster High: The Movie, Nickelodeon and Paramount+'s brand new feature-length live-action television movie musical based on the iconic Monster High franchise, confirmed that their character uses they/them pronouns in a sit-down chat with TikTok dancer Conrad Rocha for Nickelodeon.
Rocha asked Balagot if representation was important for them with their Monster High character, and Balagot confirmed it was “super important” to them. “My character identifies as nonbinary,” he shared. “My goal in life is to be the person that I needed to see on TV.”
Rocha, who identifies as gay, expressed how much he would have loved to have seen that kind of character and story on TV when he was growing up as well.
“I literally had never, ever had that when I was a kid,” agreed Balagot. “I think that causal representation is one of the most important things to me instead of tokens. My character is kind of just like that. That’s who they are. And I think kids need to be able to see that you as a person are special. That being queer is just another facet of life. And I want kids to know that it’s a normal thing.”
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| Nickelodeon. |
The two also opened up about how they want the experience of coming out to change for queer youth. “I think there needs to be less pressure to come out. Especially for youth because growing up on its own is hard,” said Rocha. “And I think being a part of the LGBT community makes it a lot harder. So I think putting less pressure on that and just kind of letting people slowly find out who they want to become.”
Balagot shared some of that process from their childhood, particularly how they knew they were trans from the very beginning. “I knew pretty much that I was a boy right off the bat. I could have told you in kindergarten that something was wrong and that they kept a group with me and with the girls wasn’t right and that didn’t feel right and I think that’s what representation does.”
Watch the full conversation (and a few dance numbers) below. Monster High: The Movie premieres on Nickelodeon and Paramount+ October 6. Click HERE for more information.
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Original source: Pride.
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