Jacqueline Wilson 'delighted to be viewed as gay icon' after coming out

Jacqueline Wilson, a renowned British author, has recently made headlines with her first adult novel titled 'Think Again', which serves as a sequel to her beloved 'Girls' series. Over the years, Wilson has been recognized for her ability to portray the complexities of childhood and the struggles that come with it. However, one title that has taken her by surprise is that of a 'gay icon'. In 2020, she publicly announced her long-term relationship with a woman, which has opened up a new audience for her work. In an interview with the BBC, she expressed her gratitude, saying, 'I’m very touched to be thought of as a gay icon, it’s an absolute delight. ' At the age of 78, she admits that while she may not envision herself 'rampaging around with a rainbow flag', she wholeheartedly supports those who do. 'Think Again' follows the lives of Ellie Allard and her friends, Nadine and Magda, as they navigate the challenges of turning 40. Wilson shared that the inspiration for this story came from a conversation with her daughter, who asked her what happens to her characters as they grow older. Having penned over 100 books, she felt that now was the perfect time to explore adult themes. 'In real time, the girls would be hitting 40,' she reflected. 'That’s a significant age where you have to make big decisions, and for some people, life doesn’t look like what you dreamt of as a teenager. ' In 'Think Again', the three women do not achieve the fairy-tale endings they might have hoped for. Ellie finds herself feeling stuck as she approaches her milestone birthday. Wilson explains, 'The girls don’t have their happy-ever-after ending, but I didn’t want to write something that is all grim because there are things in their lives that are great and fun. I just wanted it to be realistic. ' She acknowledges that many teenagers today experience feelings of depression and anxiety, yet they also possess ambitious dreams. 'This story shows that you need to have a plan B or C,' she emphasizes. The former children’s laureate aims to highlight the importance of choice in modern life. Ellie, Magda, and Nadine are not in relationships that society typically expects from women their age. 'There’s not just one path nowadays,' Wilson states. 'In my generation, we were told you either get married and have children or have a career, but why can’t you do both? ' She believes that getting married young was not a sensible choice for her, and that women today are more thoughtful about what they want in life. Jacqueline Wilson is currently in a long-term relationship with Trish Beswick. Throughout her career, Wilson has tackled a variety of themes, but it is only recently that she has begun to write about LGBTQ+ issues. Her 2020 novel, 'Love Frankie', featured a gay heroine, marking a significant step in her writing journey. She reflects on how societal perceptions have changed, stating, 'I could have written a gay character in my earlier work, but there would have been far more 'oh my gosh Jacqueline has written about someone who is gay', whereas now it’s not a big deal. ' In 'Think Again', Ellie unexpectedly finds herself falling in love with a woman, mirroring Jacqueline's own life experiences after her divorce. 'I’m aware that people will think that there are parallels, but that’s not the intention; I was just being imaginative when I wrote the book,' she clarifies. Wilson also believes that society should not view sexuality in a binary manner. 'We don’t need to just think that everyone is either straight or gay. Of course, I’m not suggesting we chop and change all the time, but for my generation, it didn’t occur that you could be attracted to all sorts of people, so we’ve definitely become much more grown up. ' One of Wilson’s most famous characters is Tracey Beaker, a loud and fiery girl who lives in a children’s home. Since being made a dame in 2008, Wilson has never shied away from addressing difficult and dark issues in her writing. Many of her books, which often explore topics such as suicide, mental health, and domestic violence, are aimed at children aged seven to twelve. As a result, her storylines have sometimes sparked controversy, but Wilson defends her choices. 'People say there is sex and drugs in my books, but there isn’t any,' she insists, explaining that her stories aim to reflect the realities of children who feel different or unhappy. 'These stories would be comforting for those children, but also help all the other kids understand why these kids might be a little bit difficult or whatever. ' While the characters in 'Think Again' are not directly influenced by Wilson’s own life, she admits that some of her earlier characters have gone through experiences similar to hers as a child. 'I didn’t have that happy a life as a child - I was brought up on a council estate and I did used to think that the children in books were nothing like me and my friends. Parents never seemed to have any ugly rows in children’s books, which in my experience, they certainly did. ' Wilson has always been committed to writing about real-life issues, promising herself as a child that she would include these themes in her work. 'When I was 12, I wrote in a diary that if I ever wrote children’s books, I would put all that in because I thought it’s very much part of life.