The late David Bowie’s daughter, Lexi Jones, opened up about her recent autism diagnosis in a touching post about knowing one’s self.

“Autism does not have one look, one voice, or one way of showing up,” Jones, 25, wrote via Instagram in June. “It comes in many forms, and a lot of us learn to hide it without even realizing we are doing it. I was recently diagnosed as autistic, and it finally made sense of so much I have carried quietly my whole life.”

The artist and musician, who is the only child of Bowie and his wife, Iman, noted that it is “very common” for women to be “diagnosed later in life.” (Iman, 70, was married to the “Starman” singer for 24 years before Bowie died in January 2016 at the age of 69 following a battle with liver cancer.)

“We are often conditioned to mask, mirror, and internalize,” Jones explained. “That does not make it any less real. This diagnosis does not change who I am, but it gives me language, clarity, and relief.”

Throughout the years, more and more Hollywood A-listers have opened up about their autism diagnosis. In October 2024, Tamra Judge revealed that while in therapy she discovered that she is “on the spectrum,” meaning she has a neurological disorder affecting interaction and communication with others, per the National Institute of Mental Health. “We’re trying to […]

She added: “I am sharing this because I know I am not the only one, and because stories like this deserve to be seen.”

Autism spectrum disorder is a “condition related to brain development that affects how people see others and socialize with them,” according to the Mayo Clinic. The condition often affects how people communicate with others socially.

Jones, meanwhile, shared an essay she wrote, “The Quiet Effort: Neurodivergence Through My Lens,” to better articulate her personal experience before being diagnosed.

“I’ve spent my whole life feeling like I was different. Like I was trying to keep up with something other people were handed naturally,” she wrote, pointing to “social interactions, sensory tolerance, emotional regulation and even just basic functioning” as situations she felt ill equipped to handle compared to others.

Jones told her followers, “I never really felt like I belonged anywhere, and it ultimately left me exhausted from masking.”

Jessie J is revealing her recent diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The “Do It Like a Dude” singer, 36, got candid with fans about living with these conditions, which she learned she had three months ago. She posted a video of herself singing on stage when she was […]

She wrote that part of the “confusion” she felt about herself came from being able to “emotionally articulate” her feelings, which isn’t always the case with someone who is on the autism spectrum.

“I know how to express myself in a way that makes people feel like I am fine or that I have a strong sense of emotional self-understanding. I am very introspective and emotionally intelligent. But that does not mean I am not struggling,” Jones continued. “It just means I have spent years analyzing myself and learning how to explain what I feel.”

In the four-page essay, Jones revealed that she finally got “clarity” about her situation after a “long and exhausting process of questioning myself.”

“I recently saw an autism evaluator and received a formal diagnosis confirming that I am autistic. Hearing that out loud did not change who I am,” Jones added. “It gave me a name to the experience I have spent my whole life trying to understand.”

She shared, “It feels validating. Not because it solves everything but because it finally makes sense. The overwhelm, the sensitivity, the masking, the burnout, the constant feeling of being out of sync. Now there is a reason.”

Jenni “JWoww” Farley, Jenny McCarthy and other celebrities haven’t shied away from speaking about the ups and downs of raising their autistic children. The Jersey Shore: Family Vacation star revealed her and Roger Mathews’ son Greyson’s diagnosis in November 2018, which “caused a lot of tension” in her relationship with her now-ex-husband. “I took the […]

Jones asserted, “I am still me. But now I get to be me with more understanding, more self-compassion, and less shame.” She pointed out, “It is not about fitting into a category or chasing a label.”

She concluded: “It is about being able to see myself clearly for the first time. And I wanted to share that.”

Two months after Jones discussed her diagnosis, she celebrated her 25th birthday, a milestone her mom made sure to mark with a sweet social media tribute.

“Happy birthday, Lexi! @_p0odle_ Wow … 25!” Iman wrote via Instagram on August 15 alongside a video montage of her youngest child through the years. “So proud of the young lady you have become … Strong, sweet & kind. My pride & joy!”

While Iman and Bowie only welcomed daughter Lexi during their marriage, Iman is also the mother to daughter Zulekha, 47, whom she shares with first husband Spencer Haywood. Bowie also welcomed son Duncan with first wife Angela Bowie.