Kim Kardashian’s longtime makeup artist and close friend Mario Dedivanovic broke down in tears as he came out as gay at an awards show last night.
The famed MUA attended the American Influencer Awards in LA with his “best friend” Kim, who presented him with the American Influencer Artistic Achievement Award.
During his acceptance speech, Mario opened up about his sexuality for the first time in public.
He told the crowd: “A couple of days ago, on my mother’s 73rd birthday, I walked home after a day of stressful meetings at work and she was there doing my laundry and I broke down to her crying.”
“I told her finally that I had spent my entire life and childhood suppressing my thoughts, suppressing my dreams, my feelings, my creativity and trying to be invisible so that no one would know how I’m feeling inside.”
Mario continued: “I knew that I was born different. I was traumatized to be me. I had been living in fear my entire life. I had been ashamed. She said, ‘Mario, from this day forward you are never again to live in shame or fear.'”
Mario, who comes from an Albanian family, said his background prevented him from coming out sooner.
The makeup artist concluded his speech by saying: “I stand here for the first time in my life a proud 37-year-old gay man… I finally feel that bright light that I’ve been dreaming of my whole life is pouring from my soul around my body and it’s mine.”
“I can now live the life that I deserve and right now I feel true happiness.”
Mario also shared an emotional video on Instagram, showing the tributes from his family and friends that were broadcast before his acceptance speech.
He simply captioned the post: “Finally free ????????♥️ thank you all. I love you.”
