'I'm Gay': Ricky Martin

A television acting gig with Alcanzar una Estrella (To Reach a Star) boosted his popularity and was followed by stints in US shows Getting By and General Hospital, and on Broadway in Les Miserables.

By the time he released his fourth album Vuelve in 1998, featuring the football World Cup song La Copa de la Vida (The Cup of Life), he had become a global music name and sex icon.

His next album, Sound Loaded, featured the hit song She Bangs. Further albums included La Historia and Almas del Silencio.

Martin said on his website that he felt this was the right moment for him to come out of the closet.

"If someone asked me today, 'Ricky, what are you afraid of?' I would answer 'the blood that runs through the streets of countries at war ... child slavery, terrorism ... the cynicism of some people in positions of power, the misinterpretation of faith.'

"But fear of my truth? Not at all! On the contrary, It fills me with strength and courage.

"This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day.

"To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with.

"Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now.

"Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment."