Set within the shadowed elegance of a Victorian-style mansion, "The Manor Men: Victor" opens a new photo essay series for PROUD & Kinky Magazine—one that explores power, poise, and presence through a distinctly gothic lens. Victor moves through the pages like a well-kept secret, blending classic masculinity with quiet provocation as history, desire, and individuality intertwine. Each image invites the reader deeper into the manor, where the past lingers, confidence reigns, and every gaze tells a story.

Crush Daddy is a commanding presence wherever he goes. This month, he steps into a new role as one of KinkMen.com’s dominant tops where he exudes the confidence of someone who has spent years mastering both body and mind. A former basketball player, Crush brings disciplined athleticism to his performances. Sports once defined his world, and that foundation, later refined through years as a personal trainer focused on physique as much as performance, now fuels his on-screen authority. Speaking with us from his home in Houston, Texas, Crush opens up about his global upbringing, sexual fluidity, and his evolving relationship with kink.

There’s a moment that happens, sometimes on a stage, sometimes in a dungeon, sometimes in the quiet honesty of a conversation, when someone decides to stop shrinking. To stop apologizing. To stop waiting for permission. This issue of PROUD & Kinky Magazine lives squarely in that moment. From the velvet-draped rebellion of Las Vegas burlesque to the carefully negotiated fantasies of kink and roleplay, every story in these pages asks the same essential question: What happens when we show up fully, authentically, and without shame?

So you’ve been curious about “the scene.” Maybe you’ve read a few articles, followed some creators online, or chatted with friends who swear their local kink community changed their lives. And now you’re thinking about attending your first event. Exciting? Yes. A little intimidating? Also, yes, and totally normal. Whether you’re kink-curious, newly out, or simply looking for community, entering the scene is less about knowing everything and more about showing up with openness, respect, and a willingness to learn. Let’s break down what to expect, starting with the most common entry points.