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For those in the know, she’s been quietly circling the mainstream since the release of her 2017 debut single, I Don’t Want It All.
But a collaboration with close friend Sam Smith on the number one smash Unholy undoubtedly thrust her into the limelight – and earned her a new legion of fans.
A commercial breakthrough of sorts came in 2023 when Petras joined Smith on stage for a provocative live performance at the 2023 Grammy and BRIT Awards, watched by millions across the globe.
And speaks to Cosmopolitan BritainIn the April-May issue, the trans singer, 31, admits that her collaboration with Smith – both on stage and in the studio – represented a significant change in her professional fortunes.
“It was crazy… It took over my life – suddenly I was traveling a lot and there were more eyes on me than ever before,” she said.
Kim Petras has credited close friend Sam Smith with reviving her pop career
The German-born trans singer has developed a close friendship after working with the British star on his number one hit, Unholy
‘It felt like a huge breakthrough as it changed the music industry’s perception of me and what I could do.’
Petras was assigned male at birth before undergoing gender reassignment in her teenage years, and she believes her friendship with Smith – who identifies as non-binary – has been strengthened by the inevitable public interest it brings to her private life.
“Sam is such a wonderful person and has been my coach in many ways,” she said. ‘If I feel in a crisis or read something about myself that I can’t handle, I write or call them.
‘That level of media attention is really scary; it forced me to grow as a person and it’s so inspiring to see Sam be able to brush it off.’
Unholy topped the charts in 20 countries before winning Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 65th Annual Grammy Awards
But the intense scrutiny that inevitably followed would force Petras into therapy as she processed the track’s unprecedented success.
“Therapy was necessary for me after having a huge song, to learn how to shut everything off,” she said.
‘I had a therapist in my teenage years and stopped when things got busy. But I missed having someone to vent everything to.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan UK’s April-May issue, the singer admits that her collaboration with Smith represented a significant change in her professional fortunes
Petras was assigned male at birth before undergoing gender reassignment, and believes her friendship with Smith has been strengthened by the interest it brings to her private life
‘I recommend therapy to everyone; it’s an important tool… the music industry can get very hectic.’
So hectic that she rarely has time for dating, and when she does, her elevated status can often be problematic.
‘I’m someone who really enjoys my life, and I’m interested in people who enjoy theirs… In general, when I date, I look for people who are passionate,’ she said. ‘But dating when you have a public persona is weird.’
Read the full interview in Cosmopolitan UK’s April/May issue, on newsstands from Tuesday 19 March 2024.
Smith performed a VERY cheeky performance of Unholy at the 2023 BRIT Awards, where he was joined by Petras
The singer put on a busty display in a black bra under a boiler suit during the performance
The BRIT Awards performance came just days after another equally cheeky performance by Smith at the Grammy Awards
Read the full interview in Cosmopolitan UK’s April/May issue, on newsstands from Tuesday 19 March 2024