United Kingdom, June 27 -- Lauren Chan is "much more comfortable" since coming out.

The 34-year-old model came out as a lesbian in a 2023 article for Sports Illustrated and admits that no longer being in the "male gaze" has lifted a weight from her shoulders.

Lauren told People magazine: "I'm so much more comfortable in myself. In coming out, I've ditched the male gaze, and it is incredibly freeing because I used to perceive myself in the way that the patriarchy wants us to consider women. If I had a part of my body that made me insecure based on the beauty ideal, it would ruin my entire sense of self.

"Since being in the female gaze, I've realised that that doesn't exist. I fully believe that the way I show up to represent women does ...