Adam Lambert quotI Was An Ugly Ducklingquot

Having risen to stardom via "American Idol," Adam Lambert has built quite the devout following - thanks in part to his openness about his sexuality and personal struggles.

During a recent interview, the "Whataya Want From Me" singer dished details on growing up and on his preference for men - including that he was a bit lacking in confidence and was 12 when he realized he’s gay.

Lambert tells, “Growing up I wasn’t very confident. It wasn’t until in my early 20s that I evolved into who I really was and wanted to be. I always used to look at being different as a bad thing, but I’ve learned that you need to take pride in the fact that you are unique."

The 28-year-old adds, “I was an ugly duckling, I was overweight and at 12 I realized I was gay. I kept that a secret until I was 18, so dealing with that and not feeling attractive was hard. The main validation I got was from being a performer, because it made me feel good about myself.”