Hollyoaks fans were reduced to tears on Thursday evening as Brooke Hathaway (Tylan Grant) came out as non-binary.
Fans have witnessed the youngster question their gender identity in recent months while receiving the support of new friend Ripley Lennox (Ki Griffin).
During the latest E4 first-look episode, Nancy Hayton (Jessica Fox) was confused to see Brooke struggling with the news that they'd been voted the prom queen at Hollyoaks High.
Brooke opened up to Ripley about the difficulty they were feeling over their identity, so their new friend shared resources for a non-binary support group – and reminded them their friends will always be supportive.
When it came time for the prom, Brooke decided it was the right time to explain why they wouldn't be accepting the prom queen title.
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"I don't think I identify as a boy or a girl," they explained. "I won't be accepting the title of prom queen tonight."
Juliet Nightingale (Niamh Blackshaw) said she only regretted Brooke had been dealing with questioning their identity all on their own for so long.
"It's a lot to get my head around, but I guess as long as you're happy, that's all," Imran (Ijaz Rana) assured them.
Brooke promised their friends that they would lean on them more for support as they learned more about who they truly are.
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"Honestly, I still don't really know who I am yet," they explained. "As long as I know I've got you lot, I know I'll be good."
"Hey," Imran interjected. "Of course you are [good]!"
Viewers watching at home were overcome with emotional as Brooke finally opened up to her nearest and dearest.
Taking to Twitter, one fan penned: "Brooke's coming out scene was so beautiful I'm so happy that a character I've head cannoned as non-binary for so long has canonically come out as non-binary."
Another added: "@Hollyoaks we stand by you Brooke."
A third person posted: "Brooke coming out as non binary is so special, nah i'm crying."
TV star Tylan Grant is also non-binary like her character Brooke.
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The talented youngster is the teenager of Fame Academy icons and vocal coaches Carrie and David Grant.
In December last year, Tylan described coming out as non-binary, a gender identity that is not exclusively masculine or feminine, as their "biggest achievement" of 2020.
"Coming out to people has been probably the biggest achievement, coming out as non-binary, that’s probably been one of the biggest transitions in my life and also the biggest achievement," the TV star.
Tylan made their professional acting debut in an episode of the CBBC sitcom So Awkward as Greta Masters.
Talking previously of their Hollyoaks role, they said: " For a long while there has been no representation on screen of autistic women, especially autistic women of colour, so I am really looking forward to developing the character of Brooke and representing something that perhaps people are unaware of."
Hollyoaks airs Monday to Friday on Channel 4 at 6.30 followed by first-look episodes on E4 at 7pm
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