The `Best Thing About Me` hitmaker - who came out as homosexual last year via a statement on his website - admits he used to pretend he was "fine" when he was struggling to hide the truth from his fans, and used to misdirect his torment to those around him.

He said: "Before I came out, I had a lot of anger. For years people would ask, `How are you doing?` and I`d say, `Good, fine.` It`s show business, and that`s what you have to show.

"I was also angry toward my parents. You hurt the ones you love because you know they`ll be there tomorrow. But I wasn`t going to be truly happy until I understood that I had to be real and honest."

Ricky wrote about the experience in a song for his latest album `Musica + Alma + Sexo`, summing up his feelings and his need to be honest about himself.

He added: "One of the songs is called `Basta Ya`, which means enough is enough. That`s the point I was at."

The 39-year-old pop star - who became a father to twin sons Matteo and Valentino through a surrogate mother in 2008 - feels better than ever now he is honest about who he really is, and while he wishes he had came out years ago, he knows he was too afraid to do so.

He added in an interview with Australia`s Daily Telegraph newspaper: "Coming out was liberating and emotional. If I`d known it was going to feel so amazing and beautiful, I`d have done it sooner. But it`s a journey and a process, and, 10 years ago, I wasn`t able to do it. The fear was in my head. Now I feel better than I`ve ever felt."
sections: Celebrities