The polls are about to get a lot more fashionable. On Tuesday,
Queer Eye’s resident stylist Tan France announced that after two decades of living and working in the U.S., he's now officially an American citizen.The British-born fashion expert shared pictures from his swearing in ceremony this week, smiling and posing alongside his husband, illustrator Rob France. “A few minutes ago, I officially became a U.S citizen,” wrote France. “For me, this is monumental. It’s something I’ve been working towards for literally 20 years, which makes this all the more emotional. And now, I will exercise my constitutional right as an American. Today, I will register to vote, and vote for the change I wish to see in OUR nation.”[video_embed id='1794894']RELATED: Queer Eye's Antoni shares his favourite dinner party dishes[/video_embed]France’s post was met with messages of congratulations from fans and friends, including Justin Theroux, Courtney Cox, Ashley Benson, Mindy Kaling, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Banks, and France’s
Queer Eye co-star Jonathan Van Ness, who wrote “There is no word or phrase I have strong enough to say how happy, proud, strong you are I have no words strong enough. Love you so much.”
France’s and Van Ness’
Queer Eye co-star Antoni Porowski also commented on France’s Instagram photo, joking “I hope you realize you can no longer say things like ‘you Americans always...’” The Canadian chef appeared on Tuesday’s episode of
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon along with France and the rest of the
Queer Eye cast to promote Season 5, which was released this past weekend.Speaking about France’s new status as an American citizen, Porowski got serious and said that he was inspired by his friend. “I think that it takes a tremendous amount of courage,” said Porowski. “During times like this it's so easy to be a pessimist and to not have hope. It’s stuff like that that keeps me going.”
Speaking about his latest achievement, France, who dressed for the occasion in an American flag jacket (patriotism, but make it fashion) told Fallon that finally getting his U.S. citizenship could not have come at a better time. “It actually feels kind of perfect that it happened right now. We need every vote. Every vote counts. I’m going to vote,” said France, referring to the upcoming November Presidential election.“It took so long to get here, but the actual experience of getting the oath thing done today, it was just lovely. It was such a beautiful, emotional experience. As you may know, I’m not much of a crier,” said France. “But I got so emotional. It felt really powerful to become American today.”France said that becoming a citizen meant that he no longer had to live in fear that he could be sent back to the U.K. and away from the life he has built in America. "I was away from my husband for six years because I was sent home," France said. "And so just to now be in a position where I know nobody can kick me out and I can actually truly make some changes, actually vote to change and encourage people to vote to change the state of this country. Like that really made me feel very emotional. The timing couldn't be more perfect for me," he continued.The new season of
Queer Eye takes the Fab B to Philadelphia and France said that he found similarities between people from the city of Brotherly Love and the British. “They’re actually quite similar to the Brits, and I say that as an America,” joked France. “The Brits are kind of a closed-off people. We call them stiff upper lips for a reason. You don’t show emotion, you don’t really open up voluntarily and so it was a little harder this season.”
[video_embed id='1974045']BEFORE YOU GO: Chris Cuomo accidentally bares it all on his wife’s Instagram live[/video_embed]
