#it’s good stuff it’s all about the unapologetic queer joy and . and is that not what cap’s entire arc is about

[uzumaki-rebellion]

The World-building of Wakanda: Black Panther and Afrofuturism

I've been revisiting the Wakanda Syllabus that an educator associate of mine Dr. Walter Greason put together when the first Black Panther movie came out, and also reviewing old discussions about the significance of that era as a cultural moment and movement at the same time.

The fact that I still write Black Panther fanfics is a testement to the love I have for that fandom and its importance to Afrofuturism and Black Diaspora Futurism. I'm always happy when I see other Black writers out here still churning out plots and series fics because it is a digital archive for how we perceive a fictional future where as Killmonger once annouced "We're on top."

These works are important and specifically center the Black experience. And we don't have to fit our characters inside of white story spaces where we are usually the sidekick or fetish characters. I had an interesting talk with a friend of a friend and she wanted to argue that Black characters in the MCU who were not in the Black Panther/Wakanda Forever films should be included in the discussions of Afrofuturism, and I said they didn't belong in it fully because those characters are not centering Black people's futures. They center the non-Black white leads and their American/American adjacent interests (I'm talking about War Machine, Nick Fury, Sam Wilson, Valkyrie etc). It was a good back and forth because I am always questioning how Black people can build Black solidarity/communities by always working in white spaces in the service of white global agendas.

Writing Killmonger's journey (and his parents) for over six years (Lawd six years!!!!) with numerous books has taught me a lot about my role in preserving our fandom legacy as Black fanfiction writers and as readers. Afrofuturism has allowed me to explore not only Black Liberation, but Black Queerness, ATR's (African Traditional Religions), Black Matriarchy and Black Patriarchy. I've written about things I love and participate in, and also got to play pretend like I'm a kid again playing with my Barbie dolls and action figures. Black sex. Black music. Black art. Black philosophy. Blackety Black and unapologetic.

All this to say that I hope others out there like me keep writing and reading and reblogging these free little digital seeds we are planting that will truly blossom in the future when others discover our work. I know many Black writers lament that we don't get the same traction or BNF notoriety that white writers do. However, there is joy and divine calling when one simply sits and writes a Black Panther tale to give to other Black people for free all over the world. It still boggles my mind that there are people who have read my stories for years and they live on the other side of the world. People I will probably never meet, but they read and sometimes leave sweet comments that feed me to keep going.

Keep writing y'all. Keep reading and sharing and creating. You are making Afrofuturism fanfiction that is a time capsule for Black folks who aren't even here yet. Academics are secretly reading your stuff and using it to formulate academic studies on a fictional world ! Your Black Panther creations are beautiful no matter where you live on the planet!

Pat yourself on the back and keep worldbuilding and reading.

Here is a link if you want to check out some Wakanda Syllabus stuff that has been collected for the public to use.

[monkey-network]

Good Stuff: Nimona

or How to Not Worry & Channel Your Inner Limp Bizkit

In the year before 2020, it was announced that Blue Sky Studios was adapting ND Stevenson's hit graphic novel. Everything changed though when Disney was on that bullshit post-Fox buyout, where to our surprise Blue Sky and Nimona would be shut down. The latter's cancellation hit especially hard understanding it was almost finished anyways, but that's Disney for you. Long as you don't say gay and give 'em your money, they'll stay out of the way. Leave it to Netflix to let the film rebound from Super Hell and finally make it to both the big and small screen; makes you forget they're garbage at anything else. All in all, Blue Sky had the last laugh one more time but was Nimona able to bring the flavorful fireworks or did we get a weak flare that fumbled before the 4th of July?

Well, I will declare now that the film... is fun. If it wasn't fun, that means Disney made it and would remake it live-action around 2040. This film is a ride-or-die by its titular protagonist and lads, I can't lie...

PROTECT. THIS. GODDAMN. SMILE.

Nimona is both a bundle of chaotic joy and an entity that deserved far better. She's like the manifestation of Limp Bizkit, 2000s punk, and B-tier shitposting rolled into an unapologetic but deeply frustrated rebel. I've seen naysayers before release going, "She's another attitude girl archetype" and like no. She has that raw gremlin bastard energy, but she's never an annoying bitch and that's big difference. The best thing is that you're with Ballister in getting to know her; it surprisingly hard for folk to be accepting of somebody harmless who's more comfortable with themselves than anyone lets on. She's not a character I felt forced to sympathize with nor was intrusive on Ballister's story. She's not exactly the focus, but she earned being the star of this movie.

I got major Haruhi and Kyon vibes from their dynamic and it's great

Plotwise, there's a good flow to it all that makes this rewatchable thrill. If there's one major gripe I have is that while Nimona and Ballister have a great dynamic, there's a part in the 2nd act involving them and the villain that was a bit rushed. I will admit to not have read the book, but while I do know the tone is different given they were probably going for an all age rating, I say things didn't feel too compromised. My mind is blown enough that we got an animated kids movie with two, COUNT 'EM TWO, openly queer protagonists. No winks and nudges towards Ballister being gay, no scatterbrained subtlety on Nimona's genderfluid existence, and thank balls their story exists as more than being a preachy memoir. These two get to just BE and live to go on a crime spree justice adventure. That is what I've wanted for longer than any of you think and this delivered. Any criticisms I could have I felt was diluted by the actual fun this was.

And if you've seen Iron Giant, you probably will love this movie

To conclude, I am wondering of a timeline where this wasn't originally cancelled and Blue Sky didn't get axed. This was as much their movie as it is Annapurna and DNEG who helped finish it. People said it looked "unfinished" but then again, given the situation I can cut it some slack because it still plays out gorgeously. Like you know Blue Sky got most of it done, but you think about the changes in direction and ponder if this was the best outcome for the film. It is poetic though, a phoenix forced to burn out but gets to revive as a stronger, if not more so, being that people finally get to see. For Nate, this is undoubtedly a dream come true. As for me, not since Puss in Boots The Last Wish have I been delighted to call this a...

9/10 ABSOLUTE BANGER

[heartslobbf]

bbc ghosts, perfect day / richard siken, meanwhile / bbc ghosts, i love lucy

[other-cullen-ficrecs]

MLM!Cullen Fic Rec List

Inspired by this post. Here is my fic rec list of some of my favorite fics with queer Cullen. Happy Pride :)  🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍🌈 🏳️‍🌈

Cullen/Dorian

Only True in Fairy Tales by Dragonflies_and_Katydids

Summary:  In which Dorian is a special forces operative, Bull is his partner, and Cullen is the guy they're sent to rescue. Hijinks ensue. // Words: 110150

Modern AU. Dragonflies_and_Katydids makes me read the weirdest stuff. But their work is always captivating. The more ridiculous set up the better outcome, I promise. This one is both ridiculous and absolutely perfect. And somehow one of the very few modern au fics in which Cullen's lyrium addiction is well transfered without making it literal.

Fashionably Late by tsurai

For the tumblr prompt: Cullen/Dorian Soulmates AU? <3 "Maker’s breath, this is absolutely the worst timing, he thinks distantly." // Words: 1038

This is but a tiny thing but I'm a sucker for a soulmate AU. Would I love it more if it was 150,000 words? Yes. But I'm just greedy.

COLD HANDS, WARM HEART by spicyshimmy, stonelions

Summary: Cullen and Dorian's friendship deepens. Cullen is a romantic. Dorian is literally cold. Cullen is no longer certain what he would consider surprising. Mages and Templars working in perfect cooperation, perhaps. Evil and corruption disappearing into the ground along with the blight, blood magic falling so far out of favor it ceased to be. A united Thedas: that would be a surprise. // Words: 25369

I think this is most recced Cullrian fic and for a good reason. Slow burn, drama, all the delights. 

Light In This Darken'd Time Breaks by RamonaDecember

Summary: Cullen wouldn't say he hates mages, not anymore, but he can't see himself ever trusting one again. Dorian is no exception. The mage is off-color, self-important, and all together too much for Cullen to deal with. So why is it that every time Cullen is at his lowest, Dorian seems to be the only person by his side? // Words: 121289

Slow burn with 121289 words, what more do you want?

Cullen/Bull

Jump In by Dragonflies_and_Katydids

Summary: In which Cullen is almost terminally awkward, Bull and Dorian are literally brothers (because why not?), and Bull tries really hard to be good. Or: In which Dorian tries to set up his brother and his roommate, if he can avoid killing them for being so clueless. (You might get cavities from reading it. Don't say I didn't warn you.) // Words: 33700

What did I say about Dragonflies_and_Katydids and ridiculous premises? But if you're as delighted with awkward Cullen as am I - enjoy.

Dragons from Stars in an Empty Sky by Midna_Ronoa

Summary: The one in which Bull takes Cullen dragon-hunting. // Words: 10423

Fluff and smut and dragons!

Stuck on the Puzzle by thespectaclesofthor

Summary: Once, back in Kirkwall, Cullen had an arrangement with a member of the city guard that satisfied his needs. But time changed all things, and he despaired of ever finding a similar arrangement again - that was, until he met The Iron Bull. Problem being that Bull seemed to care far more about sorting out the nitty-gritty of such an arrangement than Cullen ever has. // Words: 235586

No fic rec lists that can involve Bullen canot do without Stuck on the Puzzle. If you haven't read it - please give it a try. As far as I'm concerned - the best fic in the fandom. And definately one of the best fics in general. <3

Cullen/Dorian/Bull

Exit Light by Dragonflies_and_Katydids

Summary: In which Cullen is suicidally depressed, Dorian is a high-functioning alcoholic, and Bull just wants them both to be happy, except when he wants to crack their heads together for being emotionally stunted idiots. // Words: 77427

This premise is actually very close to canon, compared to some other stories by the same author recced here. The angst? Delightful. The smut? Delicious. The exploration of issues? Delectable! Cheff kisses all around.

to burn cool and collected by toomanyhometowns

Summary: Dorian hums. "Here is the function of the spell: Upon invocationne, ye caster's spyryt shal sterte to ye form of whomsoever mofte recently achieved releafe by hys hande." He taps the page in punctuation and looks back up. "And then there's a lot of text about the vast joys we may experience together, et cetera, et cetera." // Words: 16121

Ok, this list shows more than anything that my main delight is issues and angst wrapped in with porn. Anyway - cracky premise (body swap!), and angsty, sexy outcome.

Hold by queeniegalore

Summary: Everyone knows Cullen doesn't trust magic. But he trusts Dorian and Bull, so maybe they can make this work. // Words: 6654

Issues? Trauma? Kink? I'm a one trick pony when it comes to recs.

Cullen/Cole

Okay now that we’ve gotten the obvious out, let’s enjoy the trully unexpected enjoyment.

Into The Light (Cole/Cullen Ficlets) by Sinister_Kid

Summary: A series of what I hope are tasteful Cole/Cullen fics that don't exploit or overly sexualize Cole's developing character. Based on a prompt I filled out of boredom in which I imagined the spirit actually hearing someone's pain like a physical noise in his ears that caused discomfort. Explores the option of making Cole more human, with my own original take on how that affects him as a character, and depicts Cole developing romantic feelings for the Commander as he discovers what it means to be human. // Words: 20454

I admit I don't often read Cole shippy fics but this one stays true to the info in the summary and it is careful and tasteful. Also Cullen learning to speak with Cole properly - <333

Cullen/Varric

Verse & Volley Triptych by boycoffin

Summary: POSSIBLE TITLES: This Shit Was Even Weirder: A Surprisingly Not-Doomed Romance In The Shadow of the Apocalypse The Commander and the Rogue already taken, Antivan maritime smut with an elf girl in it How The Hell I Ended Up With That Guy: A Tale for The People Who Keep Asking Me About It In Bars The Short and Curlies that's just terrible Love Among the tropey garbage A Tale of Two Names pretentious and unclear The Penman's Paramour Memoirs of a Moron (That He's Going to Regret Publishing and Will Never Hear The End Of for As Long As He Lives) // Words: 133354

One of the very few fics in which I can not only accept but love 1st person POV. Crack. Slow-burn. Pennames. Lovable OCs. DELICIOUS. Also a fic that made me start this blog, so love all around.

Cullen/Krem

Last but not least, my delightful fave (maybe, possibly, probably) and involving a shameless self-plug because it’s the month of pride.

Swordplay by orphan_account

Summary: The Bull's Chargers are undisciplined, untested, and unprofessional; but Cullen can't stop thinking about their lieutenant. // Words: 3910

I have a soft spot for whoever Krem being shipped with not knowing he's trans at first. But also oblivious, pining Cullen <3

If you have been starving, a creature of bone by missivesfromghosts

Summary: Cullen is content with where he is. He has a life and a purpose. He’s doing the Maker’s work and he’s cut the Chantry’s leash on him. He barely thinks about the fact that he’s trans anymore. The last person who knew he was born anything different, barring his sister Mia, died during the Blight. This works for him. That is, until he starts falling for Krem. // Words: 769

A tiny thing but I have a soft spot for the idea. Also what's better than a ship with trans character? A ship with two trans characters. Keep that in mind for further recs actually.

Sweet, Merciful Andraste by Tainaron

Summary: PWP. Honestly, Cullen should invest in walls and a ceiling that don't have holes if he's going to keep having such loud sex. Pure, unapologetic smut between trans men who love each other. // Words: 4187

¯\_(ツ)_/¯  What more do you want from me? Sometimes porn is just porn. Enjoy.

Champions of the Just by Tainaron

Summary: En route to Griffin Wing Keep before the battle of Adamant, Cullen falls prey to an injury that reveals a shameful secret about his trauma with magic. As Cullen struggles with his past, his duty to the Inquisition, and his love life, he becomes increasingly uncertain if he’s the target of an assassination attempt or just his own personal demons. // Words: 67885

Well, I also have some plottier and angstier fics in my rec disposal. This one actually explores the problems Krem and Cullen could encounter in their relationship and all within the canon plot line. Plus bonus points of Cullen actually interacting with other Chargers.

cabbage: a love story by psikeval

Summary: Krem’s grin fades into a quiet smirk, his eyes warm and amused, and Cullen does not forget how to move his legs because he is a grown man, a leader of soldiers, commander of the Inquisition’s army. He breaks the silence by coughing loudly, because he is also an imbecile. // Words: 18932

Creme de la creme of Krem/Cullen fics <3 Fluff, crack, porn <3 This delightful series has it all! 

[noa-nightingale]

Gay Oar!!! ✨💖 - second post

After I wrote my nerdy little text about the appearance of Oar Oar in the Mansa Musa PH ep (you can find that post here), I naturally also had to write one about Sword Oar appearing in the Smallpox ep.

I honestly should have expected him to show up sooner or later after his boyfriend already did but it still caught me off guard. ✨

I’ll use my beautiful “autisticwatcher” tag for this (and if you also have to say things about Watcher-related autism stuff or autism-related Watcher stuff, feel free to use it too). Here is an attempt to justify it even though this topic probably is not inherently autistic: a) I experience every part of life through an autistic lense and b) the ways I express joy are... let’s say, atypical.

Here’s what I mean by that (and don’t worry, this is going somewhere): I am not a very outwardly expressive person. My face is kind of neutral most of the time (you could call it resting bitch bastard face), I have a voice that is often monotonous, and I don’t like showing strong emotions.

And this is what I did when Sword Oar showed up: I sort of jerked back in my chair and clapped my hands once. Then continued watching the episode with the biggest autistic grin (i.e. with what probably looked like a mild smile from the outside). ✨

Let’s get into it! Once again, it brought me great happiness to write this, and - be warned - some of this stuff is pretty specific. And once again, I did not expect that I would spend my time writing about a sponsorship part. ^-^

Enjoy! 💖

“Okay, moving along! Oh-” - “Oar are we!” Never stop with the oar puns, please. I live for the oar puns.

I think I already talked about Oar Oar’s voice and how much I like it but Sowrd Oar’s voice is equally amazing (sometimes a bit hard to understand but I can live with that - I love that voice). I also enjoyed his soft little laugh in the beginning. It was sweet.

We get a little more info on the Professor who apparently smells like “rotten cotton candy mixed with expired vinegar” (also, the sound effect after that killed me lol). Oof. Didn’t have to expose him like that lmao. I like that Sword Oar says to the Professor “I like you but you are a smelly guy” - confirming that he indeed likes him (I have one or two headcanons about this but I am... not going to mention them here, for reasons I will write about below).

The sponsor for this episode is Scentbird, and Sword Oar starts talking about “smelling seasonally appropriate” which I like - we are transitioning into autumn, the leaves will change soon, it is almost Over the Garden Wall rewatch time (I usually start my annual rewatch in October), and I just like the autumn vibes, the thoughts of pumpkins and colorful leaves and little ghosts. It’s my favorite time of the year. 🍂

Here’s a quote from the episode: “put that light sexy summer fragrances on the shelf in exchange for a thick seductive scent for the colder months”.

Okay okay OKAY you... you can’t do this to me!! >:( I have Thoughts about this, okay? Again, I am not giving you any details here (see below) but I have one or two new ideas about Sword Oar’s and Oar Oar’s relationship, and all this talk about “sexy” and “seductive” is not helping.

Like... not to get too depressed in a post about anthropomorphic oars and a sponsorship but there was a time when it was not even legal to be gay (and that time was not that long ago) and there was a time when I did not see any happy queer representation in any media. (I had Brokeback Mountain and that movie is sad as all hell; it breaks my heart every time I watch it, it is incredibly tragic, and that was pretty much the only thing I saw happening to queer people in fiction when I was growing up - struggle, suffering and death. It does something to a queer teenager, is what I am saying. And you carry that pain into adulthood, even if things do get better.)

And then look at these oars - openly gay, openly in love and openly sexual with each other. Yes I am getting emotional about a goofy little quote in a friggin’ sponsorship part, goddamnit!! Even considering all the things that are better now, queer people still get hurt and harassed and harmed and sometimes killed for being queer, and queer sexuality is still stigmatized, and it means a lot to me to have these puppets who are just so unapologetically gay and talk openly about it.

Maybe all of this is an overreaction to a tiny little quote. But it makes me happy (and sad), and I want to talk about it. ❤️

Moving on! To more queer stuff (it is more lighthearted this time, don’t worry)! :D

He mentions not having arms or legs, and that’s the bane of my existence tbh. You probably know by now that I draw a lot of gay oars art, and I have complained before about the fact that these guys don’t have hands. Do you know how many gentle things I could draw if they had hands? You can’t lovingly hold someone’s face without hands, you can’t intertwine your fingers with them, you can’t hug them without arms. So. Yeah. The audacity! /lh

(Come to think of it, Maizey and Gebra don’t have hands either. Shane Madej, sir, I am begging you, please give your LGBTQ+ characters hands!)

Here is another quote: “Let me give you a rundown of some of the sweet sweet sniffs I’ve been dancing with thanks to Scentbird.” Ugh it sounds so charming. It’s just such a charming way to put it. 🌻

He then lists some fragrances and I especially want to mention Confessions of a Rebell - Morning After, and the quote “hot nights never smelled so good”.

I AM ASKING YOU AGAIN

WHY

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME

And again, I won’t go into all the new headcanons and ideas and thoughts I have about these oars and here is the reason - I don’t know how many minors are following me. Like, I don’t want to make this stuff sound too lewd or crass because I think that queer sexuality is already too often seen as something “dirty” instead of something perfectly okay and natural. Still, I will keep some of my thoughts to myself. Let’s just say, I am very fond of... all of this. 😊

Annnnyyyyways, Sword Oar lists a whole lot of other stuff, and I know that he has to talk about the sponsor, but what I am getting from this is, the guy really likes his scents.

He mentions amber+leather, he mentions lavender, and he mentions Gendarme - Sky which is a “complex and sultry blend of bergamot, cardamom and aged leather”, and I now have a few more ideas about what Oar Oar smells like. (Personally, I like “masculine” scents. Wood, leather and the like.)

Watcher has a code again (you can get 30% off). ✨

The last thing I want to mention is this: “you delicious thing, you”. I am not entirely sure if he is talking to the Professor or the audience but I am okay with both. Because a) I already have a headcanon about the oars and the Professor (which I will not talk about here because, again, there are probably some minors following me) and b) ... oh to be called a “delicious thing” by an anthropomorphic gay oar. 😘

That’s it for now. I spent the better part of three hours with this and hey, if you want to do me a favor, be kind to a queer person today (and if you are any flavor of LGBTQ+, please be kind to yourself - you are wonderful). 💖

I did not mean for this whole text to be this emotional and sometimes sad but I don’t mind it either.

Thanks for reading! ✨💕

❤️ 💛 💚 💙 💜

Also, here is some of my older art. Seemed appropriate. ^-^

[quasieli]

top six: fictional characters that give you gender envy, flowers, little things that make you happy and d&d moments :D

Ooh lotsa questions!

Gender Envy:

1) Bow from She-Ra (2018). Something about buff athletic dude who wears crop tops and is soft as hell is very Gender to me.

2) Vax from Critical Role. Pretty boy, kinda goth rogue? That’s sexy as hell and I wish that was me. 

3) In a wildly different idea of gender envy, I’ve been thinking about it lately and @quantum-lesbian’s character in the Frostmaiden game I’m in with them, Ambrose, is Big Gender. Beautiful non-binary drow with a starry and kinda witchy aesthetic that dresses super grandly and ostentatiously no matter the occasion? Yes please.

4) Pete from The Unsleeping City, specifically season two. I adore season one Pete but season two Pete that works in a queer bookshop and has a teapot arcane focus, is artsy and is unapologetically a trans man who doesn’t give a shit about gender roles? Sign me the fuck up.  

5) Beau from Critical Role. Buff GNC lesbian mixed with academia, but like academia from the prospective of a grad student with ADHD trying to learn everything about their special interests? A+, I love her and I’m jealous. 

6) I’m gonna cheat a lil bit for this last one. I know the prompt is fictional characters, but Julia Lepetit and Jacob Andrews in their Hitman streams? Simultaneously both of them were Gender for me. Jacob esp felt like that for me, which is weird cause dresses can make me dysphoric, but I am also slightly envious of the Dude in a Dress type of gender presentation. 

Can you tell that I’m a confused trans masc enby

Gonna put it under the cut from here cause oof, there’s still a lot more.

Flowers:

1) Big slut for Sunflowers, always have been, always will be.

2) Fun fact, my dad’s family used to own a flower shop (in like the 70s, so I never got to see it :(), and one of their big things was hydrangeas. My dad has always loved them and now I love the snowballs too!  

3) A recent favorite, the Baker’s Globe Mallow. It’s a type of flower that only grows from the soils of forests that have been affected by wildfires. It’s a simple little flower but I love the idea of something beautiful rising from the ashes after tragedy. A little dramatic, but I’m queer, ofc I’m dramatic.

4) Roses are another important flower to my family (Rose was a family name for a couple generations), and ya know, they’re a classic. 

5) There’s this beautiful magnolia tree in front of my house that blooms with the most beautiful white and pink flowers every spring, and it’s one of my favorite things to see every year. 

6) There’s so many different types of Lillies and they’re all very pretty, but the Purple Stargazer is prob my favorite.

Little Things That Make Me Happy:

1) My cat, Maddie. She may be a cranky girl at times, but she is also very sweet and will always be my baby (even though she is 12). 

2) Not a little thing really, but my best friend. Just getting a sweet/silly text from her or the two of us chilling in a room, sitting in a comfortable silence because we just like being together, nothing better. 

3) Baking, esp if I’m doing it for others. I’m not much of a sweets person myself, a little treat every once in a while type person, but I love baking. It’s a very relaxing process for me, even when it can sometimes get stressful, but seeing people enjoying something I made, especially something that brought me great joy to make, is simply the best. 

4) In the same sorta vein, crafting and other art, but that’s a bit more personal. I love making things for others, but art, particularly drawing, is something I do more for me. It’s such a great feeling when you can get into a really good art mood and just sink yourself into a project. I love it.

5) My plush toys. Yes, I am a 23 year old, no I will not stop loving my plushies. I just got a few new friends, which I made a post about recently, and they such good cuddle buddies. However, there is one king amongst them all. I have this old, beat up christmas puppy beanie baby, on his tag named Jingle Pup, but I just call him Jingle. I had one version of him since I was like 6, but he currently lives on a shelf cause he is very beaten up and fragile, but his “brother”, who I got when I was 8, is still in kinda good shape and is currently chilling on my chest as I type this lol.

6) Again, not a little thing, but it’s important to mention; D&D. The game itself is such a joy, but truly the best part of it is the people. I love creating stories and memories with people through this weird little game. Truly one of my favorite things to do.

D&D Moments:

These are all gonna be personal moments, rather than anything from actual play shows/podcasts. RC is Reforged Campaign, where I play Saube, and FM is Frostmaiden, where I play Sparks.

1) RC - Meeting Mahety, Saube’s girlfriend. We met her way back in session 12 and we are now up to like session 73. Saube saw her and was immediately big heart eyes at her but also felt a bit awkward and shy. So, being a game a dice, I decided to roll. 10 or higher, Saube would talk to her, 9 or lower, she’d stay put. I rolled a 17, 17 is now a lucky number for me. I love Mahety and I’d die for her. 

2) FM - This was an insane fight that should not have been so crazy, but in a fairly early session, my group went up against an angry druid and her awakened animals. So much batshit stuff happened in that fight, and we unfortunately lost our bread loving bard (RIP Agneyis), but one of my favorite combat turns happened in this fight. Our artificer, Omaren, has a robe of useful items and one of the patches on it creates a large pit. Thinking quickly, Omaren tore off the patch, slid it under one of the dire wolves we were fighting and created a looney tunes style pit under it, allowing us to take it out easily via pot shots. Such a clutch move and such a funny visual, especially because the dire wolf kept failing the checks to get out of the pit.  

3) RC - Saube’s Zebrith (I will never remember how this actually spelled RIP). So, for context, Saube ended up with a death curse (long story) that mechanically meant they had disadvantage on any death saving throws. Scary as hell, need to get that fixed! So, Saube and their party had to be smuggled into another country to talk with some religious leaders of a goddess known as The First, the goddess of death. They were told that Saube would have to go through the aforementioned ritual, which included her soul leaving her body for a short period of time. During this ritual, her friends had to call back to her, to say things that would bring her back to her body and I still cry thinking about that game. That ritual was not only important for Saube bodily, but spiritually as well. After that ritual, Saube officially became a cleric of The First! 

4) A real sappy one, RC - Saube meeting all of her friends. Anyone who follows along with the rantings on my blog probably knows how important this game is to me. I met this random group of strangers on tumblr and formed a D&D party with them and now, a year and a half later, I honestly think it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I know that sounds silly and dramatic but not only has this game brought me so much joy and comfort, but I also gained a group of really amazing friends who have been nothing but amazing since day one. As much as Saube knows she can depend on SICL, I know I can depend on my group of weirdos lol. We both love our friends very much and even though we’ve all been through some crazy shit, we wouldn’t change it for the world.    

5) RC - Just playing Saube in general. I really didn’t intend for it to be this way, but Saube is very much a reflection of myself. She is the first long term character I have ever played and so much of me is in her. I try not to treat D&D like therapy, because that’s unfair to my DM and fellow party members, but playing Saube has allowed me to work through some of my own problems, especially social anxiety, in a lot safer of an environment. It isn’t so much that I’m asking this game to help me fix my life, but playing out these scenarios that, in the real world, would make me anxious or make me freak out, I can stop, take a moment to breathe and work out these issues in a way that makes sense to me. Playing her has led me to understanding myself a bit better, as well, and that’s truly such a wonderfully unexpected gift from this whole experience. 

6) Lastly, a silly one: RC - Getting a crit 6. The last session of this game got real interesting. Saube’s party ended up in the ethereal plane and magic got real fucky there. So, any time any of us tried to cast a spell, we’d roll a d20, not look at the result, and then try to guess what number rolled. The closer to the number, the better the result. A few times, a few people managed to get within like 3 or 4 of their roll, but oh the power I felt when I rolled a 6 (on Saube’s die!) and guessed it correctly! So, not only did the spell (Bless) work, but it worked super well. So instead of getting +1d4 to attack rolls and saving throws, Saube and two other party members got +2d4 to attacks, saving throws and skill checks. So powerful I broke the rules of D&D lmao. 

[a-box-of-scraps]

IronDad LGBTQ+ Fic Recs

Happy Pride Month everyone! I hadn’t planned on making this (hence the belated posting), but with everything that’s been going on, I just really needed to put something positive into the world. I tried to link all the author tumblrs I could find, but please let me know if I missed anyone!

1-5k Words

cut from his strings by macabre (trans Peter)

In which Peter’s dysphoria makes eating easier said than done. Ouch ouch ouch. My poor heart. Peter’s battle to find peace in his own skin hurts, but in an unapologetic and truthful way. Seeing Tony help him with recovery makes the pain worth it.

Dudes in Distress by @boww-tiez (gay Peter)

In which Peter’s coming out doesn’t exactly go to plan; cue Tony making it better. Peter’s so adorable in this! His nervousness about telling Tony he’s gay and regret over some of his past experiences is really well written. Brilliant relationship dynamic. Ten out of ten for fluffiness.

general relativity by macabre (Peter likes boys)

In which Tony worries about what big secret his adopted son could be trying so hard to keep from him. Another beautifully written fic from macabre, who always portrays Peter and Tony’s relationship with genuine emotional depth. This is one of those go-to fics I reread whenever I’m feeling down.

no cops at pride, just spiderman by @tempestaurora (bi Peter and bi Tony)

In which Peter convinces Tony to attend Pride parade with him. This one has so many cute moments (it’s officially canon that Peter’s crushing on Bucky), but it’s also very touching when Tony talks about his experiences being in the LGBT community during the 1980s and 90s. Respect to authors who can incorporate social activism into their writing so smoothly.

Of Gods and Crushes by @tstarkapologist (bi Peter)

In which Peter has a not-so-secret crush on Thor. I was grinning like a loon the entire way through this. Tony’s the perfect combination of supportive and teasing—he’s just nailing the Embarrassing Dad (tm) role that he was born to play. (And really, who doesn’t have a crush Thor?)

Peter Parker’s Top Surgery Fund by @vivilevone (trans Peter)

In which there’s a bakesale, certain revelations are had, and an ‘anonymous’ donation is made to GoFundMe. Shout-out to Tony who’s so clueless but tries so hard. Funny and cute with just a dash of angst thrown in; hits the spot. Featuring Number One Bestie Ned and Science Bro Bruce.

Use Somebody (Someone Like You) by @rosalinesbenvolio (trans Peter)

In which Peter’s not very good at coming out despite his best efforts. What a cutie (both Peter and this fic)! A heartfelt, comedic, altogether delightful read. Peter and Tony’s relationship is genuinely sweet. Kudos to Michelle for being that best friend everyone needs.

5-15k Words

5 Times Peter Acted Like A Teenager And The 1 Time He Had To Be An Adult by @losingmymindtonight (Peter likes boys) 

In which Peter misses curfew, falls in love, gets his heart broken, and might need a few pep talks from his dad along the way. Did I mention there’s a kidnapping? Tony is *chef’s kiss* in this, especially as he helps Peter navigate through his first real breakup by providing much comfort and cuddles and encouragement. Dramatic!Teenager!Peter is my spirit animal.

Ace!Peter series by @peter-parkerson (biromantic ace Peter)

In which sometimes kids can be jerks, but luckily Peter has people there to remind him he’s not in any way broken. Sweet and soft and lovely. Featuring Tony as the ally parent every queer kid deserves and Ned as the caring, understanding, altogether wonderful boyfriend who knows there’s more to relationships than just sex.

Asexual!Peter series by @parkrstark (biromantic ace Peter and bi Tony)

In which Peter uses indecipherable metaphors, Tony becomes increasingly confused, and May’s the saint who puts up with them both. Oof. My poor, poor heart. I really just want to wrap Peter in a hug and tell him everything’s going to be okay, then buy him an ace flag cape and drag him to Pride March. Luckily Tony’s there to do all that for me.

June by @peterparkrr (gay Peter and bi Tony)

In which Tony buys a parenting book and (not so successfully) tries to get Peter to come out. I absolutely love how Tony is written in this! Even though he might still be getting the hang of this parenting thing, you can tell how deeply he cares about Peter and just wants what’s best for him. Only criticism is that it makes my face hurt from smiling so widely; the fluffiness and humor is just too good!

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Fragile and Composed by @theoceanismyinkwell I’m sorry the @ isn’t working it keeps saying “no blogs found” (gay Peter and bi Tony)

In which Steve gives some advice, Peter confronts some bullies, and Tony is there to deal with the fallout. Guh. This fic. Everything TheOceanIsMyInkwell writes gives me *emotions* and I love it. I love the tension between Tony and Steve as they try to move forward after Civil War. I love Peter standing up for himself and his friends. I love Tony being protective, and trying to do better for Peter when he realizes he’s missed the mark. Just gorgeous in every way.

Gay Disaster Peter Parker series by Iwillseduceyouwithmyweirdness (is it redundant to say gay Peter?)

In which, as the title suggests, Peter Parker is a gay disaster. Every work in this series does an amazing job depicting some of the very real struggles queer teens often face (particularly self-harm/mental health issues and bullying). It’s raw and painful, but at the same time offers so much hope that recovery is possible. Tony’s love and support and care for Peter makes my heart happy.

i never promised you your dream boy series by @ftmpeter (gay/trans Peter)

In which even when it feels like the universe is against him, Peter’s family and friends will always have his back. This series is wonderful in so many aspects, but the thing that really shines through for me is Tony’s characterization. He fumbles once in a while, and might not have a ton of background knowledge about LGBTQ+ issues, but he does his absolute best to learn and help Peter through day to day challenges of being trans. Perfect ally.

Lightning in a Bottle by @groo-ock (Peter likes boys)

In which Spider-Man and the Human Torch are dating, but Peter Parker and Johnny Storm definitely, definitely aren’t. Definitely not. Gruoch’s fics are always an absolute joy to read, and this one is no different. Even if you’re not a Fantastic Four fan, please give it a chance, especially if you need something fun and lighthearted right now; the humor is terrific! Exasperated Tony is icing on the cake. This poor man puts up with so many shenanigans...

Project Pride by TheSleepingOwl (gay Peter)

In which Peter doesn’t know that Tony knows he’s gay, and Tony’s an over the top helicopter dad who’s just trying his best. This one deals with some pretty heavy stuff, including Peter’s lasting trauma from being sexually abused when he was younger, but the author handles it all with dignity and respect and does it justice. A lot of parts made me laugh. Other parts had me tearing up. Other parts had me full-out sobbing. An incredible read and instant favorite.

[animebw]

Binge-Watching: Flip Flappers, Episodes 1-2

And so we begin! In which we dive headfirst through the looking glass for a psychedelic queer coming-of-age story that so far knocks everything out of the park. Yep, thought I was gonna like this one.

Through the Looking Glass

It’s clear from the very first scene of Flip Flappers that this is going to be an experiment in contrasts. Quiet, reserved Cocona, with downcast eyes and murky blue hair, takes a standardized test in a grey, dimly lit room, a room of silence and stillness, with no motion but the scratching of lethargic pens and no sound but the haunting ticking of the clock and the dull patter of the rain outside. No one speaks. No background music plays. The atmosphere is utterly, completely stagnant. And then, there’s energetic, lively Papika, bursting into frame with a triumphant trill of symphonic music and kicking hyperdrive velocity as she rushes forward on a hoverboard, her vibrant, chaotic tangle of red hair billowing behind her like a windsail as she cheers at the top of her lungs. The colors explode with joy, the animation rockets forward to match her speed, and Cocona’s grey, listless world prepares to erupt with life. Cue heartbeat-accelerating OP that doubles down on every single one of these motifs, climaxing with the clouds of rain clearing as these two wayward souls find each other at last and run across a field of verdant grass rolling like a stormy sea, shoes off as they feel the rush of nature on their bare skin, dynamic, excited, happy, free. Ladies, gentlemen, and everyone in between, welcome to Flip Flappers. You’re gonna enjoy your stay.

It’s honestly kind of remarkable how utterly this show commits to soaking you in that atmosphere of contrasts, all but marinating you in the stuff. Flip Flappers is already about so many things it’s hard to keep track of, but most of all, it’s about a girl who feels stuck in life, and another girl who shows up out of nowhere to set her life into motion. Cocona’s life is full of listlessness and indecision, her path blocked by a passing train that forces her to a standstill, but no sooner has the intertia started pulling her down than in comes Papika, leapfrogging over the seemingly insurmountable obstacle in her path and soaring into the rising sun. The colors of the natural world can be muted and somber at points, but once Papika drags them quite literally down the rabbit hole, the sky is a bluer blue than ever has been blue, the pastels drip like honey from the tree branches, and the quiet melancholy gives way to a vibrancy of truly epic proportions. It’s a dizzying, terrifying, liberating rush, made all the more stunning by some truly remarkable action sakuga that makes you feel every ounce of the kinetic chaos Papika brings into Cocona’s life. It’s the darkly-tinged whimsy Alice in Wonderland mixed with the propulsive energy of Gurren Lagann with a sizeable dollop of the surreal dreamscape of Madoka Magica thrown in for good measure, and the resulting LSD cocktail grabs your attention by the balls and refuses to let go. I was sucked into every last moment of these first two episodes, and if that’s any indication of what’s still to come, Flip Flappers is going to be a show to remember.

Here, Queer, No Fear

And all that’s without even taking into account the true driving force behind this show: an unapologetically gay story of self-discovery and embracing life’s grand adventure. Papika’s interest in Cocona has so much concentrated lesbian energy right off the bat (”It smells like you!”) that there’s never any mistaking the point behind the crazy, crayola-nightmare metaphors being slung around all over the place. Cocona’s stifled by life’s expectations of her, but more explicitly, she’s stifled by the conservative, traditional life society seems to be funneling her down, pressured to get into a good school and grow up into a perfect model citizen. The repeated motif of her smoothing her skirt down now as she heads off to school emphasizes that even further; she’s expected to close off, remain dignified, remain “respectable”, and keep all her inner desires at bay, showing nothing off to the world around her. And then in comes Papika, who never met an inhibition she couldn’t trample, unapologetically imprinting herelf onto Cocona like an excited puppy and dragging her into a wondrous, fantastic world where they can be free of society’s watchful eyes, free to laugh and explore and be whoever they damn well want to be as they search for the pieces of a treasure that can supposedly grant them the one wish they’ve always wanted.

And despite Cocona’s desire to remain respectable, to push down the things Papika brings out of her and refuse to acknowledge this world at her fingertips, every instinct within her is screaming at her to let go and embrace it. She finds herself marveling at the world around her, catching herself laughing at the whimsy Papika inspires in her, stunned at the joy she finds just by being this new self she never thought she had within her. The adventures Papika takes her on are escapes from a world that demands her to be what she’s not, a chance to accept and explore everything she truly is. She can be wild, exuberant, a hero on a grand adventure that she gets to plot the course of. She can even be sexual in ways she never thought possible; episode 2 sees her desperately trying to hold back a growing desire to “eat” that makes her drool, while wearing cutesy cosplay of an animal commonly associated with fertility, only to finally give in and devour her heart out to escape certain death. And in case the lesbian subtext was somehow too subtle for you, in case Papika’s constant physical affection and intimacy and Cocona’s slowly burgeoning receptiveness to it didn’t cast out all doubts, Cocona’s first big moment of embracing this new her occurs when, to save Papika from danger, she goes full-on Super-Saiyan, her hair exploding in the color and joy she was denying herself, by summoning energy in her inner thigh.

GOD.

If you were listening closely at that moment, you might have heard my ecstatic cackles ringing through the good state of Ohio, because dear sweet mother of Vishnu, that was amazing. If there was any question of whether or not I was gonna like Flip Flappers before, Cocona embracing pussy power to save her unexpected girlfriend put those questions firmly to bed. You can’t ask for much better than that, folks.

Opening the Closet Door

But because Flip Flappers is nothing if not a committed overachiever, it does get better than that, pushing the queer metaphors one step further and exploring what it really means to start coming out of the closet. Papika’s an out-and-proud gay wunderkind who displays her sexuality prominently on her sleeve, and she wants to drag Cocona out of hiding right along with her. But Cocona’s reluctance to embracing her lesbian identity isn’t just based on stubborn ignorance; it’s based on a legitimate fear of the consequences of living out of the closet. The symbolically gay world Papika wants to “adventure” in is exciting and liberating, but it’s also dangerous, terrifying, and full of threats that could cause more damage than could ever be repaired. I was honestly shocked the first time Papika’s blood was shed on the back of a rampaging snow demon; in a world as colorful and vibrant as this one, the fact that our heroes can actually experience that kind of visceral harm jars you in a way you’re not ready for. Living out and proud means you’re a target for every homophobic force in society, in the crosshairs of every two-bit bigot and oppressive power system that could cause you serious harm, even kill you. And Cocona is understandably terrified of living in that world. Not just for her own sake, but because the thought of Papika dying is that fucking terrifying for her. Even back in the closeted “real” world, the forces of evil can still track them down just for spending time out and proud, pursuing the shard of symbolic joy they brought back with them. Wouldn’t it be better for her to, well, “conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know”, if you’ll pardon the Disney reference, rather than risk the pain losing someone she’s only just realizing she cares so deeply about?

That’s a fascinating direction to go in, and so much of what makes these two episodes so powerful comes from exploiting that difference for all its worth. Papika can’t understand why Cocona might want to live closeted, and she oversteps her boundaries trying to make her embrace the gay. She isn’t able to comprehend the larger forces that lead Cocona to the decisions she makes, even as she genuinely wants to embrace life together with her. And Cocona, for all her determination to stay where it’s safe, can’t keep herself from reaching into the dangerous world beyond and feeling out the parts of herself she’s been so desperate to keep hidden. She wants to be out and proud, even as it scares the living daylights out of her. But it’s not up to Papika how or when she makes that decision; only she can figure that out for herself. And I swear, the moment where Papika goes Super-Saiyan in response to finally, viscerally understanding the fear that Cocona’s struggling with, I just about started bawling right then and there. Sweet buttery muffins, guys, their relationship is already really fucking good. Papika recognizes Cocona’s needs and promises to do the hard part with her, holding her hand all the way. Cocona accepts that she wants to be part of this world, but makes sure to set boundaries to ensure she’s the one setting her own pace. Two episodes in and they’ve already made more progress than most anime couples make in a lifetime, all as a result of navigating the thorny question of how to live as a gay kid in a world that often seeks to grind gay kids into the dirt until they conform or die. That. Takes. SKILL.

There’s still a hell of a lot of mysteries to unravel, a hell of a lot of ideas left to explore, and I’m going to enjoy every last second of it. Flip Flappers is here, it’s queer, and it’s fucking beautiful. It’s about a closeted, repressed girl being drawn into the LGBT world she never knew she belonged in and slowly opening up to the person she truly is inside, embracing her lesbian identity for the first time by embracing the girl who showed her it was even possible. And it does it all with beautiful production values, stunning animation, and a triumphant soundtrack that soars high on the wings of whimsy and determination. This is gonna be a great fucking show, and I can’t wait to see what else it’s got in store.

Odds and Ends

-Okay, between Cocona, Papiko, and Dr. Salt, why does everyone’s name sound like a seasoning?

-Eep, nope, no dreaming of faceless lady Charon’s ferry in this house, thank you very much.

-”A chimney?” “Baka.” aksjdhas who even are you

-...that’s the giraffe from Revue Starlight as Dr. Salt, isn’t it. Fuck.

-Ahahahah oh my god, the timing on that brain reveal and close was great.

-Oh my god, this ED is fucking adorable.

-Ah crap, why did they reset everything?

-I don’t get why the robot has to be a pervert, and I don’t like it.

-okay but what even is Uexkull even

-”You wanna bitey-bite too!” HER FUCKING FACE ASKJDHASKJDH

-Okay, the rabbit world was already trippy enough, but now Cocona’s gone all photo-negative and I am long gone, folks.

-”To liberate Pure Illusion.” So I’m assuming those robots in the first episode weren’t FlipFlap... who were they, then?

-NNNOPE DON’T LIKE THAT AT ALL FMA PRIDE LOOKING MOTHERFUCKER

And with that, we’re on our way! Remember to not spoil me on anything, because I seriously want to see how else this show can surprise me. See you next time!

[thebibliosphere]

Do you have any advice on how to not get flustered when talking about what you’re writing? I get so easily embarrassed, and my idea falls flat as a result. Sorry, you don’t have to answer if you don’t want to. Thank you so much and I hope you have a good day!

Please don’t apologize, you’re doing just fine :)

And I feel this on a spiritual level, because I too harbor a deep seated embarrassment about talking about my work in general, or I used to.

It clashes horribly with my “don’t talk about yourself that’s vain” up bringing, which for a long time resulted in me stammering my way through answering the question “so what do you do?” with preemptive put downs and usually ending it with “I mean it’s probably not all that good… ha ha…” and then running away from the conversation as quickly as possible to crawl into a hole and die.

What I have learned in the last year or so however, is to just own it. Like even when I don’t feel it, I will put a big smile on my face and announce “I write paranormal romance and other things” and if the person balks or says something mean I just go “yea, not everyone likes it, but I do.” and then very pointedly Do Not Put Myself Down or try to appease them. There is a Lot to be said for the adage, Fake It Till You Make It.

I’ve also learned to rehearse a short but precise spiel, so that if anyone asks me “so hey, what’s this about” I can say concisely and with practiced ease answer them without feeling put on the spot.

So to give you an example of how a recent conversation in person went a few week ago:

“So what do you write about?”

“Oh it’s a satirical romance set around the lives of queer polyamorous characters living in a paranormal universe. Yea, ones’ a vampire, the other’s a werewolf, and there’s some plot that’s based loosely on social commentary. It’s a lot of fun.”

“Wow, but isn’t that a little weird?”

“Yep, it’s fun.”

“No I mean, isn’t that like, a little controversial?”

“Depends on who’s reading it.”

I was quaking in my boots the whole time because this was a room full of strangers who do not know me and I did not know them, but the positive spin I put on it, made people engage with me in a positive manner and as a result, I felt better about my work and putting myself forward like that. It also got several people intensely interested because well, I’d just described their absolute jam, out loud and in public with zero shame. I wound up swapping emails with a couple of folks over it.

If I’d shrunk away from the question and said “uh it’s a paranormal romance, with uhm, vampires and stuff, it’s kinda dumb lol” people would have picked up on my hesitation and thought “well can’t be that good” and I’d have picked up on their dismissal and felt even more embarrassed, and it sort of just becomes a sell fulfilling cycle of embarrassment and negativity.

This is something I love. It is something that makes me happy. It is not my guilty pleasure, it is my unabashed joy. Writing makes me happy, and I refuse to let anyone make me feel bad over that, least of all myself.

And it can take a while to really get to that point. But start by being unapologetic about the things you love. Start by learning to say “I do X and I love it” until you believe it enough to make others love it too. It takes time and practice, but it is possible.

[beaulesbian]

I decided to finally make a part two of this post, it took me half a year longer than I anticipated, but I rushed to finish it at least for June.

🏳️‍🌈 Happy pride month! 🏳️‍🌈

The Watchmaker of Filigree Street by Natasha Pulley – The best kind of subtle romance I have ever read. Includes mysterious pocket watch, solving bomb threats in Victorian London, a lady scientist, changing of future based on occurring events, an adorable clockwork octopus, and so much more! Did I mention the best, most beautiful romance I didn’t even expect to get?? Read it! (mlm main characters)

All out: The No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages by multiple authors, edited by Saundra Mitchell – This book was so refreshing to read!!! Retellings of fairy tales but queer and poc and mostly happy. I enjoyed each of the short story so so much, I don’t have words to say how much I loved this book, just, can we please have more stories like that? Thank you.

Radio Silence by Alice Oseman – Ever wanted a book with a main character boy and girl who won’t end up together by the end of the book? Then this is a book for you. Frances and Aled do not only become best friends who won’t end up together, but there’s even more diverse characters than these two main ones. This book even has an ace (demi) sexual representation, which I was very excited about, and the main character is biracial bisexual girl. There is lot of fandom talk and a radio show drama (kind of similar to Welcome to Night Vale). But also talks about other important topics like deciding that college might not be for everyone despite them being a great student in high school.

Not Your Sidekick by C.B. Lee – It’s a cute and sweet superhero themed futuristic story, first book of a trilogy I think. The main character is Vietnamese American bisexual girl, Jessika Tran, whose parents are both superheroes, but she doesn’t have any powers. She starts working for a company she later discovers belongs to town’s villains, but with time she learns that not everything about superheroes and villains is perfectly black and white. Also she’s working there with her crush, so that’s a bonus. It’s a really great book, there’s wlw romance and lot of diversity, action and silly scenes. The history behind the people’s superpowers and worldbuilding was really interesting too. The sequel is also already out, featuring a poc trans boy as the main character, who is part of Jessika‘s friend squad.

The Gentleman‘s guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee – A book everyone here should read!! A historical roadtrip with lot of angst, fluff and mutual pining of two of the main characters. It takes place in 18th century Europe. Monty is kind of an asshole, some moments you will hate him then you will love him, but as the journey progresses so does he. He travels with his sister, Felicity, and his best friend (and crush!) Percy, to visit few cities in Europe before he has to start work in his fathers company. This book addressed lot of issues, like white privilege and racism in that time period, sexism and ableism. But it’s also an adventurous book that’s funny and charming, and makes you feel really happy one moment and sad the next. There are also pirates!

Dreadnought by April Daniels – This is a first book of a duology about a lesbian trans girl Danny who receives superpowers after witnessing death of the superhero Dreadnought, which means she now has to become the new Dreadnought. But with the powers also becames real the ideal vision of her body, that she always wanted. She is very happy about it, but it also means she has to face her family and best friend and explain why she looks different. On top of that she has to help the other superheroes with stopping the new threat to the city, the villain who killed previous Dreadnought. Trigger warnings for transphobia, but it’s really worth to read.

Mask of Shadows by Linsey Miller – I’ve seen mixed reviews of this book but personally I loved it. It’s a fantasy YA with lgbt protagonist, that I don’t have enough of. Sal is a genderfluid, also bi? pan? thief who enters a competition to become one of Queen’s Assassins. Basically the last one standing (or rather living) takes the place. Sal knows how to fight and survive but also needs to learn other things to win this position. Like taking classes of writing/reading which teaches him a lady of court they previously stole something from, whom Sal quickly starts to like more than they should, with the competition at play. For me it was a really great book to read and I can’t wait to read the sequel!

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli – I had to read this one quickly before Leah on the offbeat came out, and it was a joy to read this one too! Again so much representation, I love Becky’s books and the Simon vs world. This story is about Molly who has had a lot of crushes but never actually dated anyone. She’s jewish, has anxiety, is fat, loves her family, is very creative, and has another crush on a guy who is her coworker. There’s so much cuteness in this book, I was smiling and crying the whole time reading it. More for representation: her sister is gay, she has two moms, a new Korean-American pansexual friend (who her sister totally likes) and more. I need to meantion trigger warnings for fatphobia, because of part there with her relative, it made me cry so much, it was very reletable and I hated it but there was very good closure for it in the end, which I’m happy about. Anyway read this book, overall it’s a cute and happy book with lots of fluff!

Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli – I loved Leah from the Simon vs book, so I was really happy we got more focus on her. She’s fat and funny, unapologetic about who she is, in her words: “basically your resident fat Slytherin Rory Gilmore”. There was mentions she likes boys as well as girls. Because of a tour for her college she goes with Abby to see where she will live the next few years and stuff happens. And then there’s also their high school prom, which she thought she was ready for, but maybe she’s not ready for at all. I’m not even going to write more, it’s an amazing book, I cried so many times.

Timekeeper by Tara Sim – This story takes place in a Victorian era Britain where clock towers are needed for time to flow correctly. Therefore there is lot of mechanics who repair said clock towers, because if the clock stops, the town around it stops in time as well. The main character Danny is one of those mechanics in London, but his father is trapped in a town that Stopped and Danny needs to find a way to save him. But after someone tries to sabotage a clock tower in a small city, Danny is assigned in that town to fix it, and he eventually finds out that the myths he heard – that in clock towers could sometimes be seen beings, spirits of the towers – might actually be true. This book was so nice to read, there was the atmosphere of the Victorian era, mystery, cute mlm romance and awesome female characters.

I’ll give you the sun by Jandy Nelson – I cried a lot reading this book. At first it actually took me few months to read past first two chapters, because the writing style was so different from what I was used to, but after that I got absorbed in it very quickly. It’s a story about two siblings, Noah and Jude Sweetwine, who both go through some difficult times, with family, school and personal stuff, it’s about making mistakes and fixing mistakes. It’s about love, art, sibling struggles and growing up.

Other books that I read and loved and definitely recommend:

Of Fire and Stars - Audrey Coulthurst (f/f fantasy romance)

We are the Ants –  Shaun David Hutchinson (m/m)

In Other Lands -  Sarah Rees Brennan (bi mc, m/m)

Release – Patrick Ness (m/m)

Our dark duet – V.E. Schwab (sequel of duology, agender character, not much romance at all in this duology, it‘s one of my favourites)

A Conjuring of Light – V.E. Schwab (a beautiful fantasy, last book of trilogy, happy ending for m/m pairing whose each story is important throughout the whole series. Again, one of my favourite series)

Magnus Chase and the Ship of Dead - Rick Riordan (I don‘t want to spoil here but it‘s good, genderfluid representation since book two, more in this final book)

Ice crypt - Tiana Warner (sequel of the Ice Massacre, wlw romance between mermaid and human girl, who knew each other since childhood, there is third final book, Ice Kingdom, already out, but I still haven‘t read it..)

Happy reading!

(tagging few people who i think might enjoy it ♥♥: @eradne, @poefinn, @twomillionfreckles, @eliotcoldwater, @queen-max, @tsukiyam-a)

[mdwatchestv]

Best Television (Of the Things I Watched) 2018

IndieWire's Liz Miller put together a staggering list of all the television shows that aired this year, excluding most reality and children's programming, to help narrow down top ten lists. If you would like to view it and despair, you may do so by clicking here.

Per her list there were o/a 554 shows on television this annum. Stare into the gaping void of that number, and let it, in turn, stare back into you. Of the television shows on this list, I have seen, at least one episode, of 136 of them. Although I am not a "professional" television "critic" who "gets paid" to give opinions, I am a "television professional" who also writes about it as an "amateur" "hobby". What I'm really trying to say here is that I have never seen an episode of The Americans.

But what I'm REALLY trying to say is that I watch a lot of TV, and work in TV, and love TV and have only seen 25% of the shows currently on television (and yes, I had to Google how to do that math). 25%! That's a quarter! That's an F- -, that is a paltry drip in this vast ocean of content. How is anyone supposed to keep up with that! The only thing I keep up with are the Kardashians, and that show isn't even included on the list of 554 shows!

And so with the disclaimer that any true distillation and subsequent ranking of the current landscape of television is, for all intents and purposes, impossible- I present to  you my picks for the best shows of 2018. Or perhaps more accurately ~*~my~*~ favorite shows, or the shows that brought me the most joy, or who managed to rise above the froth of the seething hoard of content, or shows I’d like you all to watch so we may talk about them. 

Killing Eve - BBC America

Okay so forget everything I just said about the insurmountable tv landscape and the inability to make an accurate judgement of quality, because Killing Eve was the BEST show this year. Watching this show, the latest outing from Phoebe Waller-Bridge, felt like suddenly finding out you've been holding your breath your entire life and finally filling your lungs. Killing Eve is the show I have always wanted to watch, and yet could never have previously imagined being possible. It is a spy thriller that maintains a heady tension, it's a pitch black comedy, it's a love story, it's violent, it's stylish, it's sexy, and it's unapologetically female. I could write an entire blog about this show in regards to women's spaces, sexuality, violence, and the female gaze but there WAS other television this year that I GUESS you want to read about. Real quick: the music was amazing, the clothes were amazing, Jodie Comer has shamed all other psychopath performances, and Sandra Oh held this whole jumble together with a deeply grounded yet intimately vulnerable performance and that shit AIN'T EASY Y'ALL. Also this is on Hulu now....so....

The Terror - AMC

I can say without question that The Terror is the most enjoyable show I've ever seen about men rotting to death on a boat. AMC did a terrible (lol) job of advertising this gem of a series based on an 800 page novel, which itself is based on a real (doomed) expedition to find the Northwest Passage. Yes, the The Terror is about all the ways men can die (many!), but it was also easily the most aesthetically beautiful series I watched this year. Sure, it was scary and there were zombie polar bears, but it also created a subtle unease as delicate as it was unsettling. The natural world is unforgiving and unknowable, but is it more dangerous than what lies in the hearts of men? (Free tagline for you AMC) Everyone slept on this show like they were dying of hypothermia.

Queer Eye - Netflix

Imagine you're you, and you've had a really rough couple of years. I mean, the news is terrible, the planet is dying, and you're never going to be a homeowner. The only thing that brings you joy is lying listlessly on your couch playing cooking games on your phone and trying to pretend that you don't have to haul your corporeal form to work tomorrow. Suddenly, there is a knock on your (over-priced apartment's) door. Who could be visiting you here, at such an hour? Who is there left in the world that cares? You pull on a bathrobe and shuffle over, opening the door and blinking owlishly into outside world. Before you are five beautifully appointed men, they have gifts, salsa, bomber jackets, soft-silken hair,  their energy is non-threatening. They join you on the couch and you cry in their toned arms for hours, for days, for weeks. For the first time in a long time you think maybe humanity is worth saving after all.

Sharp Objects - HBO

I have never fully boarded the Gillian Flynn train, my reaction to watching Gone Girl and reading Dark Places was "Oh...that's it?" So despite the creative heavy hitters (Marti Noxon, Marc-Jean Vallee, Amy Adams) attached, I had reservations about this HBO miniseries. On its surface Sharp Objects is another one of Flynn's lurid mysteries, but its on-screen adaptation created a fully realized world for this particular mystery to inhabit. A world that at turns felt stifling and magical, that oozed resentment, and pain, and fear. A world filled with women who had anger simmering under the skin, caught in their hands, trapped in their mouths. For once this wasn't a story where the twist was the final destination, but rather an inevitability of cruelty wrought on women by their world and by each other.

The Good Place - NBC

Everything on this list so far has been new series. Maybe that's because newness is more interesting, or maybe it's because goodness is hard to sustain. However everyone's favorite philosophy comedy just seems to be getting better and better the longer it goes on, continuing to invent itself from season to season, and even episode to episode.  The Good Place is the only show that can make you a fan of Blake Bortles and also a genuinely better person.

Okay those were my five best shows of the year and now I'm tired. Here are some rapid fire honorable mentions!!!!

Honorable Mentions:

Barry (HBO)- The season finale didn't stick the landing for me, but I can assure you Barry’s actor struggle was documentary-level. Cannot speak for hitman authenticity.....publicly...

GLOW S2 (Netflix) - Improving on the promise of its first season, GLOW can sometimes be a bit messy in delivery but I admire their go big or go home attitude. This season dealt with workplace sexual harassment, parenthood, the AIDs crisis, race, and even had time for a lesbian dream ballet and an anti-kidnapping PSA. Betty Gilpin forever.

Doctor Who (BBC America) - Jodie Whittaker is a sheer delight as the Doctor, and a breath of fresh air for the series. This new season has also taken the back-in-time episodes (always my fav) to a new level- I LEARNED STUFF.

Aggretsuko (Netflix) - Aggretsuko is a Sanrio anime about a red panda named Retsuko. She is 25, she works in an office for a sexist pig boss, she hates her life, and at night she sings death metal karaoke. She is....extremely relatable. Sam please watch this.

The Magicians S3 (SyFy)- I may be biased, but at the same time, I have always loved The Magicians. This is another rare show that gets better the longer it goes on, having carved out a strange little genre space with a tone all of its own. Within the forest of snappy quips and surly fantasy characters, is a beating heart and an ability to achieve real emotional catharsis.

The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix) - I said earlier this year that I had never found a television show truly scary, but this was before I had seen Haunting of Hill House.  I have not yet finished this show because it started giving me nightmares and I can only watch it in the light of day. That being said, the Bent-Neck Lady episode alone is such a tight, terrifying, piece of storytelling it deserves a shout out on this list. Also A+ kid casting, that shit is HARD. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (NBC) Probably the time I felt most alive this year were the harrowing  hours between Brooklyn 99's cancellation by Fox and subsequent saving by NBC. During that wretched purgatory it was decided by the internet that B99 was the Last Good and Pure Thing Left and its salvation would mark some sort of victory in the losing battle against the darkness that will  one day overtake us all. Luckily, the day was saved (no thanks to Fox), but the abyss still looms.

That's it! This is everything I thought was good on TV this year! If you thought something else was good, or you would like to shame me for something I did not watch, feel free to do so in the comments or on Twitter.  There are over 550 after all and I ABSOLUTELY DID NOT watch them all.

The television wheel begins inexorably turning again in a few scant weeks, so buckle up buttercups!!! If you read the blog this year, or are reading right now - thank you for your time! If you thought the writing was poor, at least I gave you some entertaining gifs. 

XO MD

[erin-gilberts]

I've been a little obsessively watching Answer the Call over and over on repeat the last several days because it's just so good, and fun, and I love every single second. And I've been diving into the BTS featurettes, and it's obvious from everything the cast and crew say that this was absolutely a labor of love from them, that there's so much joy and wonder they poured into making this movie, and it was all about creating something for not only old fans but for new fans too, and even the OG Ghostbusters are there, and they were so excited to get to work with the new Ghostbusters and share this world with them and just love shines through from everyone

and then I see someone shitting on Answer the Call and it just makes me sad because this movie was never even given a chance and we may never get another one just because of a bunch of whiny insecure assholes

(although I read something from months ago about how the possibility of a sequel is never truly off the table and I get excited all over again when I think of seeing these amazing women again)

I loved receiving this ask and I completely understand this feeling. I have always alternated between feeling really good about how the film - and the fandom - make me feel, and feeling super sad over the fact that what should have been a universally fun, positive experience is so inherently linked with all of that aggressive awfulness, entitlement, and gatekeeping from other fans. I’m unapologetic about how genuine my love is for ATC, and not in a “it’s so bad it’s good!” sorta way, but in that exact “so much love shines through from everyone involved in making this it makes me feel the same way about it” sorta way you describe here. I love it. I love how much joy and wonder the cast poured into it. I sincerely am sad the people involved in making it have received so much awfulness toward something it’s clear they put so much of themselves into. I have heard from a trusted source it actually does upset Paul Feig that people reacted with such vitriol to ATC, no matter how much he publicly brushes them off.

I hate that it was never given a chance, not by the studio, not by the people committed to hating it long before it even came out. I’ve told this story here before, but - when my mom and I went to see this for the first time in 2016, she was 40 and I was 20, and we both walked out of the theater after the battle scene just in shock and awe. I remember turning to her and asking, “Is this how boys feel all the time?” and she replied, “I don’t know. I didn’t know this was how you’re supposed to feel when watching stuff like this.” It was the first time in both of our lives we felt like we were the target audience without the filmmakers making assumptions about us or pandering inevitably always stereotypically to what they thought girls liked. And what coalesced around Answer the Call especially among queer women was nuts. I’ve never seen anything like it before or since. It's why it's infuriating all of the people currently writing thinkpieces about why ATC "didn't resonate with fans" are just so blatantly acting like queer women don't exist, or that LGBTQ fans in particular weren't drawn to this film for a reason.

I do have a bud who is much closer to the industry than I’ll ever be, so when they tell me something, I believe them - and they don’t believe the possibility of a sequel is closed for ATC. I completely agree - I get so excited and silly all over again at the thought of seeing them again.

[equalityforher]

Artist Spotlight: Palesa Kgasane

Growing up, Palesa Kgasane saw the potential of an audience. With unapologetic confidence, she would entertain her family and friends as an outlet of expressing herself. Now a rising star in the buzzing South African creative fashion world, she is rewriting the history of women of color by documenting the many faces and facets that they behold on her  notable platform, Mzansi Moodboard. Inspired by her matriarchy and indelible African icons such as Miriam Makeba and Brenda Fassie, Palesa employs the flawless fashion sense of her elders to her creative direction and matchless fashion finesse. Unimpressed by labels and pop-boxes, Palesa is breaking the mould by leveraging her creative eye and expressing a hard-to-hear but necessary truth and visibility of creative WoC.

When did you realize that you were interested in fashion styling? What inspired your choice of film and photography to document your art?

I think I knew from a young age that I loved fashion, largely attributed to my mother’s great sense of style and all the glamorous women I would see when we watched TV. They seemed so confident. I think that’s what I liked about clothes, how they make people feel. Expressing myself was sort of second nature. When I was younger I just wanted to entertain, whether it was singing or writing, I always ended up taking part in things that involved entertaining people. Picking up a camera for the first time and documenting myself and my friends back in high school was something I did for fun. I remember how I insisted that we always take pictures. I edited them and put them on Facebook. That was the thing then. And now, I do it as a means of sharing my narrative with people and that of other black womyn.

What were the images of women of color that you saw growing up in South Africa? Did that observation inspire your art today?

I never saw enough images of women of colour. That was why I had to start creating them, for myself. I realised that history was not very accommodating of brown girls who aren’t thin and outspoken and who don’t fit in. Therefore, creating and writing was always an outlet for me. Solitude inspired me. That and strong womyn who also stuck it to the man; Brenda Fassie, Miriam Makeba and Lebo Mathosa.

The visual representation of queer and nonbinary femmes of color seems integral to your art. What motivates your choice of your subject matter? Why do you think it is important to create this content at this time?

The honest answer is that there isn’t enough out there. I don’t create having those labels in mind, I am not a fan of labels and boxes. I do what I do from a place of truth, I try to. But I used to try to hide who I am for a very long time, as a queer femme womyn. It has been really difficult coming to grips with my own truths, but I am grateful to have been able to be in spaces where I could come into my own. Creating is a means of surviving. It is important for me to be and exist beyond the impositions the world puts on me; whether it be as a black womyn, a queer womyn, or a ‘plus-size’ person. My subject matter is always going to be what is closest to home, intentional and also sometimes not. I’m always going to be black first and a womyn too, those are things that give me a certain primacy in the world. I hope to make something positive out of these realities.

In your direction, what are the key ingredients needed for a killer, relevant production?

Patience. I’m basically a one womyn show and the pressure to constantly be creating is overwhelming. Be patient with yourself and the people around you. Not everyone will get it but you just need to trust your gut. Be truthful and authentic. That goes with not doing things for the sake of doing them but knowing what you hope to achieve at the end of the day. For people to feel a sense of black joy and pride after engaging with my work is important for me. Nothing exists in isolation. And lastly, genuine love for what you do. That can be really difficult when you are a solo ranger like me but loving what you do is so important.

At the foundation of it all, artists create what they know; what does your art says about Palesa the person? How has your family upbringing, and your localization, influenced your views on the representation of WoC in the media?

I grew up in a small town. Home is where I return but leaving home was also the only way I was able to find myself after high-school. I went through a lot, both good and bad, which brought me to the person I am today. I owe a lot to my supportive mother, who never gave up on me and would fund every dream I had- whether it was going to record a demo for radio or taking a course guitar lessons or doing extra-curricular art classes, studying journalism – she believed in me refining my skills. And so I did. Being a South African womyn is beautiful and challenging. That story alone is one of survival, being a creative black womyn is filled with paradoxes and I’m learning to be patient with the process of coming into my own. I’m grateful for my upbringing, for being a moTswana girl, for the gift of writing, which to this day, appeases me.

Which are some of the fashion stables whose work you like? Who would you love to work with?

Locally, I love where African fashion is at right now. I have worked with some local desigenrs Imveli Designs and Merwe Mode. I would really love to do something with Anisa Mpungwa, ALC, Matte Nolim, Jenevieve Lyons and Oxosi. I also really love Imprint, Maxhosa and Droomer. Maybe they’ll read this and call me up ☺ .

How would you describe your personal style?

Comfortable, retro, easy.

How has being a native South African and being immersed in its rich and eclectic culture affected your styling direction?

I like to embrace being South African as much as I can, whether it’s wearing bangles or a head-wrap or a pair of earrings from a local designer. It’s been challenging sometimes wanting to buy local but not having enough of it around or it being unaffordable. My country is so beautiful and culturally rich and inspiring, I really want to work with more local designers. I really think they need more platforms and shows and stores. I am really proud of my Tswana, Sotho and Zulu heritage.

In Mzansi Moodboard, Taking it Black is a special space featuring iconic African forerunners. Who are your style icons?

My mom, obviously. Brenda Fassie and the womyn of the late 80s. I love the style back then and my family(mom, aunts and older cousins) have given me some amazing articles of clothing from back then that I wear now. I love Solange, and her style us an eclectic mix of Diana Ross meets Queen Patra. I think a lot of the black womyn that I grew up looking up to and listening to were inherently stylish; Letta Mbulu, Yvonne Chakachaka and Janet Jackson.

You’re well known for utilizing social media to document your process. How has social media been useful? Do you think it affects how people perceive your work?

Social media is a great tool if used properly. I sometimes overshare-in my personal capacity and that has been something I am learning to balance. Although a lot of the work that creatives do is very personal, letting emotions govern the things you put on social media can be really detrimental. This is also hard because you want to be truthful. With Mzansi Moodboard, I always think of what inspires me and what I would want to see from a platform like that. Although I really believe in harnessing the power of social media, it can also be laborious and the things we see can be redundant. However, there is also so much you can do; conversations to be part of, stories to share, voices to hear. Images are powerful, so can words and social media makes it that much easier to share with thousands of people. There’s a lot of negativity in the world, I want to be part of the happiness, the good stuff.

Going on to your seventh issue, what should we look forward to from Mzansi Moodboard?

Envelope breaking, non-binary content that is beautiful, powerful and truthful.

You describe yourself as a Creative Visual Expressionist. What fuels your creative intentions?

Being black. Learning to love my blackness, my queerness, my otherness. Womyn. Re-writing history. Visibility. Representation. Truth. Love. Beauty of the unknown, of the strange and unapologetic black girl magic.

What do you believe is the role of the modern day Black artist?

To tell your story, to share your thoughts, even when your voice trembles, even if people say it isn’t pleasant or pretty or wanted or comfortable hear. It is your duty to do everything you possibly can to live in your truth. And I would like to believe that after that you will by default inspire those who come after you.

[ebenpink]

Redefining success in health and fitness coaching. How 7 coaches are rethinking their careers & how you can too. http://bit.ly/30roOVZ

“Success” in coaching used to mean a nice roster of ~30 in-person clients, full ownership of your practice, and a net profit that afforded you a vacation or two a year. These days, health and fitness coaches are ditching the cookie cutter definitions and building businesses their own way. Here are 7 inspiring coaches who are redefining success in health and fitness coaching and how you can too.

++++

“Making it” as a fitness and health coach used to be pretty straightforward.

“Success” meant having a steady stream of clients knocking on your door, and making enough money to easily pay the bills, live comfortably, and take your family on vacation from time to time.

But, lately, we’ve noticed that health and fitness coaches are getting more creative with their definition of “success”. They’re building their businesses to support specific personal and professional goals.

Everything from: building a practice that allows them to work from anywhere in the world (even amazing, exotic locations), to setting flexible work hours so they can hang out more with their children or pursue other hobbies and interests, to working with specific groups that are most meaningful to them because of past experiences or future aspirations.

It’s awesome to watch.

That’s why we decided to ask a few of our ProCoaches:

What does success look like for you? And how are you achieving it?

Their stories were so good — so inspiring — that I wanted to share them with you today. They might even help you re-define what success means for you.

++++

Success is… living life on your own terms.

Daniel Hennessey is living the dream.

Thailand, Costa Rica, California… Dan travels around the world with his business partner and fiancé, Wendy, while coaching fitness and nutrition online (and creating an enviable Instagram while he’s at it).

Dan used to live his life on the gym floor (or sitting in traffic on the long commute to work.) But after years as a trainer and gym owner, he finally said to himself, “what am I doing?”

The truth is, life in the gym just wasn’t for him. He wanted to be in the outdoors. To travel. To seek out new perspectives on life, and new ways of being healthy.

Most of all, “I wanted to do things my own way.”

Dan took the plunge. He sold his possessions and embraced the minimalist life, traveling with just a backpack. Meanwhile, he established a new business for himself as an online coach.

Now, at 30, Dan focuses on people who he feels are better served by online, rather than in-person coaching — such as busy moms, or people who feel intimidated by the mere thought of setting foot in a gym.

“With online coaching, a lot more people can have access to this thing called health, and I can coach you while sitting at home.”

How he does it: Dan uses Procoach to deliver online nutrition coaching. At the higher-end, his services are priced at $200/month; at the lower-end, he offers a “90 day for 90 dollars” program that helps people get started.

Dan’s advice: “All that really matters is this: What do you want to do, and why? What gives you joy and purpose? Whatever it is, go after it. There’s more to life than living scared.”

Success is… making coaching accessible and inclusive.

Ten years ago, Jon Mills walked into a martial arts studio where he was introduced to a simple mantra: “Anyone who is willing to put in the work is welcome here.”

Unfortunately, he began to notice this approach didn’t seem to apply across the board in health, fitness, or martial arts. Many people were being excluded, especially those from low-income backgrounds. And some, such as LGBTQ folks, found that gyms and studios could be downright hostile.

Today, Jon, 30, offers personal training, martial arts, and mindfulness coaching, and he provides online nutrition coaching through Procoach.

His mission: Make coaching welcoming for anyone.

Jon focuses on providing an inclusive, safe coaching experience for everyone, especially queer and trans clients. And he invites folks with lower incomes to pay what they can — or even train for free.

It might sound crazy, but for Jon, it works.

“The funny thing is, not only am I helping others, it’s working as a business. I’ve learned that people will give what they can, when they can. And they’ll definitely refer you. Plus, because of how I work, I have no competition. My referrals come from the community.”

Jon’s approach is people-focused. “I don’t worry about getting money, and I just concentrate on helping folks,” says Jon. “I’ve come to realize that this isn’t just an ideal, but something that can be fulfilling and sustainable.”

How he does it: Jon uses Patreon, an online donation service, to collect donations. Clients who can afford to pay do so, and if they wish, add donations to pay for those who can’t afford it. Jon offers his nutrition coaching services through Procoach to both in-person and exclusively online clients.

Jon’s words of advice: “There’s a lot of stuff in the fitness industry that will tell you to fit a mold. But being yourself is the key to being a great coach, because that’s how people will connect with you. You have to embrace who you are.”

Success is… turning your job into your dream career.

As a Registered Dietician working in a clinic alongside doctors in Kitchener, Ontario, Irene Pace had started to notice something important: Certain clients don’t seem to get the results they want through the health system’s traditional model of nutrition care.

“Whether it was the psychology of my coaching or the system itself, I just couldn’t provide what they needed. I remember one client in particular who I worked with over a couple of years. Despite my best efforts, her health declined, and her weight went up. I failed to help her.”

Irene thought to herself, “I have to do better.”

So recently, at 40, Irene decided to do a deep dive into the art of nutrition coaching. She got her PN Level 1 Certification, and in time, became an assistant coach at PN.  And she’s continued to strengthen her skills with the Level 2 Certification.

Now, Irene has added ProCoach to her RD services — and is seeing the kinds of results she had always hoped to witness.  Her clients are surpassing their ‘stuckness’ like they never did before.

“Using this platform, clients can communicate with me on an ongoing basis. They can reach out whenever they feel stuck instead of waiting weeks for an appointment… Having regular contact with clients throughout their change process instead of intermittent visits adds up to big change. It seems magical.”

Irene is feeling the reward of seeing her clients succeed. At the same time, she’s also able to prioritize her family and spend time with her three children.

The result: Irene is building a career that is both personally and professionally rewarding, in a way she never thought possible.

How she does it: Irene started using ProCoach with a ‘test group’ of friends and family paying $35/month. With the test round done, she launched another cohort paying $50/month. She’s now working on her plans for her next cohort launch of full-paying clients, as she continues to build her business, and find her niche.

Irene’s advice: “We all come into coaching with many transferable skills. Don’t ever discount the unique things you can bring to the table. There’s something from the experience you’ve had, whether it’s a previous job or your life, that can make you a better coach — if you let it.”

Success is… creating a gym that’s so much more than a gym.

Michael Espinosa runs a gym… but it’s so much more than that.

In addition to in-person training (with a focus on strength/conditioning and Olympic weightlifting), Michael also offers nutrition coaching through ProCoach for free, to any members who want it.

According to Mike, 33, ProCoach adds an important element to the in-person coaching experience: “It allows me to connect better with clients and teach them things like mindset and body awareness… things you can’t think about between your clean and jerk.”

Notably, the gym runs as a non-profit, with the goal of creating an integrated, accessible community. Middle and high school students get free training; university students get a discounted rate.

In addition, the gym boasts a community garden, “so that kids can see what broccoli or radish looks like when it’s growing,” and a small outdoor calisthenics park that’s free to the public.

Why give so much stuff away for free? Michael says it comes down to his core values.

“Justice is one of my values. The area we’re in has seen a lot of injustice. This is my way of tipping the scales. I provide a safe space for people to work out together, and make it a diverse community. Families, professors, university students, kids in the neighborhood, anyone is welcome here.”

How he does it: Those who can afford it pay a monthly membership fee ($144 for adults; $100 for students), which fund the gym. Michael acknowledges that it’s not a lucrative business. For him, the success lies in having a positive impact on the community and changing people’s lives — things he strongly values.

Michael’s advice: “Be unapologetically aware of what you’re doing and why. Do some honest reflection with yourself. And keep learning and growing; flowing water never goes stale.”

Success is… helping people build stronger communities.

“The last thing you want to talk about is nutrition when you’re standing on the roof of your house.”

After seeing the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, A’Tondra, 35, decided she didn’t just want to help people get healthier, she wanted to help them get stronger so they could serve their communities better.

To do that, A’Tondra made the choice to serve a smaller group of people, some in-person and some online. She tailored her services to provide a high degree of personalized attention and accountability, and to help her clients develop their own support systems.

“I’ve learned that when a person feels supported, they’re able to find purpose. And that makes everything better not only for themselves, but for all the people in their life.”

At first, reducing her number of clients was scary. But after the first year, “I had fewer clients but had nearly tripled my income. Plus, I was having a bigger impact on my clients.”

A’Tondra has watched her clients not only get healthier and stronger, but also give more back to their work, families, and neighborhoods.

At the same time, she’s able to spend more time with her own community, especially her family. “I have four children, and I’m able to make all their science competitions, basketball games and chess tournaments. That means a lot to me.”

How she does it: For three months of in-person exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching, A’Tondra charges $3,500 for individuals and $6,800 per couple, upfront. (She finds that couples who train together tend to support each other well.) Online clients, who she serves through ProCoach, pay approximately half the in-person price.

A’Tondra’s advice: “Learn to appreciate what’s good about where you’re at. It can be easy to think you need hundreds of clients, people banging down your door to work with you. But with fewer clients, I make a bigger impact on them, it’s better for me financially, and I own my time.”

Success is… loving what you do, and earning a good living at it.

Living and working just steps away from the beach, Christie Miller has something many people aspire to: She truly loves what she does for a living — and she makes good money at it.

Not only is she passionate about health and fitness, she’s able to coach at a price point that is financially rewarding. As a result, “I wake up every morning and think… ‘I get to do this for a living — and get paid for it?’.”

Christie, 53, wasn’t an overnight success. After a number of different careers, she started her online coaching business — only to be met with frustration and stacks of bills.

(In fact, after her second year of business, the IRS came calling; they didn’t believe anyone could lose that much money. But she had.)

But after a few years, Christie identified her ideal clientele, and that made all the difference. Now, she helps “ambitious women who want to lose weight and play to win in all aspects of their lives.”

For this type of client, a higher price point was more effective. It attracted the kind of dedicated, driven clients she was looking for: people who were determined to get results and willing to pay for it.

Christie’s income absolutely exploded: By the second quarter of year three, she earned $57,789 — more than she made in the first two years of her business combined.

How she does it: Christie incorporates ProCoach into her six-month group program and reaches women all over Europe, North America, and even Dubai. New clients are offered this program at $597 a month. After the initial six months, some clients are invited to continue for another six.

Christie’s advice: “Be polarizing. Know exactly who your target audience is, and who they aren’t. It can be scary and can be a rollercoaster ride sometimes. But it’s absolutely worth it.”

Success is… helping women take back their health and empowerment.

Once upon a time, Stephanie Hinders found herself in an abusive relationship. Once she managed to get out, and get healthy (with support from her community at a local gym), she made it her mission to help other women take back control over their own lives too.

“I thought to myself, ‘Why did I go through all of that, if not to use the experience to help others?’.”

Today, 29-year-old Stephanie provides a combination of in-person and online coaching services to help women who feel disempowered regain their health, strength and self-confidence.

Seeing the changes in her clients is incredibly meaningful to Stephanie.

“I’m able to see clients go from berating themselves to celebrating their own progress. They find the light on the other side of the tunnel. They regain their confidence, mentally, physically, and emotionally. It’s hard to describe how much that means to me.”

How she does it: Stephanie has been training people in a local gym in Powell, Ohio, for more than four years. This past year, she added ProCoach services, beginning with an offer of three months free, in exchange for feedback. Stephanie is currently working on implementing a new pricing structure, and expanding her online client base. She’s pregnant and is excited that ProCoach will allow her to continue coaching with a flexible schedule when her new baby arrives.

Stephanie’s advice: “Be truthful to your own story. It can be intimidating when you look at other coaches, and easy to second guess yourself. You might look around and think ‘maybe I should be doing it like that.’ But you know your own reasons for doing what you do, and it’s important to remember that.”

Ready to build a thriving coaching practice?

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With the ProCoach curriculum, coaching tools, and software, you’ll be able to turn what you learned in the Precision Nutrition Certification into a thriving practice, getting better results with dozens, even hundreds, of people while working less and living life on your own terms.

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On Wednesday, June 5th, 2019, ProCoach becomes available to all Precision Nutrition Certification students and graduates.

If you’re interested and want to find out more, I’d encourage you to join our presale list. Being on the presale list gives you two special advantages.

You’ll pay less than everyone else. At Precision Nutrition, we like to reward the most interested and motivated professionals, because they always make the best students and clients. Join the presale list and we’ll give you 30% off the monthly cost of Precision Nutrition’s ProCoach.

You’re more likely to get a spot. Remember, last time we sold out within hours. But by joining the presale list you’ll get the opportunity to register 24 hours before everyone else, increasing your chances of getting in.

If you’re ready to help more people live their healthiest lives, grow your business, and worry less about time and money… ProCoach is your chance.

The post Redefining success in health and fitness coaching. How 7 coaches are rethinking their careers & how you can too. appeared first on Precision Nutrition.

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[bookmonstereliz]

I've been asked to be a panelist for a mini comic con style thing at the library. I'm super excited, they want me to talk about fan fiction!!! One of the librarians asked me to write him my thoughts and opinions to narrow down my topic and I wrote a love letter to fan fiction turned accidental essay. Here it is, I'd love your thoughts and opinions! I love fan fiction, both reading and writing it. I've always been a big reader and movies don't usually catch my attention as much as books do, though a good tv show can grab my interest if it has a great concept and characters. I love fan fiction because it takes these characters and worlds that we fall in love with from books and movies and it lets us expound on them. Once my 45 minute tv episode is over I can sit down and elaborate on scenes that were hinted at or I can "fix" what they got wrong. Once the season is over I can still hold onto the joy and excitement by reading and writing about them.  After reading a lot of fan fiction I've honestly become more picky in my reading of published literature. I have a BA in Lit from USF so I hope I can tell good lit from the terrible! A large chunk of fan fiction is steamy stuff, but I think it goes beyond your normal harlequin romance paperback that's a dime a dozen. The tropes are different. The "alternate realities" are pretty formulaic, but they're unique to fan fiction. The most common ones I can think of are coffe shop au, college/high school,  soulmate, alpha beta omega (werewolf), fake married/dating, the list could go on. The characters and worlds are ready made but they're unique and distinct in each retelling. I read a comment recently that said fan fic is so satisfying because it doesn't have to waste time introducing the characters and worlds, most of the exposition is chopped in favor of action. Fan fiction is also interesting in how it's organized. In the library books are categorized by content- youth, ya, fiction and non fiction, and broken down further from there. Thank you Mr. Dewey! Fan fiction is usually categorized in two ways- fandom and feeling. Works are usually tagged as slow burn, hurt/comfort, action/adventure, fluff, or the beloved smut. These are the genres. I could go on about the tag system, but that's a deeper conversation. I think that one of the most important distinctions that makes fan fiction so amazing is the range of diversity. I'm on tumblr a lot and there's a lot of disappointment and anger over the lack of diversity in media, particularly on the screen. I find that fan fic offers a more well rounded female main character.  "Strong female characters" on screen and in Lit are often poorly written pitting strength against femininity. "I'm not like other girls" is a too common theme in mainstream media that can be harmful.  These characters are often two dimensional stale white bread characters. Because such a large section of fan fic writers are women, I think that women are more realistically and positively portrayed. The female characters in most fan fics don't simply want to be desired, they want to be cherished and appreciated as well. They aren't written for the male gaze, they are allowed to feel, think, and act out. I'm a big fan of the Avengers and my favorite fan fics are all in the Marvel universe, and they all center around one character - Darcy Lewis. Darcy Lewis in the movies is a rather unimportant comedic relief character but she can be found in an astonishingly large number of marvel fics as the main character. The most obvious reason is because she's a pretty blank slate, self insert character, perfect for shipping with your favorite male character, or female as the case may be. I've heard her described as the "fandom bicycle," a term which offends a big portion of her fan base. However, she has become more than just a proxy for the common female fan, she has become a beloved character on her own.  The collective fandom has given her a few basic "head cannons" that become a baseline for her character. She's usually pretty self assured, which is true in the movies, but in fics she is more independent. She is usually given the role of care taker and peace maker and in a large number of fics she loves to bake- probably because Kat Dennings role in 2 Broke Girls. She is often written as Jewish, and a whole lot smarter than the screen writers made her. She is not a skinny character, something a lot of women can relate to, and a lot of fics have her go through the journey of learning to love her full curvy self while others have her unapologetically love her curves. A common trope casts her as Tony Starks daughter, and deals with family drama, often having her use her privilege and position to enact positive change in the world. Each author adds their own spin, but she's no longer a two dimensional character, she has relatable feelings, desires, and flaws and usually she has to work to get Steve Rogers, Bucky Barnes, Loki, or any of the dozen other males.  Fan fiction allows LGBTQ people to take beloved characters and interpret them as having different sexualities. Too many shows queer bait with their male characters or kill off their lesbian characters, and bi's and aces are rarely portrayed at all. This angers fans and fan fiction provides the perfect vehicle as they take their beloved characters and make them their own, or one could argue, they portray them as they should be. Things are not all perfect in this area of fandom, of course. Some argue that there's too much gay fiction as opposed to lesbian or bi fiction and blame straight girls for fetishizing gay relationships. While this may be true of some works, I think that most m/m or f/f works are born out of the potential chemistry in different character's relationships. Fan fiction takes place in the land of "what if" and plays out the numerous possibilities.  It's been pointed out that people of color aren't often as popular in ships as white characters, for instance some say people ignore shipping Finn and Poe in favor of Kylo Ren and General Hux. Personally, I think that there's room for both ships in the harbor, and I think it's great when people of color are recognised, sometimes inspite of the cannon's white washing. In The Avengers: Age of Ultron the Maximoff twins, who should be Jewish and Romani, are whitewashed and choose to work for Hydra- a Nazi group. A lot of works "fix" this. The same can be said for Harry Potter's Hermione Granger, who can be read in the books as black. Many fans envision Harry as Indian. I think that this is wonderful, because it draws people in as they engage in the medium; it isn't just static mindless enjoyment, it's inspired, thoughtful creativity.  Literature is a mirror for the human condition and fanfiction embodies regular everyday people holding a mirror to their dreams and desires using their favourite characters. It's not tailored for consumption and resell, it's an honest, heartfelt outpouring of love for a person's favorite characters and worlds. Classic literature speaks universal truths that haven't faded through the years. Fan fiction speaks to the here and now, it's fresh and new and portrays our generations desires, or caters to them. While there's a huge amount of trashy Fan fiction, there's just as much if not more that's masterfully written. No matter the level of skill the author has, they're all labors of love.

[sorjomagazine]

By Fabliha Anbar

     In all sorts of entertainment industries whether it’s Hollywood or the music industry, South Asians are usually ignored and are trapped in a marginalized box. Even on social media. We are forced to succumb to a one-dimensional image that doesn’t represent even half of what we are.

Here are some badass South Asian social media influencers that crushes the marginalized box the Western world has created that you should definitely check out! 

1. Heleena. M

via @heleenatattoos on instagram

Heleena is an Indian tattoo artist from Leicester, United Kingdom. A lot of her tattoo designs are inspired by Hindu and Indian art. She proudly lets her heritage and religion creatively influence her work in a beautiful and brilliant way. 

via @heleenatattoos

via @heleenatattoos

Besides the stunning tattoo designs she creates, she also creates portraits where she represents Indian women no one usually views them as. Powerful. She takes traditional Indian art and combines it with modern 21st century edginess. She doesn’t portray the Indian women in her art as fragile and submissive where most tradition Indian art does. There’s a sense of control, confidence and compellingness that shines through each of her work. 

via @heleenatattoos

via @heleenatattoos

She includes alcohol, cigarettes, nudity in her portraits of women which are things South Asian women are never to be displayed with. With her dynamic and powerful artwork, she’s destroying archaic standards and expectations of South Asian women and presenting what we truly are; badass. 

You can also buy her t-shirts and cards with her designs and artwork on them! 

Check out Heleena’s instagram: here Buy her clothing and artwork here  

  2. Alok Vaid-Menon

via alokvmenon.com

Alok Vaid-Menon is a gender non conforming poet, performer, artist and educator. I guess you can say they’re all in one, literally.

They shed light on issues involving the LGBTQ+ community and devotes their career on activism while educating people about struggles trans and gender nonconforming folks face. 

They have appeared on major fashion magazines and broadcasting industries such as Harper’s Bazaar India, The New York Times and so much more. They also recently completed a world tour travelling to more than 30 different countries and presenting their work at 300 hundred venues. How badass is that?

Alok’s writing is absolutely soul crushing. Each word they write is filled with profound pain, pleasure, trauma and beauty.

Watch StyleLikeU’s video on Youtube where they talk about what it was like growing up in a conservative Indian family in the suburbs and performing another one of their ground breaking poetry:

Alok Vaid-Menon is unapologetically queer and their radiance and confidence beams not only through their fashion choices, but every other aspect of their life. Alok crushes the one-deminsenional visual of Indians. 

Check out Alok’s instagram here Read more of their poetry/writings here

  3. Cas Jerome 

via @casxvii on instagram / photographer: simrah farrukh 

Cas is well known on Instagram and Twitter for her witty humor and striking beauty. Not only does she post  pictures of her snatched, beat face but she also discusses her battle with depression. 

She recently posted on Instagram;

“I wanted to share a little bit about my mental health in honor of #mentalhealthawareness & also bc I have a ton of new followers hiiii. I’ve suffered with depression and anxiety for most of my life but only was diagnosed when I started high school. There have been a lot of things I have seen and experienced that have contributed to my depression and anxiety. A lot of you know I lived in Africa for most of my life until I moved to the United States, it was hard to adjust and that itself caused me a lot of stress. I never thought I was beautiful. For most of my life I avoided looking in mirrors, I didn’t want to see myself. I hated myself. I wanted to die, I didn’t think there was any reason I deserved to be alive. I didn’t contribute anything to anyone. This impacted my school work, my friendships and absolutely corrupted my mind. I’ve battled self harming, an eating disorder and so much more that would shock you because that’s NOT who I am today. With a lot of help and determination I pick myself up everyday and prove that I am NOT useless. I know what it feels like to feel ugly, useless and unappealing. I know it’s hard to talk about and that talking doesn’t always help. Please trust me when I say that I didn’t know about my potential and you don’t know yours. You will meet people that will add so much joy and love to your life. Don’t miss out on letting yourself find that. I stayed alive and it was worth it. It will be worth it for you too. Even though I don’t know all of you individually, I really care. I don’t want anyone to hurt the way I have and do”

She uses her platform to discuss other topics like colorism as well. In her video on Youtube, she bravely speaks out against the South Asian community’s racist beauty standards and her experiences where she was criticized and bullied for her dark skin complexion. 

In her posts on social media, she proudly models with traditional Indian clothing and shows that there’s nothing more badass than representing your culture and being proud of your ethnicity. 

Check out her instagram here Subscribe to her Youtube channel here 

  4. Sanam Sindhi

via @trustmedaddy on instagram

Also known as ‘trustmedaddy’ on Instagram for her badass attitude and fashion sense, Rihanna found her and immediately featured Sanam on her viral hit music video, Bitch Better Have My Money, where she was played part of Rihanna’s bangin’ girl group. 

She occasionally changes her fashion and beauty look but they’re all always influenced by her Indian roots. In her interview with Elle, she says; 

“I really, really love old Bollywood movies–the makeup is always sooo amazing. I also love just lurking the on the Internet. Right now I’m really into this makeup artist Ania Milczarczyk. But I actually don’t know a whole lot about makeup. I’ve just been using the same stuff forever. I looove rosebud salve. I’ve been using it on days that I don’t wear eyeliner—like dabbing it on my cheeks and eyelids and browbone and lips and the highlight and glow it gives you is sooo good!!”

On Instagram, she regularly talks about her experiences with abusive men and exploring her sexuality.

She also has written several articles and has DJ’d for clubs.

Sanam shows that South Asian women doesn’t have to be frail, innocent and obedient. We don’t always play by the rules. Her entire look and attitude is completely badass. 

Check out her instagram here 

  5. Ayqa Khan 

via @ayqakhan on instagram

22 year old Ayqa Khan is a first generation Pakistani American artist. She illustrates art that stands against Eurocentric beauty standards while trying to normalize brown bodies in art and body hair. 

She regularly posts minimalistic and captivating short videos on Instagram of simple everyday moments.

Khan also co-created the Instagram page @southasia.art where she features other fellow South Asian artist’s work. She recently curated a gallery in Chinatown Soup and showcased work of several other South Asian artists.

Watch Khan’s interview with The Turmeric Project where she talks about body hair, her family and being queer:

Ayqa Khan shows that South Asians are more than doctors, engineers and IT technicians Hollywood displays us as. We are creative artists which Khan shows with her badass illustrations. 

You can buy and check out her illustrations here Follow Ayqa on instagram here

  6. Minahil Mahmood 

21 year old First generation Pakistani American, Minahil, is popular and widely known on Instagram for promoting body positivity. She uses her social media platform to tackle body shaming and rejects myths of what plus-size women could or could not wear. 

She also speaks out about social justice issues, lack of diversity in fashion and global politics. 

Minahil, or Mina, also talks about what it’s like being a first generation and fighting against traditional expectations in her video with Allure:

Mina breaks down stereotypes of what a South Asian woman looks like. With her beautiful curves and sassy attitude, she is truly a badass. 

Follow her on Instagram here

  7. Riya Hamid 

Brooklyn-native Riya Hamid from Bangladesh challenges archaic stereotypes with how she uses her social media platform and clothes. 

She confidently posts striking photos of herself wearing only her underwear and a bra, or overalls with no shirt underneath which are against the conservative ideology of how ‘proper Bengali girls’ should act. 

In her interview with Vogue, she says;

“For a long time, I was ashamed of having breasts. I went through puberty considerably early and was made to feel very self-conscious about them. Even if I were just wearing a basic T-shirt and your average pair of jeans, I would be told to wear a veil over my chest in case I stirred lust in the eyes of some guy. I remember getting ready for a family picnic once and my mom telling me to do that. When I asked her why, she answered, ‘Because your uncles are going to be there.’ And I was just like, ‘Wait a minute, if I’m a 13-year-old girl and my 40-something-year-old uncles are looking at my chest, isn’t that their fault? Wouldn’t that make them creepy?’ My mother’s beliefs are largely the result of men misconstruing a religion and molding it in a way that benefits them and enforcing the patriarchy for centuries, so I absolve her of fault. But after that, I just started doing my own thing—thinking critically and nursing this newfound freedom to be whoever and however I wanted to be.”

Hamid was recently featured in an ad with other women of color for THINX and for Lonely Lingerie. 

via @riyahamid & @lonelylingerie on instagram

via @riyahamid & @shethinx on instagram

As a Bengali myself, it’s amazing to see another Bengali women do amazing things like Hamid. Bangladeshis are usually overlook and ignored even in the South Asian community. 

She also posts poetry on her Tumblr page, @softestanimal, that explores her interconnection with her Bengali heritage and her femininity. Each word of her poem strikes a chord in my soul as I start to think back to my young teens years. 

Riya Hamid denouncing the conventional expectations and standards of South Asian women with her confidence and representing brown bodies in the fashion industry is very badass. 

Follow her on instagram here  Read her poetry here

  8. Ushshi Rahman

Ushshi Rahman is a Bangladeshi born fat activist and fashion/beauty blogger who currently resides in New York City. 

In her Instagram posts, she posts alluring photos of herself with clothes plus size women are told not to wear. But she still defies societal expectations and rocks her crop tops and low v-neck shirts without a care in the world. 

She was featured in Bustle’s body positivity podcast with Marie Southard-Ospina and discussed the history of the fat postitivity movement. You can check it out here:

As you look through her Instagram feed, you can see how she occasionally changes her looks. She dyes her hair in fun different colors like lavender, green, purple and now in a cute pink bob. South Asians are usually told not to dye our hair in bright bold colors since it ‘doesn’t go well with our skin complexion and features but Ushshi didn’t let that stop her.

Rahman’s defiant attitude and bold fashion breaks down barriers of what it means to be a plus-size Bengali woman. And that is badass.

Check out her fashion/beauty blog here Follow her on Instagram here

  9. Tai

Also known as ‘taithegal’ on Instagram, she regularly posts snatched pictures of herself and her badass artwork.

via @taithegal on instagram

via @taitheartist on instagram

Follow her on instagram here Check out her illustrations here 

  10. Devin Halbal

19 year old Devin Halbal not only uses their social media platform to post their bangin’ selfies with their hoop earrings but also speaks out against bigotry gender nonconforming folks face on a daily basis while educating their audience about gender fluidity.

Halbal also created a short film, Still Figuring Out, that shows a young teen exploring gender while facing torment from the public eye and family:

Devin’s unapologetic presence in social media shows just how badass it is to be yourself without giving a fuck what the cis-heteronormative society has to say.

Follow Devin’s Instagram here Read Devin’s recent article on Teen Vogue here

  11. Chawntell Kulkarn

via Storm Management 

Chawntell Kulkarn is an Indian-British artist and model for Storm Management. Kulkarn breaks down Eurocentric and conventional beauty standards as she models for major fashion industries such as Burberry and H&M. 

She also shows her artistic talent on Instagram. Here are some of her illustrations:

via @lilchanzart on instagram

via @lilchanzart on instagram

Chawntell’s badass look are showing young South Asian girls that we can also be models and be the face of fashion and beauty. I don’t think anything can be more badass than that.

Follow her on Instagram here Check out her art here

  12. Kiran Rai

via @kay__ray on instagram

Punjabi and Canadian born Youtuber, Kiran Rai, directs and writes her own captivating short films and her own online web-series. 

Hollywood tends to make cliche flat characters of South Asians, portraying them as obedient, conservative math-genius. But Rai crushes all of these stereotypes by producing relatable content for South Asian audience. She explores topics like mental health, relationships and realistic conflicts brown girls face. 

Written by Rai and produced by MsMutta, Kiran created a web-series drama, Anarkali, where a young Punjabi woman in Canada tries to make sense of her life after her fiancee breaks off their two year engagement. It’s funny, dramatic and intense all in one. I watched it all in one sitting! Watch it here:

Kiran’s never-ending creativity and portrayal of strong yet vulnerable brown women shows just how powerful cinema can be, which mainstream Hollywood isn’t able to show. Kiran Rai is the definition of badass.

Subscribe to her Youtube channel here

All 12 of these desi social media influencers show how dynamic and complex South Asians are. We are artists, models, activists and people with real feelings. 

These wonderful and talented people makes me so proud to be South Asian. 

This is why representation is truly important. 

12 South Asian Social Media Influencers That Are Badass

By Fabliha Anbar      In all sorts of entertainment industries whether it’s Hollywood or the music industry, South Asians are usually ignored and are trapped in a marginalized box.

12 South Asian Social Media Influencers That Are Badass By Fabliha Anbar      In all sorts of entertainment industries whether it's Hollywood or the music industry, South Asians are usually ignored and are trapped in a marginalized box.