Eliot Sumner: Sting’s Daughter Rejects Gender Labels, Is Dating A Woman
Eliot Sumner, who is the daughter of Sting, said she rejects gender roles and does not identify as a man or a woman. In a recent interview, the 25-year-old musician also revealed she is in a long-term relationship with Austrian model Lucie Von Alten.
The daughter of Trudie Styler and Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, otherwise known as Sting, Eliot Pauline Sumner is a native of Wiltshire, England.
Although she avoided the spotlight throughout her youth, Sumner revealed herself as a talented musician and songwriter at the age of 15. Two years later, the teen was offered a contract with Island Records — which she accepted under the stage name Coco.
Each song on Eliot’s debut album, The Constant, was written and performed by the musician herself with the assistance of producer Klas Åhlund.
Sting’s daughter Eliot Sumner reveals she has been dating a woman for the past 2 years https://t.co/NCBm2dZsmq pic.twitter.com/OHe1da9FE3
— People magazine (@people) December 2, 2015
As noted by Telegraph writer Neil McCormick, “Most teenagers don’t emerge from hibernation clutching a smart, funny, sonically bold debut album on which they have written all the songs and played all the instruments themselves.”
Although Sumner clearly shares her father’s talent for writing and performing music, she said claims she “never wanted to be another kid following their parents’ footsteps.”
Indeed, Eliot has her own unique style, which is not easily confused with Sting’s, but it is clear that she was heavily influenced by her father’s talent and passion for music.
Eliot Sumner has cycled through several nicknames, including Coco, Coco Sumner, and I Blame Coco. However, she is not comfortable with “labels” in general.
In a recent interview with Evening Standard, Sumner said she is specifically uncomfortable with “gender labels” and does not identify as a man or a woman.
“I don’t believe in any specifications… I was trying to figure out maybe … what I am. But I don’t think anyone should feel pressured to have any kind of label or tag on them… We’re all human beings.”
Although she rejects gender labels, Eliot said she is comfortable defining herself as “musician.”
During the same interview, Sumner revealed she is in a long-term relationship with Austrian model Lucie Von Alten.
The announcement prompted the interviewer to ask the musician whether she actually “came out to her friends and family.” However, Eliot said it was not necessary to discuss her sexuality as her friends and family “already knew.”
Sumner confirmed a few songs on her second album were inspired by her relationship with Lucie Von Alten and her rejection of gender roles.
In addition to the release of Information, Eliot Sumner will be revealed “as the face of a major international fashion brand” in 2016.
Although gender neutrality remains a topic of heated controversy, Sumner is not the first celebrity or entertainer to reject traditional gender labels.
As reported by The Daily Beast, Miley Cyrus recently announced she does not accept gender labels and does not relate to being a boy or a girl.” Nor does she expect her partners to do so.
Ruby Rose, who recently appeared in Netflix’s Orange is the New Black, has also rejected gender labels. In her own words, the actress does not “identify as any gender.”
Sting’s daughter Eliot Sumner: I haven’t revealed I’m gay until now… because no one asked https://t.co/3i3XrhPaPx pic.twitter.com/huqvUJ7t9v — Standard Showbiz (@standardshowbiz) December 2, 2015
The topic of gender neutrality is likely to remain controversial. However, celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Ruby Rose, and Eliot Sumner are raising awareness about the topic.
Although Eliot Sumner’s refusal to accept a gender label is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, she clearly prefers to focus on her music and her upcoming album. The musician said she is fully aware that she will “always be in the shadow of her parents,” but she is determined to prove she has talents of her own.
[Photo by Mike Windle/Getty Images]
