In a world full of white, cishet content, we could use a breath of fresh air once in a while. That's why we wanted to give praise to some of the Black LGBTQ+ content creators out here in The Bay! With drag queens, musicians, bloggers, designers and so much more all at your fingertips, what are you waiting for? Check out these accounts to be entertained and get inspired.
Mahlae Balenciaga
Mahlae Balenciaga
(@ms_mahlae)
Mahlae Balenciaga has been a frequent figure in Bay Area queer nightlife, and she is a lip-syncer with amazing energy and crowd presence. In 2020 though, we’ve really gotten to see her pull out some inspired looks. No one protested racism more beautifully than Balenciaga this summer in a Black Panther-inspired beret ensemble. And of course, ‘90s kids will rejoice seeing her as Darla from Finding Nemo or Susie Carmichael from Rugrats.
Jazmine Vieira
Jazmine Vieira
(@jazmine.vieira)
According to her bio, Jazmine Vieira is “Just here to break the rules.” If that’s true, then we don’t want to follow them either. This femme lesbian model-dancer knows all her best angles and never fails to strike a fabulous pose. Doesn’t make a difference if she is in a denim jacket or a full lingerie set: Vieira gives us the full fantasy every time. We applaud!
SATURN
SATURN
(@saturnrisin9)
This non-binary musician and performer, who hails from the Bay Area, is now taking their music and art to the next level! Known for their emotional, slickly produced pop tracks, they recently co-wrote and starred in the short film “Some Bitch Was Here,” which screened on Zoom earlier this month. Check out their Instagram for music footage, YouTube-style vlogs and more.
DJ Kream
DJ Kream
(@bijou_djkream)
No DJ will make you dance like DJ Kream! As the co-founder of the Oakhella Festival (a standout smorgasbord of music, art and food), Kream is no doubt the curator of good times. Kream’s mixes combine electronic music with ‘00s hip-hop and ‘80s pop classics, all with a seamless flow. On Instagram, she promotes her mixes and posts some fantastic visual content (see flower crown photos, Black Powerpuff Girl, among others).
Show and Tell
Show and Tell Concept Shop
(@showtelloakland)
This Black-owned, queer-owned gallery and concept shop is all about bold and unapologetic style. Started in 2011 by Alyah Baker, Show and Tell has only been growing over the past decade, even getting national coverage in Huffington Post. You can find pretty much anything you’d ever want here, and the shop often displays its inventory proudly on social media, including colorful face masks, quilts, empowered t-shirts, signature queer candles and more.
Breathless
Breathless
(@breathlessmusic)
Sure, everyone knows E-40 and Too $hort, but we want to give love to this amazing Bay Area rapper! Clever rhymes and a self-assured flow are signatures of Breathless’ work. Her lyrical content embraces human rights issues (“How Long?”) and queer sexuality (“WAP Remix”), both of which also feature heavily in her music videos and personal posts.
Critty Smitty
Critty Smitty
(@crittysmitty)
Critty Smitty’s pieces may be somewhat minimalistic (think broad strokes with a Cubist influence), but the color contrasts and patterns always pack a punch. And with Black icons, like Assata Shakur and Janet Mock, frequently the subjects in these pieces, there’s no reason not to fall in love with Smitty’s work.
Njeri
Njeri
(@njeri.akosua)
Vintage tie-dye with handmade jewelry to match? Sign us up! Njeri’s tie-dyed clothes always have a little extra flair. And it’s not all t-shirts, this tie-dye whiz and designer dyes hair scrunchies, face masks, even panties. Add a custom choker and you could really create a splashy ensemble with these pieces.
Nicki Jizz
Nicki Jizz
(@nicki_jizz)
In a Michael Myers mask or painted up as Gollum, Nicki Jizz is constantly pushing the boundaries of style with her looks. But she’s no one-trick pony. This queen is also a total riot! As a host of the Reparations drag show, which streams on The Stud’s Twitch account, catch her hilarious ads for the show on socials (“Are you suffering from bouts of white guilt?”).
Feelmore
Feelmore Adult Gallery
(@feelmoreadult)
It's safe to say we could all use a bit more good vibes in our lives. Feelmore + its owner, Nenna Joiner, never run short of those, nor any of your adult needs. You can stop by the shops in Oakland/Berkeley and see what all the buzz is about or even get your orgasms delivered straight to your door via Postmates (yeah, Postmates?!). Either way, be sure to give a follow on IG to get in on all the fun including fire TikToks, sweet insights into the owner's life, and all things sex toys, duh!
Written by Riley Huff
If we missed any of your favorite creators, feel free to drop us a line at [email protected]!
