Lea Salonga's Son Nic Chien Comes Out As Bisexual And Shares How He Finally Feels Seen

Much of Nic Chien's life has unfolded in the public eye—after all, he's the only child of global theater icon Lea Salonga. But when he sat down on Rated Korina, he spoke simply as a 19-year-old still unpacking identity and self-acceptance.

In the conversation, Nic opened up about experiencing gender dysphoria as a teen and shared, calmly and without hesitation, that he identifies as bisexual.

For Nic, the hardest part of growing up wasn't necessarily figuring out labels—it was feeling unseen. He recalled how painful it was to realize that when people looked at him, they didn't see who he knew himself to be. "I was insecure in a sense that I knew that if someone looked at me, they wouldn't see a man; they would see a girl," he shared.

That disconnect, he said, weighed heavily on him and affected how he viewed himself. "I think that idea was so tragic in my mind," he added.

He believes much of that pain was rooted in gender dysphoria—the distress caused by the mismatch between one's gender identity and the sex assigned at birth. For a time, Nic identified as gender fluid, giving himself the space to explore who he was without pressure. "Don't pressure yourself with a label right away," he recalled his parents gently reminding him—advice he now agrees with.

Over time, Nic became sure. "I'm bisexual, I'm okay with saying that out loud," he declared. "I figured that out in Grade 5. I'm attracted to my friends who are girls, but I'm also attracted to guys," he explained, adding that being open about it made him feel more secure and authentic.

When Nic told his mom around age 11, her response was an immediate "Okay," and that was it. The quiet acceptance stuck with him. His father, Robert Chien, has also remained supportive, even amid his and Lea's separation. Nic was clear that his parents are on good terms and both continue to show up for him wholeheartedly.

Nic also shared how undergoing top surgery and beginning testosterone replacement therapy significantly improved his mental health. Small changes like hearing his voice deepen or seeing his Adam's apple develop became affirmations. His body finally began to align with how he felt inside.

But visibility comes with its downsides. Nic acknowledged that negative comments are inevitable, especially when your life is discussed online. Focusing too much on hate, he said, only leads to feeling worse. Instead, he chooses to hold onto the good and let the rest pass.

"If they hate me, I don't think they're going to change their minds," he said. "Because they hate me for a reason that I can’t exactly control." In short, some people just won't change their minds no matter what you do, and that's perfectly okay.

Still, Nic was clear that transitioning didn't change who he is at his core. "I'm not a different person," he said. "I'm still Nicole—but I'm not called Nicole anymore." He remains the same son, friend, and human—just more comfortable in his own skin.