I saw in some interviews that you and your girlfriend met on social media. What is your relationship with social media like now, especially as your visibility is increasing?
Again, another thing that just changed so much because of the pandemic. I feel like so many things overnight switched to being technology and socials. Every app is different. Every form of social media has its own feelings that come with it. Twitter brings me more intense feelings; I try to avoid that on a day that I’m anxious and wait to open that when I have tougher skin or something. I really love TikTok. I feel like I’ve learned so much and I really see the content that I want. I feel like Instagram is where I can try to interact with my fan base the most. I look at my tags a lot and open my DMs and I get a lot of really beautiful stories and beautiful messages from people. I like social media currently, but it all depends. Sometimes you get something random and sometimes you get out of it what you put into it. It’s a wild card.
What feels important to you about being so open and transparent about aspects of yourself that might make you feel vulnerable, or be perceived as vulnerabilities, like your BPD diagnosis and your sexuality?
I’m not blind to the position that I’m in of being a great influence on people my age, on younger people. This position that I’m in is so new to me. It’s so much easier to be yourself. I’ve also been clear with people [that] I’m still finding myself. Self-exploration is a lifelong endeavor and I plan on sharing my journey with people as I’m growing and evolving, which comes with people not understanding. But I think I wanted to share so much so that I had the realest response that I could get. Kind of like, “This is who I am, take it or leave it.” Because if your energy is meant for me, it’ll be here. And if it’s not, it’s not.
I am really not interested in spending my time on social media trying to gain a demographic that I don’t connect with in the first place. So the more I’m myself, the more people gravitate towards my energy. I want to send a message of being yourself and being the truest version of yourself no matter how messy it is, and also acknowledging that I’m not my truest version. Sometimes I have impostor syndrome. I’m a person with all of these feelings and this was an important message for me.
Rock reflects on his first viral video, his meteoric rise, and why he left the beauty industry.
As someone who’s dating a basketball player, are you into women’s basketball or women’s sports in general?
I am. My girlfriend playing basketball has made me watch more basketball than I could have ever imagined that I would. Yes, I love it. I love women’s basketball. Another sport I love because my sister and I did [it] growing up is gymnastics. I think gymnastics might be my favorite sport to watch.
Who are some of your favorite queer artists or creatives right now? Where are you finding creative inspiration or joy whether it’s queer or not?
I’m finding a lot of inspiration on social media. I’m so inspired by people I’ve never met and never heard of. I’m so inspired by the most random videos on TikTok every day.
As for queer artists, oh my gosh, I loveIndya Moore. I’m just thinking of them off the top of my head because I met them in Milan for Fashion Week. Single-handedly the nicest person I’ve ever met in this industry and otherwise. I’ve been sweet-talking to them ever since.
This interview has been condensed and edited.
Outer Banksseason 3 is streaming on Netflix now.
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