I CAN’T HIDE SEX FACTOR

X FACTOR favourite Bella Penfold has revealed she ignored friends’ advice to hide her sexuality on the show.

Pals of the musical theatre performer feared she might lose votes if people found out she had a girlfriend.

But Bella, 19, insisted on being open about who she is – and is now to proud to have become an LGBTQ role model.

She said: “I’m just being me. I’m not forcing anyone to have my ideas or opinions. I wanted to help those who are scared.

“I didn’t come out until I was 16, or 17 so I wasn’t bullied. My friends were mature enough to understand.

“I’ve been blessed – I haven’t had abuse. It doesn’t phase me walking down the street holding hands with a girl.” Bella said her mum Nicole found it difficult when she first came out. The singer said: “I told her a couple of years ago. My mum is great now, but she struggled at first. “The problem is society implies there is something wrong with it, which affects how people think. In the end it was my mum’s choice to accept it and see me happy – or not and lose me.” Speaking for the first time about her girlfriend Tasha Johnstone, also 19, Bella said: “She’s so different to me. She’s really calm and I’m really crazy. She keeps me grounded. “We haven’t been going out very long. She was my best friend for a while. I kept dropping hints I liked her and after a year-and-a-half of chasing her I got the girl.”