Cocona, the rapper, vocalist and performer from the international pop group XG, has publicly come out as transmasculine non‑binary in an open letter shared with fans to mark their 20th birthday.

In a heartfelt Instagram post on Saturday, December 6, Cocona reflected on identity, self‑discovery and the relief of embracing their true self. They explained that they were assigned female at birth (AFAB) but that the label never matched their inner sense of identity, and they confirmed that they underwent top surgery earlier this year.

“Today, I turned 20.” — Cocona shared this milestone as the moment to speak openly about their journey and identity.

Cocona described accepting themself as a difficult but ultimately liberating process and expressed gratitude to colleagues and loved ones whose support made that journey possible. They singled out their XG bandmates, XGALX founder and producer Simon (Jakops), and their parents for standing by them.

Shortly after Cocona’s announcement, XGALX CEO and artistic director Simon (Jakops) posted his own response on Instagram, offering public support and respect. He emphasized his commitment to nurturing each member as a full person — not merely as an artist — and to ensuring that every member is treated with dignity.

Since their debut under XGALX in 2022, XG has drawn international attention for tight choreography, multilingual songs and a message of empowerment. Cocona’s announcement is a prominent moment for LGBTQ+ visibility in the global pop scene and carries particular resonance within Japanese and Korean entertainment contexts, where conversations about gender identity are continuing to develop.

Fans and fellow artists responded with an outpouring of support, praising Cocona’s honesty and celebrating the courage required to share such a personal truth publicly. In their post, Cocona closed with a wish that their words might comfort or inspire others navigating similar journeys.

Original Instagram post (Cocona): instagram.com
Statement from Simon (Jakops): instagram.com

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