Madison Bailey, who plays Kiara in Netflix's "Outer Banks," used the show's final season debut to advocate for stronger LGBTQ representation on screen. The openly pansexual actress expressed frustration over what she called a "lack of queer representation" in the adventure series, which concluded its run Thursday with season five.
Bailey revealed that she had hoped her character would come out during the show's run. The actress sees the series' ending as an opportunity to pursue roles that align with her identity. "I've been manifesting it," Bailey said when discussing her desire to play openly LGBTQ characters in future projects.
Her comments arrive as "Outer Banks" closes the book on four seasons of teen drama centered on treasure hunts and OBX mythology. While the show garnered massive viewership on Netflix and became a cultural phenomenon among Gen Z audiences, it apparently fell short on LGBTQ storytelling for Bailey, despite her prominent role in the ensemble cast.
The timing of Bailey's remarks reflects broader industry conversations about representation in streaming content. Netflix has faced ongoing criticism from LGBTQ advocacy groups for inconsistent representation across its slate, even as the platform has invested in queer-focused projects like "Heartstopper" and "Everyone Else Burns."
For Bailey, stepping away from Kiara opens space to shape her next chapter. The actress joins other young performers from major streaming hits seeking more intentional creative choices as they leverage their platform popularity into bigger opportunities. Her candid discussion about wishing her character had come out demonstrates how young talent increasingly expects scripts to reflect their own identities and values.
As "Outer Banks" concludes, Bailey's remarks serve as both a personal manifesto and an implicit critique of the show's creative decisions. Moving forward, the actress is actively seeking roles that center queer narratives and LGBTQ characters, signaling where her