DIVA sat down with the House Of Sims star to learn more about coming out, moving to LA, and dating in the public eye
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY OFTV
Demi Sims is busy building an empire. For those of you who grew up on The Only Way Is Essex, Demi’s warm smile and laughter are probably fairly familiar. The reality TV star has been on our screens since she was 17, starring alongside her siblings Chloe, Frankie and Charlie. It was actually on TOWIE that Demi first came out as bisexual, making history for LGBTQIA representation on the show.
In 2023 we saw the Sims dynasty swap Essex for LA in their new show House Of Sims. Released on OFTV, the series charted the family’s quest to crack the States. Naturally, the show was a huge success. Fans of the show were quickly relieved by the announcement that it was getting the green light for season two. But what can we expect from this new chapter?
“I feel like this series compared to last series is going to be really different,” Demi tells me as we begin our call. “We’ve all opened up individually.”
She continues: “There’s a lot of family drama on this show which has never happened between our family before. I didn’t even know how to react to some of it.”
Moving from Essex to LA is a huge jump for anyone. Now imagine moving in with your entire family. “We’re all very independent people,” Demi laughs. “I’ve always been used to having my own apartment. To go from that to being put in a house all together – people from all ages – it was a really mad situation to be in.”
After season one, Demi moved back to the UK and has split her time between the two countries. But there is one attraction to the States which keeps her coming back. “It had always been my dream to go to California. I’ve always heard about how big their Pride is and how many LGBTQIA people are openly out there,” she gushes.
“This time round I made the most of it! I was on all of the dating apps,” Demi continues. “It did make me want to stay as I thought that I could meet the love of my life there. They really love the British accent!”
Demi came out as bisexual as a teenager to her family and friends, but she was worried about coming out to the public. What if people viewed her differently? But the reality was a far cry from her fears.
“When I came out on TOWIE it was like a buzz and a relief,” she smiles. “It was nice to just be free. There’s no better way to come out than on national TV because then every single person knows.”
Since then Demi has provided some much-needed LGBTQIA representation on shows like TOWIE and House Of Sims. It isn’t often that we see openly bi reality TV stars talking about sexuality, identity, and biphobia. For Demi, providing visibility is her number one priority.
“I want viewers to watch it and know that it’s a common thing to be out and proud,” she explains. “I didn’t see it growing up on TV. I would only see it on fictional shows like Coronation Street with Sophie and Sian. But that wasn’t real – that was acting. I think it’s important for people to see real love between two women, two men, any genders.”
While Demi oozes positivity online, there have been obstacles she’s faced after coming out as bi. After she broke up with her ex-girlfriend, Too Hot To Handle star Francesca Farago, Demi returned to TOWIE and was involved in a love triangle with two men. Some viewers accused Demi of “queer-baiting”, implying that her relationship with Francesca hadn’t been real.
“When I say I’m bi, a lot of people say: ‘No you’re not, you’re gay’,” Demi says. “When you’re bi but you’re only dating one gender, people just assume that you’re only interested in that gender. It’s like when bi girls mainly date men and they get called straight.”
Dating when you’re in the public eye isn’t easy. For Demi, who has been single for three years, there can be drawbacks. “People who aren’t ready to come out yet are worried about dating me,” she explains. “If you’re seen with me it’s going to look like a date. I do date a lot of people in the closet and that’s very private. I don’t feel like there’s that many other reality TV stars who are bi or gay.”
After three years of growing and learning more about what she wants in a relationship, Demi is ready for love. “I know that I’m going to be the best girlfriend ever. When that person comes along, I’m going to treat them like a queen.”
Times are changing, and with more LGBTQIA visibility than ever, Demi is grateful for the acceptance she sees online. “People don’t bat an eyelid now,” she laughs.
House Of Sims season two premieres on OFTV on 13 March.
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