Myleene Klass, the musician and television presenter who received an MBE from King Charles last month for services to women's health and charity, has spoken out about racist comments she has faced over her Filipino heritage.
In a series of Instagram posts, the 47-year-old recounted an incident at a work gathering where, as her MBE was being discussed, a white cisgender male made a joke about Kensington houses having a Filipino. She described the comment as 'worrying' and said it highlighted the importance of representation.
Ms Klass also revealed that she had received a direct message from a troll comparing her appearance to that of a maid, to which she responded that such comments were 'ignorant' and amounted to racism.
Reflecting on her experiences, she wrote that being Filipino often meant being seen only through the lens of service jobs, and that she was proud to be a 'positive disruptor' by occupying spaces not traditionally intended for her.
She concluded that representation was not symbolic but essential for breaking cycles of stereotyping, so that future generations could grow up free from narrow societal roles.
