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Toni Braxton believes her fans are still struggling to accept her overt sexuality as the daughter of a fire and brimstone preacher.

The “Do It” singer, who released her 10th album Spell My Name in August, tells Fault magazine that, years after releasing her overtly sexual single “You’re Makin’ Me High,” people still see her as the “girl next door” from her classic debut album.

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“I was 20 and trying all different things, but people still thought of me as the preacher’s kid,” the 53-year-old says of the growth between her self-titled debut and second album, Secrets. Toni is pictured greeting fans in 1996.

“But even the preacher kid needs to grow up someday,” laughs Toni. “I think people are still caught up in that after all these years, but I do understand.”

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The “Breathe Again” singer also offered some wisdom on finding confidence as an artist, admitting: “As I’ve gotten a little older, I’ve learned to live in the now and just enjoy it.

“I’m really proud of the body of work that I have so I don’t really have any regrets on that. Once you’re older in your career, you get confidence that allows you to sustain and be okay in your art.”