When you are an athlete, it's difficult to take time off and say you want to come back without everyone judging you and attacking you.

To sum up my idea of on-ice costume fashion sense, it's probably that too much is never enough.

I grew my beard out a little bit just to show that indeed I am a man.

Figure skating is theatrical. It's artistic. It's elegant. It's extremely athletic. And there's a very specific audience for that.

That makes me think of spandex-covered football players. It's not me. I'm in rhinestones and velvet, not spandex.

It's really grinding to always play out of both sides of your mind and always be thinking what will offend people. Or what won't. But I'm strong enough to deal with that. I own that I'm freakish in my way.

To me, figure skating is an art form, and that's what I always try to bring in, even to my competitive programs.