You are not “too fucked up” for therapy just because you haven’t found someone who gets you. Therapy is a gatekept profession, meaning it is filled with a lot of privileged people who are out of touch with the complexities of survival and the impacts of whorephobia. Any shame you have felt from a therapist is a reflection on them and the therapy industry, not on you.

The history of the leather community is as varied and, in some ways, as complicated as the LGBTQ+ community itself, even as a subset of the BDSM world. I spoke a bit about this last fall at The Las Vegas PRIDE Festival on the PROUD & Kinky stage when I gave a brief history (I called it a “Leather TED Talk”) and found that many of our community are unaware of where we came from.

The Cathedral is a community-centered collective currently comprised of five specialized groups, each dedicated to fostering growth, learning, and connection for individuals on their kink journey. Whether you're just beginning or have years of experience, our collective offers a space where you can explore, share, and grow alongside like-minded individuals.

I made my debut as a stage kitten at Lilith: A Ladies Night, an all-female-produced burlesque show that happens here in Las Vegas. I wanted to be a part of the show but wasn't ready to step into my burly shoes just yet. Stage kittening was my way into the world so that I could be surrounded by those people & start seeing burlesque in its many forms.

I have been in and out of the kink community since I was 18, and here at 32 I am finally getting back fully into it, and in a rather big way, with a live performance on stage at a local kink event. I will admit that I was pretty nervous at first, getting myself prepped in the dressing room behind the stage. I didn't really know what to do with myself, stressing a bit over the smallest things, fussing over what little I was wearing, but also the adrenaline of anticipation coursing through my veins, and the thought of backing out never crossed my mind.

In early May of 2024, a friend shared a Sin City Burlesque festival post calling for applications for their shows in early September. Frankly, I was a little hesitant, seeing as just a month prior, I was celebrating the completion of my ACL recovery; an injury I incurred while performing the same act that I was looking to submit. But a voice within kept telling me to get back on that horse and ride away into the sequin sunset.

Most people know me for my special Makeup FX and winning Syfy's Faceoff season 11, but I've always been so much more than that. A lot of my work that I'm genuinely passionate about doesn't fit into the mainstream. Filtering myself through network television exposed me to a large audience, but it came at the cost of authenticity. I find deep inspiration in the absurd, but the number one theme I have always been drawn to, both personally and creatively, is sex.

PROUD & Kinky is hosting leather title holders in 2025. There are four Las Vegas Leather titles that we are seeking nominations for: Mr. Las Vegas Leather, Las Vegas Person of Leather, Las Vegas Pup of Leather, and Las Vegas Bootblack. The Las Vegas Person of Leather will receive a more specific title characteristic of the individual, such as Mx. / Mrs. / Miss / Trans person of leather / Leatherboy / or whatever they feel fits them best.

As we step into 2025, we find ourselves navigating a political climate that feels more volatile and divided than ever before. History has shown that when conservative leadership takes the reins, the effects inevitably trickle down to marginalized communities, including our local kink circles. These challenges remind us of the critical importance of solidarity—working together, showing up for one another, and fostering spaces where everyone feels seen, supported, and celebrated.