On December 6, for their 20th birthday, Cocona from the global pop group XG shared that they are AFAB transmasculine nonbinary on Instagram. “Earlier this year, I had top surgery," they wrote. "I was born and perceived as female, but that label never represented who I truly am. I live in a way that feels more masculine and true to who I am.” (Teen Vogue confirmed Cocona is now using both “they/them” and “he/him” pronouns.)
He continued, “The hardest thing I’ve ever faced was accepting and embracing myself. But as I slowly began to do that, I was able to open a new door. That moment changed the way I see and understand the world, and it gave me the courage and strength to grow.”
Alongside the heartfelt caption, Cocona shared clips from an intimate, personal photoshoot taken by fellow XG member Jurin. With makeup by another group member Chisa, Cocona wore their signature buzz cut. And the styling similarly held much significance. Wearing matching velvet trousers with a glittering belt, Cocona donned an open blazer, revealing the scars from the top surgery. They posed with a red flower.
XG and Cocona’s message marks a major milestone, especially for the Japanese trans community. Luna Oliver, a model and actress based in Japan, tells Teen Vogue, “Cocona is a current member of a big group who is the hottest thing in Japan right now, I think. And in a way still building their career. So for them to come out so actively, vocally… I think it's something that has not been done in Japan as much.”
Online, fans are already expressing their solidarity with Cocona, especially regarding his choice to bare his scars. On TikTok, one user named Tamaki (@kyuubra), celebrated Cocona and reminisced on wearing their own scars out while seeing XG at Coachella last year. “That means so much,” Tamaki said in a video.
In conversation with Teen Vogue, Tamaki detailed the unseen struggles of gender-affirming surgery, from costs to recovery, emphasizing what one’s scars represent. “For Cocona to do that and to show it off proudly, it just showed that they have the same sentiment, that we're proud," Tami says. "We're proud that we did this. It's something we want everyone to know about. And so it just felt so wild to see someone have the same experience as me, but also to show it to millions of people.”
This isn’t the first time Cocona has challenged gender norms in their self-expression and art. Last year, Cocona shaved their hair off in the “Woke Up” music video. A month later, Cocona wrote in their June 13, 2024 blog on XG’s fan messaging app ALPHAZ, “There are lots of different opinions in this world, and oftentimes I strongly feel somewhat constricting prejudices from others, but at the end of the day, there’s no absolute beauty or cuteness or coolness, that something has to be a certain way.”
Continuing, they explained, “The main reason I decided to shave my head was because I wanted to show that I want everyone in the world to see and love themselves for who they really are, and not feel pressured into having to pay mind to girly fashion, makeup hair or how cute, cool, or beautiful they are.” Cocona told Buzzfeed shortly after, “There are many reasons why I wanted to shave my head, and I hope to convey each of those meanings through my performances and future work.”
Similar to the scars, Cocona’s hair resonated with many fans, especially those who express themselves with a shaved head as well. “Beauty for a lot of people is the first step to actualizing themselves,” Tamaki says. “Well before I even could do top surgery, I was experimenting with my look and feeling more masculine. For a lot of people, to honor yourself is to really be like, ‘Do I follow the things that I want to do? Do I look the way that I want to look? Do I express myself in a way that feels good for me?’ Not because of what beauty standards look like, but is this what feels beautiful to me?”
Between wearing the buzz cut and embracing their scars, those who have noted the similarities between themselves and Cocona have taken to calling them “twin.” And some are already anticipating the new styles we’ll see Cocona in now as they embrace their identity.
